There have probably been times you have looked at yourself in the mirror and been happy with your skin. But then you learned that you have eczema, and you quickly became frustrated by the irritation and redness it causes you. If this sounds like you, continue reading to learn what you can do about it.

If you have been prescribed medicine for your eczema, take it as directed. When all else fails, your doctor may be able to help ease your symptoms by prescribing you something a little stronger than what you can get over the counter. While no one really wants to rely on medication, sometimes it is necessary.

If you are getting ready to put something on your skin to moisturize it, like an ointment or a lotion, make sure you get your skin damp first. That will help the moisturizer do its job. It may be best to apply the product within a few minutes of getting out the shower or the bath. Simply pat yourself dry, so that you are not dripping wet, and then put the product on.

Those who have eczema should not use a washcloth or body sponge when they are taking a bath or a shower. If you wash your body with such rough-surfaced items, the friction will irritate your skin. Skin irritation can lead to a flare-up of your eczema. To clean your body, simply use your hands to lather up.

If you have eczema, moisturize your skin frequently. Moisturizers help with controlling eczema. Use a moisturizer after your shower. You should only use moisturizer that’s free from fragrance or chemicals. These additives can further aggravate skin. Creams or ointments that are thick will work best.

One effective skin care regimen which will reduce flare-ups and improve response to medication and treatment is proper application of moisturizers. Moisturizers trap moisture in the skin, so applying moisturizers no later than 3 minutes after bathing is highly effective. Of course, it is still important to continue to apply a moisturizer to very dry patches of skin throughout the day.

If you live in an area that experiences cold weather in the winter, buy a humidifier to help decrease eczema flare-ups. During the cold winter months, we close all of our windows and turn on the furnace. This can make the air inside of a house very dry which makes the itching and dry skin associated with eczema even worse. To replace moisture in your internal environment, use a humidifier. This added moisture will keep your skin from becoming dry, cracked, itchy and irritated.

Do you have eczema on your hands or wrists? Cold winter weather can be really brutal on these areas if they are not properly protected. The cold, dry air associated with winter can increase the dryness of your skin. Of course, this can cause a flare-up of your eczema. To help prevent this from happening, rub a ointment-based moisturizer on your hands and wrists. When you go outside, wear gloves for added protection.

Make sure to take warm showers. They may feel amazing, but they really irritate skin. Particularly if you have eczema, be cautious when turning the water on. Your shower water should be at room temperature. Gently clean your skin and apply moisturizer.

If you suffer from eczema, try not to sweat too much. Of course, certain sweating cannot be avoided. But, it is important to try to keep the skin cool. If you do sweat, say from a workout or a jog, be sure to take a shower as soon as you are done.

Eczema can be triggered by exposure to hot water. Hot water irritates the skin and can make the symptoms of eczema worsen and lead to dry and cracked skin. Instead of taking hot showers or baths use luke warm water when you bathe. This will clean your skin just as well as hot water but is far gentler on the skin and can prevent eczema flair ups. So, switch to warm water bathing and don’t forget to apply moisturizer immediately following your bath.

When taking a bath or shower, use only very gentle cleansers. Don’t scrub too hard. After you take a shower or a bath, pat your skin dry gently. Be sure to moisturize all over with a natural oil such as olive oil. This will help keep the moisture from your bath in your skin.

Take care not to scratch. If you tend to scratch in your sleep, be sure the itchy areas are covered by gauze, bandages or pajamas. Trim your fingernails very short so that you will not be able to scratch much while sleeping. Use cold compresses and/or anti-itch treatments right before bed.

Any time that you take the time to learn about a topic, you can start working on a solution to bring a sense of balance back to your life. Eczema is no different. And the information that has been provided here will help you get back the skin that makes you happiest.

Useful Information For Dealing With Your Eczema was originally published on Spring