Mandy Moore Just Shared the Foods That She Focuses On to Help Manage Her Eczema

“I know when I’m eating better, it’s going to be reflected in the way I feel.”

Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Mandy Moore has an acting career spanning decades, including films like The Princess Diaries, A Walk to Remember and Tangled, as well as her starring role in the family drama series This Is Us. But behind the scenes, she’s a working mom advocating for more awareness on her chronic skin condition.

In a recent partnership with the Moments of Clarity campaign, Moore has been vocal about her atopic dermatitis (AD) diagnosis, also known as eczema. Through this campaign, the actor hopes to lend a voice and help others who struggle with eczema or similar conditions to talk to their dermatologist about treatment options.

EatingWell recently sat down with Moore alongside dermatologist Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, M.P.H., to discuss more about her atopic dermatologist diagnosis, personal ways Moore manages her flare ups and more. Read on to find out the star’s morning routine, her family’s favorite snack and her philosophy on eating well.

Related: How Having Psoriasis Can Impact Mental Health: “I Wish People Knew the Emotional Side of Psoriasis”

EatingWell: When did you first notice your AD symptoms, and how important was it for you to initially seek expert advice?

Moore: A couple of years ago, I noticed that the skin on my face was just red and inflamed, it was itchy and being an actor and my line of work, I’m constantly having things being put on my face. So I just assumed that maybe it was some sort of allergic reaction, maybe it had something to do with wearing makeup all the time. When the symptoms persisted and nothing seemed to help, I finally realized that it was time to go to the dermatologist. Lo and behold, I was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. To have the knowledge of what was actually going on and how I could move forward from there was the most helpful. Everyone’s eczema journey is unique and different, and I think that’s why I’m so passionate about eczema and highlighting the campaign that we’re working on.

Batra: [Mandy] illustrated so beautifully when and why to see a dermatologist: when you’re itchy, when you have redness or a rash that you just can’t explain or it’s not going away and anytime it’s disrupting your life. If you’re feeling really itchy or uncomfortable or embarrassed, that’s always a good time to see a dermatologist because then we can work with you.

EatingWell: Since being diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, what are some adjustments that you had to make in your daily life to help relieve some of your symptoms?

Moore: Some of the things that trigger me trigger a lot of people with eczema, like stress. I noticed that making slight dietary changes in my life have also been helpful. I know when I'm eating better, it's going to be reflected in the way I feel and the clarity of my skin. I understand that for me, my eczema really starts to flare-up seasonally. We’re venturing into cooler weather, and that’s when my skin tends to be at its worst and its driest. I know to prepare myself and to have grace for myself in those moments, having that expectation that, “Okay, this is something that I need to deal with.” And I don’t let myself get extra stressed out about it, as I have in the years before I really knew what was going on with my skin. I think I let myself get really worked up, but now that I have a working knowledge of what’s going on, it makes things a little easier.

Batra: I always tell people with atopic dermatitis to use scent-free, dye-free products, the more hypo-allergenic the better. We know that fragrances and colors in products are huge triggers. Interestingly as we understand more about eczema, we’re really thinking about it as a deficiency in the seal or barrier of the skin. The reason why things wax and wane sometimes and why stress takes a toll is because that’s disrupting the seal of your skin. Things that you can do at home are not too long, not too hot showers or baths. Counterintuitively, water immersion and really hot water strips that barrier. Use a non-foaming cleanser because the surfactant that makes your soaps lather and makes them really satisfying actually strips that liquid barrier of the skin. Even just a scent-free, dye-free moisturizer head to toe, it does not have to be fancy, can also seal the skin. About diet, omega fatty acids like in flaxseed oil or derived from fish are nice dietary ways to help improve the barrier of the skin and maybe decrease some of the flares.

Related: I'm Finally Starting a Skin Care Routine—These Are the Products Doctors Told Me to Buy First

EatingWell: Could you talk more about your partnership with Moments of Clarity and why you’re supporting the cause?

Moore: I think as someone who suffers from this condition, I’m just excited to empower people and [help them] recognize that they can take control of their health and that there are options out there on the table. Getting people to realize that they can speak to a dermatologist and go to the website to learn more about this specific campaign. I’m excited to continue to get the word out.

Batra: As a dermatologist, I’m also excited to get the word out and get really good information out there so people can understand. They can find out, talk to their dermatologist, see all of the treatment options and better ways to manage their condition so it’s not so disruptive to them.

EatingWell: What does your morning routine look like? 

Moore: I have two little ones, so I like to try to wake up before them if I can and ground myself and [prepare] myself for the day ahead. I normally like to drink a big glass of water before I have coffee—that’s my one big vice. I dream about coffee before I go to bed. My husband and I have our coffee setup all ready to go before we even go to bed the night before. Just jumping up, having some water, making the coffee, starting to get breakfast ready. I’m a morning person, so I feel like I really thrive when the day starts and I’m my most productive. I’m a big breakfast advocate: I wake up hungry, I eat breakfast with my kids, I make myself breakfast as I’m making them breakfast. That’s something that’s really important to me.

EatingWell: Do you have any favorite snacks you always have on hand for both you and your kids?

Moore: I’m in string cheese land. I liked string cheese before, but I feel like my world just exists around string cheese now! Speaking of things to help eczema and taking care of our skin, things that have probiotic value, I’m a big fan of. Yogurts, kefir, I love sauerkraut, kimchi. When I eat fermented foods I notice the difference it makes for my skin and gut health. My oldest loves yogurt, he wants to have yogurt all the time.

Related: 4 Sneaky Signs You May Have an Unhealthy Gut, According to a Gastroenterologist

EatingWell: Any family-favorite meals you especially love during the colder months?

Moore: I’m excited to get into some fall stews and soups. I’m a big fan of that world, and I still have an almost 1-year-old that’s starting to eat more solid foods and eating more of what we’re eating at the dinner table. I’m excited to bring him into our world, too. This is my favorite time of year; I love the holidays.

EatingWell: What does “eating well” mean to you?

Moore: I think eating well is a constantly moving target. I think on any given day, it’s going to have a different definition. It can certainly mean eating healthy and listening to my body and recognizing that I’m going to feel better eating things that I know I’m going to be able to digest well. But then eating well also needs to mean indulging sometimes and having that chocolate chip cookie, that glass of wine or the french fries or whatever your heart desires. I think having that room for yourself to have that ever changing definition of what it means.

Related: Rob Lowe Just Told Us His Least Favorite Food, and We’re Shocked

Read the original article on Eating Well.