If there’s anyone who knows how to keep skin soft, smooth and itch-free in the colder months, it’s Erin Jackson. The two-time Olympian and speed skater, and first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics, spends a lot of time on the ice. She also suffers from eczema, an inflammatory skin condition that causes dry, red and cracked skin. Keeping it soothed is a top priority.
“When I’m wearing my skin suit, it’s super tight. When you sweat in there, it’s irritating, and being so close to the skin, it causes a lot of itchiness and a lot of discomfort,” stated Jackson, who is a spokesperson for Lilly, which offers EBGLYSS, a biologic medicine to combat eczema.
While Jackson currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, her condition can be bothersome in any climate. “I used to live in Florida; it would be the issues with the humidity,” she shared, stating that dealing with sweat in sensitive areas like elbows and knees could rev up a flare.
“People with atopic dermatitis, that perpetual dry skin happens. Couple that with sweat, changes in environment, potential allergens and irritants, that cause immune dysregulation,” explained Dr. Camille Howard-Verovic, a board-certified dermatologist and family medicine physician based in New York City.
The key for Jackson is a thick emollient. “I use a lot of lotion. It’s in the bag I keep with me because my skin can get pretty dry out on the ice. In Salt Lake City, there are even more issues with wind at high speeds, which can dry out the skin even more.”
Studies show that a healthy diet can help manage eczema by reducing inflammation and supporting overall health. That’s another mantra Jackson, who competed at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating at Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah, on November 16, follows.
“I made a big switch with my diet over the last year. I try to eat healthy for a number of reasons, and it makes me feel a lot better overall. Diet can help with a lot of different things you have going on, and I feel a difference in my skin.
The Olympian has ditched fried and overly processed foods, opting to make more meals at home. “One of my main meals would be salmon and vegetables in the air fryer. I wouldn’t say I’m lazy, but I’m not like a chef or anything, so I get these little rice packs and put them in the microwave,” she shared.
“The salmon and the vegetables take like 10 to 15 minutes in the air fryer. And then my little microwave rice takes a minute and a half, and there’s my meal.”
While Jackson is fishing around her bag for healthy snacks and her lotion, she may grab onto one other thing she keeps in there: her gold medal.
“It’s in the bottom of my bag somewhere, in a little pouch,” she revealed. “It’s normally just in whatever bag I traveled with last. It doesn’t have like a special spot or anything yet, just because I’m still doing a lot of media trips, so I keep it handy.”
