This year was a rollercoaster.
It all started when someone living with me began an extreme fasting routine—no food, no water, a full-on dry fast. And then things got strange. She started pouring water everywhere—over electrical sockets, floors, you name it. Six months in, my water bill skyrocketed. I eventually had to get the police involved to remove her.
Around that time, I noticed eczema cropping up on my arms, elbows, and legs. In a panic, I dashed to Boots and Superdrug, grabbing every cream I could find. I settled on Epaderm to hydrate my very dry skin, but I also tried Sudocrem, which turned out to be a disaster. I itched for two days straight, and my skin flaked, tightened, and broke out in patches.
I spent nearly £200 in four weeks, trying everything from Vitamin E cream to shea butter and Chinese creams, but nothing worked. Finally, I saw a private GP and a French dermatologist. The GP prescribed a steroid ointment, Metamesone, and Oilatum for baths. The relief was almost immediate. For the first time in weeks, my skin stopped flaking, and I was able to sleep without scratching until I bled.
The dermatologist taught me how to taper off the steroids gradually. Meanwhile, I tried something different—I went to church for prayer. A pastor prayed for me and gave me anointing oil, which I mixed with olive oil and applied daily. Miraculously, my skin started healing. A month later, a friend at church shared her homemade body butter recipe, and I was hooked. I ordered a kilogram of shea butter, rosehip oil, and other ingredients, and whipped up my own batch after watching YouTube tutorials. It turned out fluffy, rich, and perfect for my skin. I even gifted jars to friends and family, who loved it!
Now, I’m experimenting with different oils like neem and sea buckthorn. My skin is returning to its natural brown tone, and I feel like I’ve finally found what works for me. The best part? My homemade body butter keeps my skin moisturized for 24 hours, and I’m saving money—just £10 for 1kg of shea butter!
Lesson learned: you don’t need expensive creams that aren’t designed for darker skin tones. Make your own, and say goodbye to eczema!
