An estimated 31.6 million Americans are living with eczema, an inflammatory skin condition that’s characterized by dry, sensitive, itchy skin with dry, rough, scaly patches and sometimes crusty or oozing sores.
This condition hits both men and women equally, and usually develops in the first months of life. It’s most common in children, affecting up to 10 percent of infants at some point, but it can carry on through adulthood or develop for the first time in teenage years or as an adult.
Flare-ups are usually caused by specific triggers, which can vary from person to person. However, there are certain elements that eczema sufferers can avoid to minimize symptoms:
Avoid Temperature Extremes
For some sufferers, cold weather can cause breakouts, because low humidity and cold temperatures can dry skin out, leading to cracking and itching. If you live in a cool climate, use a moisturizer or medicated ointment to keep skin from drying out. Indoors, a humidifier can increase moisture levels in the air that can get dried out by heating systems. Maintain indoor humidity levels between 45 and 55 percent to ease your symptoms.
For other sufferers, the heat and humidity of summer can trigger eczema flare-ups. When the mercury rises, avoid spending too much time outdoors. Excessive sweating and overheating are a recipe for dermatologic disaster -- both triggers for eczema flare-ups. When you are attempting to beat the heat, find shady areas to relax so that you don’t overheat.
Avoid Dust Mites
Research has shown a link between dust mites and eczema in children. If your child is prone to eczema, there are a number of steps you can take to minimize the presence of these microscopic pests in your home. Eliminate rugs and fabric curtains, which can hold on to dust and create mite-friendly environments. Wash linens weekly in hot water to kill the mites. You should also thoroughly clean the child’s play rooms on a weekly basis, wiping surfaces that accumulate dust.
Avoid Allergen Triggers
Many people find that food allergies can exacerbate eczema symptoms. Your doctor can conduct a range of tests to help you determine what, if any, food allergies you may have. For some people, these allergies can include dairy products, nuts and soy, wheat products and gluten, or eggs. Keeping a food diary is a great way to identify any potential allergens. Share your findings with an allergist, who can confirm your suspicions.
Believe it or not, not all allergen triggers are food-related. Many people who suffer from eczema will also find that seasonal allergens, like pollen, can trigger flare-ups. If you have to spend significant time outside during peak allergy season, be sure to change when you come indoors (to keep from spreading pollen and other allergens around your home). Take a quick shower to rinse the allergens from your skin. Keep windows closed and remove shoes that may be carrying your allergens indoors. If you have pets, dander can also be a trigger. Pet lovers can minimize their triggers by keeping homes clean and vacuuming frequently, having pets groomed regularly, or buying a hypoallergenic breed of dog as a pet, such as a Bichon Frise, Maltese, Poodle, or Schnauzer.
Dress For Comfort
Certain types of fabrics - including wools, synthetic fabrics, and clothing made from rough materials - can trigger eczema flare-ups. Aim to buy loose-fitting clothing, which won’t rub and irritate the skin, and opt for natural, soft fabrics, like cotton. New clothing should be laundered prior to being worn to eliminate excess dyes, chemicals or other irritants that may have come on the clothes. Your choice in detergents matters as well -- choose natural, fragrance and dye-free detergents to avoid wearing chemicals that will irritate the skin.
Clean Carefully
Laundry detergents can contain fragrances, dyes, and other chemicals that will trigger an eczema flare-up, and washing your clothing and linens in these chemicals will mean that your skin spends most of the day coming in contact with them.
However, it’s not just your laundry soap that you should be wary of. There are irritants lurking in your body soaps, shampoos, bubble bath, and other personal hygiene products that can aggravate your symptoms. You should look for natural products that are free from harsh ingredients. If you have to use cleaning products or others which contain irritants, you should do so wearing rubber gloves. Then wash your hands carefully afterward with a natural soap.
De-Stress
Stress can have such an impact on the skin that there is an entire branch of medicine called psychodermatology. It is a field that researches how the mind impacts the skin. Managing stress levels can be essential to minimizing your eczema symptoms. For many sufferers, the stress of daily life can impact symptoms of the conditions, and for others, eczema symptoms can cause stress to rise because of embarrassment, discomfort, or coping with the illness.
You should be sure to get enough sleep, find support groups or online forums that will help you deal with the symptoms of eczema, and find ways to de-stress yourself. Stress solutions include relaxation and hobbies to practicing yoga to lower your daily stresses and get control of the physical effects that stress can have on your body, ranging from eczema flare-ups to cardiovascular disease risks.
Minimize Cosmetics
Many cosmetics contain ingredients that can aggravate eczema, including alcohols, fragrances, dyes or preservatives, and finding products that won’t irritate the skin can be a challenge. Marketing language can be deceiving. For example, unscented does not mean that a product does not contain fragrance chemicals. Opt for products that use the language “fragrance free.” Check labels carefully for any ingredients that can irritate the skin, such as glycol acid, salicylic acid, retinol, preservatives or fragrance. Instead, use natural products that will help your condition, such as those containing Shea butter, glycerin, and lanolin. Products with these ingredients can help the skin retain moisture, or hyaluronic acid, which helps draw in moisture from the surrounding air. Niacinamide, or vitamin B3, can help ease the redness from eczema, so primers and base lotions containing this ingredient can help protect the skin while evening skin tone.
When in doubt, choose to go natural and give your skin a chance to breathe. Especially during the summer months, light or no makeup will let your natural beauty shine through without exposing your skin to pore-clogging or irritating cosmetics.
By following these helpful hints, it is possible to get a handle on your eczema before a flare-up occurs.