fuxkeczema

01/16/2026

Day 9: Manuka Honey for TSW
If there’s ONE product I swear by, it’s Manuka Honey.
Not regular honey. MANUKA honey.
What it does:
• Antibacterial (prevents infection)
• Anti-inflammatory (reduces redness)
• Promotes wound healing (speeds repair)
• Moisturizing (seals hydration)
• Soothes pain and itching
My experience: During worst TSW (open wounds, oozing, raw skin), Manuka honey was a lifesaver. Applied directly to wounds - didn’t sting, felt soothing. Wounds healed faster, infections stayed away.
I still use it for flare-ups!
How to use:
• Spot treatment: Apply to problem areas, leave 20-30 min, rinse
• Face mask: All over face, 15-20 min, rinse
What to buy:
• UMF 15+ or MGO 400+ (medical-grade healing power)
• Brands: Wedderspoon, Manukora, Comvita
• Yes, it’s $30-60, but a little goes FAR
Important:
• Medical-grade Manuka only!
• Test small area first
• Don’t use if allergic to bees

Check link in bio for Amazon affiliate links

01/15/2026

This is more for me than it is for yall lol

In between life updates to document the inbetweens of this journey

01/15/2026

Day 8: Give Yourself Grace
This isn’t a physical tip. But it might be the most important one.
TSW is brutal - painful, isolating, exhausting, and LONG.
Through all of it, you’re still expected to show up for life.
You need to give yourself GRACE.
Grace for:
• Days you can’t get out of bed
• Times you snap because you’re in pain
• Canceling plans when skin is oozing
• Crying in the shower
• Feeling ugly, broken, hopeless
• Not being who you used to be
My experience:
I spent YEARS beating myself up. Why wasn’t I healing faster? Why couldn’t I push through? Why was I so weak?
Being hard on myself made everything worse.
When I started giving myself grace - permission to feel, to rest, to NOT be okay - things shifted.
My skin didn’t magically heal. But mentally? I stopped drowning.
You’re not lazy for needing rest.
You’re not weak for crying.
You’re not failing because healing takes time.
You’re surviving something incredibly hard while still living your life.
That deserves grace.
Be gentle with you. You’re doing the best you can.
And that’s enough. You are enough. 💚

01/15/2026

Day 7: Cotton Over Polyester - Your Clothes Matter
Your clothes are either helping your healing or making it worse.
The problem with synthetic fabrics:
• Don’t breathe
• Trap heat, moisture, sweat
• Create friction
• Hold bacteria
Why cotton is better:
• Breathes
• Absorbs moisture
• Soft
• Doesn’t trap heat
My experience: Cheap polyester clothes made my TSW worse. Switching to cotton or cotton blends = my skin could breathe.
Real talk: 100% cotton is hard to find nowadays.
My rule: Aim for 50% cotton or MORE in blends.
60% cotton, 40% polyester? ✅ Works
95% polyester, 5% cotton? ❌ Skip it
What I wear:
• 100% cotton when I can find it
• Cotton blends with 50%+ cotton (realistic!)
• Cotton pajamas (loose)
• Cotton underwear (always!)
• Cotton sheets/pillowcases
Avoid:
• Majority polyester (over 50%)
• Rayon-heavy blends
• Nylon, spandex
• “Moisture-wicking” athletic wear
Budget tips:
• Thrift stores (old cotton = softer, higher %!)
• Men’s cotton tees (cheaper)
• Target/Walmart basics
• CHECK TAGS - look for 50% cotton minimum
Pro tip: Turn clothes inside out when washing - seams won’t rub raw skin.

