While there are many people that are being treated for eczema, there are that many more that are looking for solutions on their own. Whether you choose to treat this with over-the-counter medications, or with a doctor’s care, the following suggestions will give you good information on where you should begin and what you should be looking for. Read on for great information that you can arm yourself with in the quest to get your eczema under control.
If you have allergies, being exposed to what you are allergic to may make your eczema worse. Eczema is not an allergy, but some common allergens that could trigger eczema are dairy products, eggs, wheat and tomatoes. Other things that could make your eczema flare up are pet dander, pollen, dust and mold.
Manage your stress. If you are upset, your eczema may flare up, which will only exacerbate an already frustrating situation. Learn how to deal with stress and keep yourself from getting too wound up. For example, deep breathing is one thing you can do just about anywhere to help keep your stress levels down.
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.
Get your skin damp before applying your moisturizer. This helps the moisturizer to seal into your skin and soften it. Following your shower or bath, just pat your skin with a towel. This will remove a lot of the wetness but still leave the skin damp and ready for moisturizing.
For those that have eczema, skin care must be modified in the cold, dry winter months. During these months, you should use an oil-based moisturizer. The oil in these moisturizers promote moisture retention. The best form of moisturizer to use in these circumstances is an ointment due to the amount of oil it contains. Since ointments are 80% oil, it protects the skin more effectively than either lotions or creams.
Sweeping can cause issues with dust, and dust is not good for eczema. Vacuuming will keep the house clean while helping you to avoid flare-ups. While you have the cleaner out, head up to the bedrooms and vacuum the mattresses as well. This will help ensure that your room stays as dust-free as possible.
Moisturized skin is less likely to suffer a flare up of eczema. Well moisturized skin is soft and pliable, making it less prone to cracking. Use unscented moisturizer or petroleum jelly, which contain limited ingredients. Some moisturizers have chemicals and fragrances and will aggravate eczema instead of relieving it.
Find the triggers for your eczema. There are many who face flare-ups when exposed to dust mites. Some people are sensitive to scented soaps that create problems for them. Whatever your triggers are, knowing what they are can help you avoid them at all costs. You might need to adjust your lifestyle somewhat, but that can lead to real eczema relief.
Should your eczema start to bother you, do not itch, no matter how tempted you are to do so. Scratching not only makes itching worse, but it can actually irritate your skin and even cause infection. Try to find other ways to deal with the itching; apply cold compresses to the affected area or use medications.
Moisturize your skin immediately after taking a bath. Applying lotion to your skin soon after your bath helps to lock in the moisture and prevents your skin from drying too much. For the best results, use a intensive moisturizer that does not have added perfumes or dyes, which can dry your skin more.
Do you have a child that has eczema? Even though you have tried to keep you child from scratching areas of skin that are itching, it still happens. To minimize the amount of damage done when they succumb to the itch/scratch cycle, keep your child’s fingernails clipped short. To help prevent damaging scratching during sleep, cover their hands with soft, cotton gloves.
During the summer months, beware of which sunscreens you use if you have eczema. Every eczema sufferer has certain triggers, but sunscreen lotions are a common one. If you try multiple sunscreens and every one of them seem to cause a flare-up, you may want to chat with your doctor about a prescription alternative.
As you have read from the above article, people are suffering from eczema each and every day. There are solutions, however, on how to deal with it. The article has given great suggestions to try. It is now up to you to be proactive in your approach as to what will work best for you. Once you find what works best for you, you can then start living your life again, whether or not your eczema decides to flare up.
This Article Is The Perfect Read For Any Eczema Sufferer was originally published on Spring