Before she knew she had eczema, Kelly Rowland couldn’t make sense of her rash.
Right before an event, the skin around her eyes, neck, center of her arms, and middle of her shins started to itch. “When you start to scratch, it kind of feels like the greatest thing in the world,” she told Business Insider. Still, it made the flare-up worse, and the affected areas of skin darker.
The former Destiny’s Child member and solo artist skipped the event, along with others, when her flare-ups were bad enough. “I remember not going on vacation with my husband when we were just dating,” she said.
Rowland was formally diagnosed with eczema after the birth of her oldest son, Titan, in 2014. Research suggests hormonal changes during pregnancy and postpartum can affect eczema symptoms in some women.
Over the years, Rowland had tried all sorts of eczema remedies, such as emu oil and shea butter, to hydrate her skin. One woman suggested Rowland sit out in the sun for as long as she could and get into a cold plunge, “which actually made it worse,” she said.
“You try all these different things and then at the same time, you’re not a doctor,” Rowland recalled.
Rowland, who partnered with Ebglyss, an injectable treatment for people 12 and older with moderate-to-severe eczema, said talking to her own doctor helped.
She also said making a few lifestyle changes helped her reduce her flare-ups, because “eczema doesn’t care what kind of day you’re having.”
She cut out alcohol
Rowland quit drinking alcohol over a year ago, initially motivated to improve her energy levels and overall health.
“The last time I had a drink, it was a really rough couple of days afterward, trying to bounce back from that,” she said, adding that she always felt “puffy” the day after drinking.
Rowland said she also noticed fewer eczema episodes since she stopped drinking. Alcohol may contribute to eczema flare-ups in some people because it can promote inflammation and dehydration, which can worsen eczema symptoms.
Now, she orders mocktails when she goes out. “I’ll ask them to put it in a martini glass or a champagne flute so that I feel like I’m really doing something,” she quipped.
She understands her trigger foods
Certain foods can trigger inflammation and worsen eczema symptoms. While Rowland said keeping a food journal is unrealistic for her, given how busy her life is, being more aware of what she eats has helped her anticipate future flare-ups.
Some of the foods she keeps an eye on are tomatoes and onions. While they’re often included in anti-inflammatory diets, individual eczema triggers vary considerably from person to person, research suggests.
“If I’m having a pasta day, I’ll know what comes with it later, which is definitely some itching and scratching,” Rowland said.
Rowland said foods she considers inflammatory, like red meat and sugar, tend to worsen her symptoms. Conversely, when she eats mostly whole foods like vegetables and sardines, she feels great.
“When it’s a lot of leafy greens, fish, I have no problems at all,” Rowland added.
She sets boundaries around stress
Rowland said one of her biggest eczema flare-up triggers is stress. “Stress will get me every time,” she said. “Even if I’m eating that clean, it could be one thing that day that sets me off.”
Still, the R&B singer understands how to course-correct when her stress levels rise beyond her comfort level.
“A bath is the greatest thing ever,” she said. “Meditation usually helps, even if it’s a couple of minutes.” She also likes to put essential oils like lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus on her collarbone to create a more calming effect.
Rowland also sets boundaries around work, which takes her away from her home, where she lives with her husband, Tim Weatherspoon, and two sons.
“Whatever it is that I’m doing, it has to be worth it,” she said, “because I’m missing time away from them, watching them grow.”
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