I’m not old, but I’m definitely not as young as I used to be. Neither is my skin. I know I’m not alone in this—IBD and psoriasis can wreak havoc on our skin, especially during certain times of the year. And keeping up with it? It’s exhausting! Honestly, I’m not worried about wrinkles and fine lines like other moms. I’m more concerned with dry, inflamed skin and those awful post-steroid breakouts. And let’s be real, when you’re in a flare and your intestines are raging, worrying about your nighttime eye cream is the last thing on your mind!
But as the years have gone by, and after dealing with countless bacterial and viral infections over the last four years, I’ve noticed how much my skin has changed—and I’m not loving it. The dryness has increased my pain levels and made me more susceptible to infections. Living in university family housing, which is located in an older beach town, hasn’t helped either. We’ve got small, midcentury buildings with old pipes and faucets, all maintained on a California public school budget. It was time for a change, and that started with reevaluating my skincare routine and the water we were using.
Put a Filter On It
When I returned from England, the first thing I noticed was how different the water quality was in my apartment here compared to my renovated flat in East London. My skin just wasn’t healing like it used to. My child and even our dog started showing signs of skin issues and allergies. So, I made some changes. I added a PUR filter to the kitchen, a Filterbaby filter to the bathroom sink, and I’m planning to install a Canopy handheld shower head next. Since making these changes, my child’s eczema and acne have improved significantly, and my psoriasis has gone into remission, keeping cellulitis at bay. It’s amazing how much a good water filtration system, combined with the right medications, can help!
A New Skincare Routine
Years of insomnia, stress, and dehydration have gifted me with dark circles and dry skin under my eyes. High prolactin levels have brought on “moonface” and hair in places I didn’t even know I could grow hair. And let’s not forget that my skin is starting to lose its firmness. So, I revamped my skincare routine. I simplified it, focusing on products that address my autoimmune skin conditions, aging, and the occasional steroid-induced breakouts.
Morning Routine
- Cleanser: COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser (if no breakouts) or La Roche-Posay Effaclear Cleanser (for breakouts)
- Toner: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner or Witch Hazel
- Eye Serum: No. 7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Eye Serum
- Serums: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Moisturizer + SPF: La Roche-Posay Face Moisturizer Sunscreen Toleriane with Ceramide and Niacinamide – SPF 30
Evening Routine
- Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser (no breakouts) or La Roche-Posay Effaclear Cleanser (for breakouts)
- Toner: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner or Witch Hazel
- Eye Serum: No. 7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Eye Serum or The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
- Serums: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
- Night Cream: No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Night Cream
Once a Week Treatments
- NGS Turmeric Face Scrub
- The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
- Biore Witch Hazel Nasal Strips
- The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
- The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
Tools
I know that sticking to a skincare routine when you’re managing IBD, pain, and brain fog is hard. But I’ve found that setting alarms helps me stay consistent. And having that little bit of quiet time to focus on myself—morning and night—has been a big boost for my mental health. After all, self-care is a necessity, not a luxury!
