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.
Dress in cotton, or at least wear a cotton blend. This type of fabric usually does not irritate people who have eczema. Avoid things like polyester, which can cause an outbreak. In addition, when you purchase new clothing, make sure you put it in the washing machine prior to wearing it.
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.
Be careful when you put on sunscreen. You never know what may cause you to have an outbreak of eczema. The higher the SPF, the more likely it is that the sunscreen may cause you to have an issue. Try and find something with an SPF of around 35. That should protect your skin from the sun and keep it in good shape overall.
Stick to a regular moisturizing regimen. Moisturizers can help out a lot in fighting eczema. Use them following your shower or bath. Be certain to choose products with no added scents, chemicals or unnecessary ingredients. These things can irritate the skin. Creams or ointments work better.
Try to be aware of anything that triggers your eczema. Flare ups of eczema can be particularly unpleasant. It is important to know what makes your eczema worse. Do scented soaps or lotions aggravate your skin? Make note of anything that causes your eczema to flare up, and make a point to avoid it.
Try using ointments when you moisturize. They are better than the other options out there to help you keep things soothed because they let you keep in moisture while leaving a protective layer behind. Creams and lotions do not have this ability. That is why ointments are your best choice when you are dealing with damage from eczema.
Moisturize immediately following bathing. This is the best time to do it because your skin is still damp. Make sure to only pat dry your skin between showering and moisturizing. You don’t want to remove any moisture that your skin has already absorbed; that is counterproductive to treating your eczema.
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.
Try to avoid taking hot baths and showers. The extreme temperatures of the water can actually cause eczema flare-ups. The humidity and steam can also dry your skin out, which can make eczema uncomfortable. Try using water that is room temperature any time you shower or take a bath.
In areas which have cold weather during the winter, those who have eczema need to take special care to prevent flare-ups. When dressing for cold temperatures, it is important to dress in a way which does not promote overheating and sweating since both of these trigger the itching and scratching cycle. If one dresses in layers, the removal of extra garments can prevent overheating.
Know what your eczema is triggered by. Some people find that dust mites can cause flare-ups. In other people, scented soaps are a cause. Learn what your own triggers are and then you can begin to avoid them when possible. This could indicate a change in habits is needed; however, not dealing with flare-ups makes these changes worthwhile.
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.
If you have eczema occasionally, an outbreak may be related to other things that cause allergies. Avoid using strong household chemicals as much as possible, as well as perfumed laundry products. Take care to notice if any type of pattern develops that may associate an outbreak with any of these products.
You may already know to change your sheets frequently but have you considered your curtains? Your curtains can attract a great amount of dust over time and that dust is released in the air whenever you open and close them. So you should wash them frequently or invest in some that are easier for you to wash.
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.
