Trevett turned to mind-body therapies after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and her daughter, who also has severe eczema, was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. “I knew I had to address the stress in my life that was contributing to the inflammation in my body,” she explains. Now, “meditation and mindfulness practices allow me to manage stress and anxiety.” But what surprised Trevett was that, after she began meditating, her eczema symptoms also began to improve. “I no longer have patches of eczema on my face or eyebrows,” she says. “I now feel in control of my body, mind, and overall health.” Mind-body therapies have been used for quite some time to alleviate stress, anxiety, pain, depression, and more. But recently, these therapeutic interventions have also been employed as treatments for chronic conditions such as eczema, used along with “traditional” prescription medications. “We’re starting to see a lot more physicians incorporating these mind-body therapies into their patients’ treatment plans,” says Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at the University of Pittsburgh. “There are three types of interventions that can work: psychological, behavioral, and educational. It’s all about figuring out which one works for you.” The itch-scratch cycle that often occurs with severe eczema — in which you experience itchiness and scratch the affected area, which in turn causes more itching — can cause stress, impact your mood, and lead to mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Having a variety of mind-body therapies on hand to combat those emotional factors can help lessen the impact of the itch-scratch cycle. While everyone is different, there are several mind-body tactics that may help alleviate the emotional toll of eczema. Here are some to try.
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation has been shown to provide some degree of relief in dozens of medical conditions, including pain, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and more. So it’s little surprise that it’s also been shown to lessen the symptoms in chronic conditions such as eczema. If you have eczema, there are areas of your brain that are “overactive,” which causes the release of the stress hormone cortisol and other markers of inflammation such as histamines. One small pilot study from Emory University found that meditation helped reduce the urge to itch by deactivating those areas of the brain. “Mindfulness meditation is about noticing that your body is feeling the urge to itch, recognizing that feeling, but then retraining your body to focus on something other than the urge to itch,” says Tania Elliott, MD, a spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. “It can really help alleviate those eczema symptoms.” For Travett, meditation has been invaluable in combatting eczema. “I use meditation every day,” she says. “Whenever I feel anxious or stressed, I stop and meditate or use skills like tapping or controlled breathing to manage my response to anxiety or stress.” (Tapping involves tapping your fingers on certain points on your head, hands, and torso, according to Kaiser Permanente.)
Therapy/Counseling
The more you know about eczema, the more confident you may feel about your ability to manage it. Case in point: A study published in April 2021 by the journal Asia-Pacific Allergy found that educational interventions reduced eczema severity in 21 people with the condition. Talking about eczema may also help you control your symptoms: A study published in May 2021 by JAMA Dermatology found that adults with eczema who received internet-based therapy — or access to a therapist via written messages for 12 weeks — in addition to the traditional self-care and medication instructions saw significant reductions in itch intensity, perceived stress, sleep problems, and depression. Dr. Kazlouskaya believes people who are educated about severe eczema can better manage it. “Patients are often unaware of the mechanism of the disease,” she says. “They’ve only been taught how to treat the itching and symptoms. But they don’t actually understand why their body is reacting a certain way. I’ve found that when patients have a better understanding of what’s happening physically to their bodies and why, they start to understand their condition” — and what triggers its symptoms — better.
Yoga
Another way to reduce stress with eczema is yoga, according to Kazlouskaya. “Eczema patients are more susceptible to effects of stress due to their weak skin barrier,” she explains. A small study published in 2017 found that adults who participated in a three-month yoga and meditation retreat experienced an increase in a specific anti-inflammatory protein and a decrease in pro-inflammatory proteins that cause conditions such as eczema, not to mention a significant reduction in anxiety and depression.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy has been used for decades in treating a variety of conditions, including eczema. It’s a form of psychotherapy that uses relaxation and concentration techniques to achieve a heightened state of mindfulness, resulting in a positive change during a state of unconsciousness. A small study published in August 2020 by the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis found that 26 of the 27 participants who used hypnosis saw a significant reduction in their eczema symptoms.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback has become a popular option in pain and stress management as well as mental health. But it’s also been shown to help people with chronic conditions like eczema. Biofeedback is designed to help you control all of the connections between the body and brain, explains Kazlouskaya. It works by measuring different functions such as muscle contractions, heart rate, and breathing using electrical sensors attached to your body. That information is then analyzed by a biofeedback provider who can then teach you how to use mindfulness techniques such as meditation to calm those areas that are triggered by the itching and scratching, Kazlouskaya says. A study published in May 2021 by the journal Behavior Research & Therapy found that biofeedback can lower stress, which can trigger eczema symptoms. You can find a local Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA)-certified practitioner on the organization’s website.
