"The Itchy Truth: How I Survived Eczema and Psoriasis as a Teen"
- Jennifer Tollefsrud
- Mar 12
- 5 min read
Title: "Flaky and Fabulous: My Teenage Skin Saga in the '80s and Why Today’s Kids Have It Easier"
Picture this…the 1980s. A decade of big hair, bigger shoulder pads, and stirrup pants… and me thinking that my naturally curly hair would somehow distract people from the fact that my skin looked like a science experiment gone wrong. Yes, friends, I was a teenager with eczema and psoriasis, and let me tell you, it was a glorious time to be alive. If by "glorious" you mean "constantly itchy, red, flaky, and perpetually feeling like I was wearing a skin suit that had been left in the dryer too long."
The '80s: When Skincare Was Basically Witchcraft
Rewind the clock…⏰…It’s 1987… I’m 15 years old, rocking a head of naturally curly hair that smells faintly of White Rain, and my arms and legs are covered in red, scaly patches that make me look like I’ve been mauled by a very enthusiastic cheese grater. My hands? Oh, they’re a masterpiece.
Dry, cracked, Patchy and occasionally bleeding if I dared to open a bag of chips too aggressively.
I was basically the human embodiment of a cautionary tale. How do you explain to other teenagers and adults for that matter, what it is and that it’s not contagious, when you don’t really understand it very well yourself??? You don’t know what it’s like until you’ve had someone jerk their hand away when you are giving them change (when I worked at a art supply store in high school), and look at your hand holding their money with disgust on their face… the humiliation when someone would say, ‘just keep it” and hurry away as fast as they could.🫥
Back then, the treatment options for #eczema and #psoriasis were… well, let’s just say they were creative. My #dermatologist prescribed me a cream so thick it could double as spackle. It smelled like a mix between a hospital, gasoline and despair, and it left a greasy residue that made me a walking fire hazard. I also had to wrap my limbs in plastic wrap at night to "lock in the moisture," which made me look like a poorly preserved mummy. Sexy, right? And let’s not forget the fashion challenges. Shorts? Nope. Sleeveless tops? Forget it. I was basically a long-sleeve, turtleneck enthusiast by default, even in the sweltering summer heat. Try wearing long-sleeves and jeans during the humid North Carolina summer…🥵
Meanwhile, my peers were out there living their best lives in crop tops and Daisy Dukes, while I was over here sweating through my third layer of clothing, trying not to scratch my skin off.
The Unsolicited Advice: Because Everyone’s a Dermatologist
Of course, everyone had an opinion about my skin. "Have you tried oatmeal baths?" (Sure, who doesn’t love soaking in breakfast cereal...I liked apple cinnamon the best..) "What about coconut oil?" (Great, now I’m greasy and itchy.) "Maybe it’s stress?" (Gee, I wonder what’s stressing me out—could it be the fact that I look like I have a case of the measles gone terribly wrong??). My favorite was when someone accused me of having ring worm…I often thought that was asked just to humiliate me. People can be really cruel when they put their mind to it. The best part? The constant reassurance that I’d "grow out of it." Spoiler alert: I didn’t. But hey, at least I developed a thick skin—literally and figuratively.
Fast Forward to Today: The Golden Age of Skin Salvation
Now, let’s talk about the present day, where kids with #eczema and #psoriasis have it a bit easier these days. (Okay, fine, I’m not bitter. Much.) Thanks to modern science, there are actual, effective treatments that don’t involve smelling like a wet sheep or wrapping yourself in Saran Wrap.
Dietary Interventions: Because Food Is Now Medicine...Really!🤓
Turns out, what you eat can actually make a difference. Who knew? (Certainly not my teenage self, who survived on a diet of junior mints, curly fries and diet coke.) Today, dermatologists recommend #antiinflammatory diets rich in #omega3 fatty acids (think salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds) and low in processed sugars and dairy, which can sometimes trigger flare-ups. #Probiotics are also having a moment, because apparently, your #guthealth and your skin are BFFs. Who knew your yogurt could be so powerful?
Topical Treatments: No More Spackle Creams
Gone are the days of greasy, smelly creams that do nothing but ruin your sheets. Now, there are prescription topicals like corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and vitamin D analogs that actually work. There are even over-the-counter options with ceramides and hyaluronic acid that hydrate without making you feel like you’ve been dipped in Vaseline. If you don’t have issues with animal based products, beef tallow and manukau honey based creams are unbelievably effective in healing things up...(feel free to message me if you want a #recipe)
Phototherapy: Tanning, sort of but Make It Medical 🚨
#Infrared / RED light therapy is a thing now, and it’s like tanning(without the harmful rays)for people who want to clear their skin instead of looking like a leather handbag. It’s not exactly a day at the beach, but it’s way better than slathering yourself in Crisco and sitting under a heat lamp (which, yes, was a thing in the ‘80s😬).
Biologics: The Miracle Drugs 💊
And then there are #biologics—the rock stars of #psoriasis treatment. These injectable medications target specific parts of your #immunesystem to stop the #inflammation at its source. They’re expensive, but hey, clear skin is priceless. (Well, not literally priceless, but you get the idea). Most insurance companies will cover a portion of these medications with the proper diagnosis.
Conclusion: A Love Letter to My Younger Self 💌
To my teenage self: I’m sorry you had to go through the ‘80s feeling like you were stuffed into a skin suit two sizes too small while everyone else was out there living their John Hughes movie dreams. But hey, you survived, and you came out stronger (and slightly more sarcastic) because of it. And to today’s teens with #eczema and #psoriasis: rejoice! You have options. You have #hope. And you’ll never have to wrap yourself in plastic wrap unless you’re into that sort of thing...
So here’s to #clearskin, #modernmedicine, and the hope that one day, shoulder pads will make a comeback. (Just kidding. Please, God, no.🤣). Now excuse me while I go moisturize.
☎️For more information on anti-inflammation diets and other interventions, feel free to schedule a Discovery call with me to discuss what we can do to help you.
Book on our website redtreelifeandwellnesscoaching.com or call 919-246-9905
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