Eczema is one of the most common types of skin conditions in existence. Some common symptoms of eczema are itchiness and inflammation of the skin. Eczema affects people of different ages, and it is more common in babies and young children. The condition can be controlled by medication. However, the following eczema skincare tips would also come in handy when trying to control the condition;
1. Avoid using too much soap
Note that the skin makes natural soaps. Therefore, when you use additional soap, you are adding to the natural one. For this reason, you need to minimize the amount of soap. Another reason why using too much soap is not advisable is that most soap products are packed with dyes, fragrances, and chemicals that make your eczema worse. Soaps also contain alkaline elements that are acidic to the skin. These elements tend to shift the PH balance of the skin, which worsens your eczema symptoms. The best choice would be a plain and fragrance-free soap. You can also altogether opt out of using soaps and instead opt for a cleansing oil.
2. Invest in a humidifier
One of the top triggers of eczema flare-ups is cold and dry air. Therefore, it would be wise if you invested in a humidifier for those seasons when it is cold. The point is to keep the air in your house as humid as possible so that you can prevent worsening an eczema episode. Having a humidifier also has added benefits like preventing your airways from drying out. This means that you will also have a lower chance of falling sick.
3. Avoid bathing with hot water
Bathing with hot water may sound so enticing. However, if you are suffering from eczema, you should not expose your body to hot water. Spending several hours under hot water tends to decrease your skin’s ability to retain moisture. By doing so, the skin becomes dry fast. The dryness causes further irritation of the skin and triggers an inflammation outbreak. It would, therefore, be wise if you took short, lukewarm showers. However, if you cannot take short showers, the better option would be to use cold water.
4. Avoid rubbing your skin when drying it
After you have taken your short, lukewarm shower, the next obvious step would be to dry yourself. However, if you have eczema, it would not be nice to rub the towel on your skin. Instead, the best option would be to pat the towel on your skin lightly instead of rubbing it. Remember that you do not want to get your skin completely dry or irritate it further. You want to leave the skin slightly damp. Note that wiping is also not a good idea for eczema skin.
5. Moisturizing
One of the primary triggers of eczema flare-ups is dry skin. Therefore, using a moisturizer would be a good eczema skincare tip. The moisturizer should be applied immediately after taking a shower. A moisturizer will help you prevent creating a skin barrier from being compromised, allowing the water to escape. This is a crucial element, especially for a type of eczema-like atopic dermatitis. However, if you have eczema, not all types of moisturizers would do you justice. The best choice of moisturizer would be a thick cream product as opposed to a light lotion one. With a thick cream moisturizer, you can limit the irritants’ negative impact and the allergens found in the product. Make sure you always have your moisturizer cream with you to ensure that your skin never goes dry.
6. Use sunscreen
In addition to using moisturizers, you also need to have sunscreen at your disposal at all times. Sunscreen will help you prevent inflammation that is triggered by UV rays. However, be careful with the types of sunscreen that you use. Avoid those that are made using too many chemicals as they tend to cause more harm than good. The best sunscreen option would be physical blockers that contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Such products usually have fewer chemical ingredients. This means that they are more gentle on the skin, and they will not trigger further irritation.
7. Use coconut oil
Coconut oil contains natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial elements. These elements tend to protect the skin from symptoms of eczema. You can use the oil topically and see if it does any wonder to your skin. If it does not work for you, make sure to stop using it immediately. Pair the use of coconut oil with other recommendations from the doctor.
Conclusion
The first thing you should do when you discover that you suffer from eczema is to visit a doctor. The doctor will give you a diagnosis and help you with eczema functional medicine and advise on how to control the condition. A doctor will also help you come up with a skincare routine that will be effective.
