What You Absolutely Have To Know About Eczema

Eczema is a skin condition that primarily affects infants and young children, though adults can suffer from it as well. Your skin becomes irritated and inflamed, and it often makes you itch uncontrollably. Fortunately, there are some effective means of treating eczema. Keep reading to find out more about this condition.

Avoid scratching as much as possible

Of course, eczema can make you uncomfortable and cause this to happen. However, scratching only leads to more scratching. You could open yourself up to infection by doing so. Use your moisturizer as much as possible and put on a cold compress to help relieve your symptoms.

While you cannot always control this

Try to avoid sweating as much as possible. If you work out or you find yourself getting overheated, jump in the shower as soon as possible. It should help with your skin. Otherwise, pay attention to the weather forecast, dress appropriately and cool off as much as you can, whenever you can.

Common treatments for eczema

 Include topical creams and ointments that contain cortisone. You could try hydrocortisone that can be purchased at your local drug store. If this doesn't soothe your eczema, you should talk with your doctor about possibly getting a stronger prescription from him. These will work like other steroid creams, but will be able to be used for a longer time.

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.

Know what your triggers 

Are so you can avoid them. Your triggers may laundry detergent, soaps, and dust. You should probably steer clear of any products that contain fragrances, chemicals or other unnatural additives. Choose pure and unscented products instead. This will help to reduce the discomfort of daily eczema flare-ups.

Keep your hands protected

Wear rubber gloves while washing dishes or performing another activity in which your hands are submersed in water. For further protection, wear cotton gloves underneath the rubber ones to reduce sweat and irritation. Use the cotton gloves while performing other activities, such as gardening and housework.

Use an antibiotic ointment on severely cracked skin

This can prevent infections from forming. It also serves as a moisturizer. Do this sparingly though; prolonged use of antibiotic ointments can render them ineffective. If you do have an infection, you should consult your doctor, who may give you an oral antibiotic.

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.

Keep your hands protected

These eczema-prone areas are exposed to water and irritating substances like cleaning products. Too much moisture or sweat can trigger symptoms. When you need to submerge them in water, try using rubber gloves. Wearing cotton gloves can also keep hands protected when doing work around the house. Try wearing cotton or leather gloves when doing outside work.

If you have any of the many types of eczema

 You should keep your fingernails cut short. Although individuals try to refrain from scratching the patches of dry, itchy skin, sometimes scratching is done as a reflex without conscious though. With shortened nails, it's less likely that the dry, delicate skin will be punctured when you scratch it.

Avoid scrubbing your skin

Eczema won't just scrub away in the shower. Scrubbing your skin when you bathe will only serve to irritate it. Avoid using exfoliating scrubs and rough sponges or loofahs. Instead, use cotton rags and a gentle, unscented soap for sensitive skin. This will be much easier on your skin.

Eczema outbreaks

 May be caused by allergens. Avoid using strong chemicals and scented detergents when cleaning. You may notice a pattern of using one or more of these products triggers your eczema outbreaks.Use a cleaning cloth that is damp with water or cleaning solution. This helps the dust adhere to the rag. Dry dusting causes the dust to affect the air you breath.

Vacuuming is a better choice than sweeping

Sweeping will stir up the dust and put it back into the air. Using a vacuum (with a good filtering bag) will capture the particles and remove them from the air you breathe and keep them from resettling on the surfaces of your house.

Always vacuum instead of sweeping

Sweeping just sweeps dirt, dust and other irritants into the air. This can irritate your skin and make your eczema worse. If you do not have carpeting in your home purchase a vacuum that you can use on hardwood floors as well. The investment will be worth it.

A good remedy for eczema

Sufferers is evening primrose essential oil. This supplement is taken in the form of a pill. Oil of the evening primrose has a rare but helpful gamma linolenic acid which nourishes your dry skin. It can also help solve lipid deficiency in skin and lower inflammation.

Moisturize from the inside out

Be sure to include plenty of healthful oils in your diet. These include olive oil and sunflower seed oil. Fish oil or flax seed oil will help you get your Omega 3 fatty acids. Take a fish oil supplement and a good vitamin to get plenty of vitamin A and D. Supplement with E, which also has great benefits for the skin.

While everyone feels itchy from time to time

People who suffer from eczema may find themselves itching constantly. This condition, if left untreated, can be very difficult to live with. However, there are things that you can do to keep your eczema under control. Use the tips you have read here to get started.