01/15/2026

Day 6: ACV Baths - Gentler Than Bleach
If bleach baths feel too harsh, try ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) baths.
What ACV baths do:
• Balance skin pH
• Anti-bacterial (kills bacteria, gentler than bleach)
• Anti-inflammatory (calms redness)
• Helps oozing
• Soothes itching
My experience: I alternated bleach and ACV baths during TSW. When skin felt too raw for bleach, ACV was perfect. Less sting, calmer skin after.
The smell is STRONG - start low!
My progression:
• Starting: 1/2 - 1 cup (getting used to smell)
• Active healing: Up to 2 cups (when needed stronger benefits)
• Maintenance: Back to 1/2 cup (gentle upkeep once progress shows)
How to do it:
1. Fill tub with lukewarm water
2. Add ACV (raw, unfiltered with “the mother” - Bragg’s)
3. Soak 15-20 min
4. Rinse with clean water
5. Barely pat dry, moisturize
Start with 1/2 cup! Work up when needed. Wean back to 1/2 cup for maintenance.
When to use which:
• Bleach: Severe oozing, infections
• ACV: Sensitive skin, gentle healing, pH balance
Important:
• Raw, unfiltered ACV only (with “the mother”)
• Always rinse after
• 2-3x per week MAX
Drop a 🍎 if you’ve tried ACV baths

01/14/2026

Day 5: Bleach Baths Saved My Skin During TSW
I know what you’re thinking: “BLEACH?! On my skin?!”
Yes. Bleach. But hear me out.
Diluted bleach baths were one of the most effective tools during my TSW healing. And they’re actually recommended by dermatologists for eczema and TSW.
What bleach baths do:
• Kill bacteria on skin surface (prevents infection in open wounds/oozing)
• Reduce inflammation
• Help with oozing and weeping
• Lower bacterial load (especially staph)
• Calm flare-ups
• Speed up healing
My experience:
During my worst TSW when I was oozing, cracking, and covered in open wounds - bleach baths were a LIFESAVER. They prevented infections, reduced the oozing, and calmed my angry, inflamed skin.
I was terrified the first time. Bleach on destroyed skin? But it didn’t burn. It actually felt soothing.
How to do a bleach bath SAFELY:
1. Fill bathtub with lukewarm water (NOT hot!)
2. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of regular household bleach (Clorox, unscented)
∙ For standard tub (40 gallons): 1/2 cup
∙ For smaller tub or child: 1/4 cup
1. Mix well
2. Soak for 10-15 minutes MAX (don’t exceed 15 min!)
3. Get out, rinse with clean water
4. Pat dry (barely - stay damp!)
5. Moisturize immediately
IMPORTANT:
• Use REGULAR bleach (unscented, no splashless or concentrated formulas)
• NEVER use straight bleach on skin - always dilute!
• Don’t submerge face/head (just body)
• Don’t do daily - 2-3x per week MAX
• If it burns or stings badly, get out and rinse (you may have added too much)
Frequency:
• Active TSW/severe oozing: 2-3x per week
• Moderate flares: 1-2x per week
• Maintenance/prevention: 1x per week
My routine:
I did bleach baths 2-3x per week during my worst phases. They kept infections away and helped my skin heal faster.
Not everyone’s skin reacts the same. Some people love bleach baths, some don’t tolerate them. Start slow, see how YOUR skin responds.

“This is my personal experience. Always consult with your doctor before trying new treatments, especially if you have open wounds or severe skin conditions. What worked for me may not work for everyone.”

