You wake up one morning and notice those familiar red, itchy patches on your skin again. Great, your eczema is flaring up once more. But what if your eczema outbreaks aren’t just some random annoyance? What if your skin is trying to tell you something? Your eczema could be a sign that something is bothering you – whether consciously or subconsciously.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it often reflects what’s going on inside you. Your skin may be trying to bring awareness to something you’ve been ignoring or avoiding in your life.
Issues With Boundaries
Spiritually, eczema can often be a sign that something isn’t quite right internally. Maybe you’re holding onto feelings of anger or resentment that you haven’t fully processed. Or perhaps you have trouble establishing boundaries and find it hard to say “no.”
If you struggle with setting clear boundaries, your skin may react by becoming irritated and inflamed. After all, your skin is your first line of defense against the outside world. When you have trouble speaking up for yourself in a healthy way, your body finds another outlet.
Take some time and think about where you’re at right now in life. Are there situations where you feel taken advantage of or have trouble standing up for your needs? Do certain relationships leave you feeling drained or disrespected? You may need to be more assertive and learn to set better limits.
It’s easier said than done, but improving your ability to establish boundaries in a compassionate way can help reduce stress and allow your skin to heal. Speak your truth, say “no” when you need to, and make sure to practice self-care.
Inner Irritance
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, eczema is seen as a sign of excess inner “heat” or irritability. Your eczema may be a symptom of underlying emotional irritation or stress. Ask yourself what’s really bothering you. Are you holding onto anger, resentment, or frustration? These negative emotions can manifest as inflammation in the body. Your eczema is a flare-up of inner inflammation showing up on your skin.
Relieving your eczema is about more than just what’s on the outside. You’ve also got to address what’s bugging you (literally) on the inside. If there’s a certain person who really gets under your skin, maybe it’s possible to steer clear of them or stop hanging out. And if it’s not a person but something else that’s irritating, can you find a way to not come into contact with it or hear about it? Do your best to avoid anything that gets your goat.
You Are Holding Onto Something And Afraid To Let Go
Eczema can sometimes flare up when there’s an underlying emotional issue you need to address. Are you clinging to something in your life that’s no longer serving you? Perhaps an unhealthy relationship, job, or habit you need to release? Eczema may be your body’s way of signaling that it’s time for a change.
Releasing emotional baggage and unhealthy attachments can help clear your skin and your spirit. Make a list of things in your life that feel draining or no longer fulfill you. Then, start taking steps to let them go.
This could be ending a toxic relationship, looking for a new job, breaking an addiction, or practicing self-care. While it can be difficult, letting go of what no longer serves you will open up space for new opportunities and healing.
Your eczema flare-up could also indicate you’re holding onto anger, resentment, or other negative emotions. Practice self-reflection to gain awareness of feelings you may be harboring. Then, work to release them through journaling, talk therapy, meditation, or creative pursuits like art or music. Forgiving others and yourself for past hurts can be profoundly healing. Make the choice to let go of negative feelings and make inner peace your top priority.
Releasing and surrendering is a spiritual practice that can transform your life and clear your skin from the inside out. Be open to the messages your eczema may be sending, and take steps to let go of anything standing in the way of your health and happiness.
Someone’s Getting “Under Your Skin”
Have you ever had someone in your life that just gets under your skin? Even when they aren’t saying anything, they’re still annoying you and causing stress. That’s when it can really start messing with your skin.
Your body is basically showing irritation on the outside. When someone is really bugging you internally, you’ll sometimes break out in a rash, or you will get eczema. It’s like your skin is trying to match what’s going on in your head. So, skin issues may be a sign that something deeper needs to be looked at. The surface is just reflecting what’s happening below.
Eczema, specifically, can be a signal that a person or situation is “getting under your skin” in an emotional sense. Maybe a co-worker’s constant criticism makes you feel inadequate. Or perhaps a friend’s neediness and lack of boundaries stress you out. Our bodies have a funny way of bringing our emotional troubles to the surface in the form of physical symptoms.
Bottom Line
Eczema flare-ups could be your body’s way of telling you that something’s off in your life and needs addressing. Maybe you’re holding onto anger, resentment, or frustration towards someone or a situation that’s no longer serving you. Perhaps you’re not honoring your own needs and putting too much pressure on yourself. Or it could be a sign you need to slow down and practice more self-care.
My advice? Do some journaling, meditation, or talk to a friend or therapist. Figure out what’s really bothering you and make a plan to resolve it. Your skin needs and deserves so much love!