01/14/2026

Day 4: Barely Pat Dry - Moisturize on DAMP Skin
This one tip changed EVERYTHING for my TSW healing.
Most people shower, towel dry completely, THEN moisturize. But when you have TSW or eczema? That’s backwards.
Here’s what I do:
After showering, I barely pat myself dry. I’m talking MINIMAL contact with the towel. Sometimes I literally shake off like a dog or just wipe off the excess water dripping down.
The goal? Keep my skin as damp as possible. Then I IMMEDIATELY moisturize before the air dries me completely.
Why this works:
• Damp skin = better product absorption
• You’re sealing IN the water from your shower (instead of drying it all off)
• Less friction on already damaged skin (minimal towel contact = less irritation)
• Moisturizer spreads easier on damp skin
• Your products go further (you use less!)
• You’re locking in hydration
My experience:
When I started doing this during my worst TSW, I noticed my skin felt less tight and dry. My moisturizers actually WORKED better because they were sealing in all that water. And I stopped irritating my skin with aggressive towel drying.
How to do it:
1. Shower (lukewarm water, not hot!)
2. Step out
3. Shake off excess water (yes, like a dog 😂) OR gently wipe off dripping water
4. BARELY pat with towel if needed (minimal contact!)
5. Skin should still be DAMP (not dripping, but definitely moist)
6. IMMEDIATELY apply your moisturizer/products (don’t wait!)
7. Let the air dry you the rest of the way while products absorb
The key: SPEED. Don’t stand there waiting. The second you step out of the shower, you’re on the clock. Shake off, barely pat, moisturize. Done.
Pro tip: I keep my moisturizer RIGHT next to the shower so I can grab it immediately. No walking to another room and letting my skin dry out.

01/14/2026

My selfcare may not look like your kind of selfcare
That’s ok
What works for you is meant for you and what works for me is meant for me. But that doesn’t mean we can’t share and express ourselves in a positive way. Don’t spend too much time thinking or being negative

It takes too much energy to be negative
Give yourself permission to be positive
Give and receive positive

01/14/2026

Day 3: Vinegar + Fabric Softener for Laundry
If you have TSW or eczema, your laundry routine might be secretly sabotaging your healing.
Fabric softeners are LOADED with chemicals, fragrances, and residue that trigger flares. But going completely without softener? Your clothes feel stiff and rough - which also irritates sensitive skin.
The solution? Dilute your fabric softener with white vinegar.
Here’s what I do:
In the fabric softener compartment, I add vinegar FIRST, then add a small amount of fabric softener. The vinegar dilutes the softener, making it gentler on my skin while still keeping clothes soft.
What this does:
• Reduces chemical concentration (less irritants on your skin)
• Still softens clothes (no stiff, scratchy fabric)
• Vinegar removes detergent residue (the stuff that clings to fabric and irritates)
• Balances pH (gentle on TSW skin)
• Stretches your fabric softener (it lasts WAY longer!)
My experience:
When I started diluting my fabric softener with vinegar, I noticed less itching from my clothes. My sheets didn’t irritate my flares as much. And I wasn’t using as much fabric softener - which saved money AND reduced chemical exposure.
The vinegar scent disappears completely when clothes dry. No vinegar smell, I promise!
How to use:
1. Wash clothes with your regular (fragrance-free!) detergent
2. In fabric softener compartment: Add vinegar first (about half), then add fabric softener (the other half)
3. Wash as normal
4. Dry as normal
5. Done!
Pro tip: You can gradually increase the vinegar ratio and decrease the fabric softener over time. Some loads I do 70% vinegar, 30% softener. Test what works for YOUR skin.
Another pro tip: Use this vinegar method to strip buildup from old clothes. Fill washer with hot water, add 1 cup vinegar + 1/2 cup baking soda, soak clothes for an hour, then wash. The water turns GREY from all the detergent/softener buildup. Gross but satisfying.
Cost: $3 bottle of vinegar lasts forever when you’re diluting. You’ll use way less fabric softener too.

01/13/2026

Day 2: Shower Filters for TSW
Tap water = chlorine, heavy metals, chemicals that strip your already destroyed skin barrier.
I didn’t realize how much my shower water was sabotaging my healing until I got a filter.
What changed:
• Less stinging during showers
• Skin felt less tight after
• Reduced inflammation
• Faster healing
I was recently gifted a new shower filter brand and I’m LOVING it. Full install video on TikTok + Stories!
The filter I’m using is linked in my bio (affiliate link - I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you).
But honestly? ANY filter is better than none. Even a $20 basic one helps.
Drop a 💧 if you use a shower filter!

01/12/2026