TEN TOP TIPS TO EASE ECZEMA

Ten Good Tips to help Make Life with Eczema Easier

Use Natural irritant free soap like Marble Hill's Neem Oil Soap

Everyone who struggles with eczema everyday knows how much effort it involves. Life seems to revolve around eczema and stress levels soar.

Having a long term interest in eczema myself  I am always looking out for ways to make life with eczema easier and here is a list I found online recently which I thought was very clear and sensible, ten good tactics which, when you take them on board, can help inform an eczema-friendly approach to life, hopefully lowering the tension.

I have  gathered them together as a “Ten Commandments “ at the bottom of the article so that if you wish, you can print them off as a reminder list.

I think they are simple, sensible and easy to follow and I hope they help to make life less of a grind!

1.      Know your eczema triggers. Many things can set off a flare-up of eczema and they vary from individual to individual. Fragrances in bodycare products, perfumes and body lotions are all potent irritants. At Marble Hill we have recently focused on the problems with MI (Methylisothiazolinone), the preservative found in everything from body washes to laundry products and other triggers can include dust mites, pet dander and foods. It is helpful to think about what might have caused an attack and try to pick out what caused it and then avoid contact with the problem.

2.     Moisturise, moisturize, moisturize. Regular moisturising with unscented moisturisers is one of the best things eczema sufferers can do. After bathing or showering is a time when the skin is particularly receptive to moisturizing and always remember to be generous when applying the cream or ointment you choose as many sufferers underestimate how much their skin actually needs.

3.    Manage temperatures at home. Although we can’t control the weather we can control the house. Turn down the thermostat if your home is very dry or hot in winter and think about fans in the summer. Sudden temperature fluctuations can be a shock to eczema-prone skin so cover up in winter. Many people find that their extremities are vulnerable so always keep a pair of gloves handy in winter, the more protective the better on the fingers.

4.     Don’t scratch eczema patches. This may sound obvious but scratching may worsen itch and can cause infection. If moisturizing more generously/frequently does not do the trick seek advice from your health professional: they may recommend strategies such as cold cloths, moisturising baths or itch –relieving medication?

5.     Keep sweating to a minimum Easier said than done, perhaps if you are keen on sport or the gym but sweating can worsen eczema and it is advised that a shower as soon as possible after exertion is a good practice. Also try to avoid sweat-inducing fabrics or extra-high TOG duvets

6.      Wear eczema-friendly fabrics: Wool is often a problem, as are polyester synthetics. Cotton and cotton blends are better and it is a good idea to wash clothes before wearing them for the first time. It is recommended to always use liquid fragrance –free laundry products and omit fabric softener. It is still possible to obtain pure soap flakes but they are hard to find and many people rinse twice to remove the maximum amount of laundry soap residue.

7.      Watch your stress levels. Eczema is often worse when stress is high - exam time for example. Then the eczema makes you tense and uncomfortable, a classic vicious circle. Stress reduction techniques like yoga, deep breathing and biofeedback or meditation can all be used and exercise is potent stress-buster so a walk in the fresh air can be a big help.

8.      Sensible bathing/showering. Hot water and long showers are all bad news for eczema flare-ups .Use cool, not hot, water and avoid rinsing away all your skin oils by keeping showers short. Avoid scrubbing actions when cleansing and don’t use strong liquid body washes or harsh soaps, instead choose a gentle, moisturizing option and don’t overdo it. Often simply changing from a liquid detergent based shower gel to an un-fragranced gentle soap can have excellent results.

9.      Protect your hands. Water and detergents can wreak havoc with hands and they need to be protected. Use gloves for protection, making sure to avoid latex if you are allergic and try not to wear rubber gloves for more than 20 minutes at a time. Wash hands in cool, not hot water and remember that most moisturisers are over 50% water and that as the water evaporates it can make dermatitis even worse, we recommend either pure Shea Butter (SheaSalve) or in very dry situations, PediSalve to moisturise skin without irritation. Both are 100% natural products and neither contains any water or irritant additives and are intensely moisturizing. If you are finding shampoos are irritating your skin get help when washing your hair or use gloves and keep your hands out of washing-up water as dishwashing liquids are very drying and irritant.

1    Use eczema medication/get medical support when you need it. If modifying your lifestyle alone is not enough get your doctor’s advice on how to handle your skin conditions. Your doctor can counsel you, prescribe medication or refer you to a specialist if needed.

Ten Commandments of Eczema!

Know your eczema triggers.

Moisturise, moisturize, moisturize, and remember to use irritant free products.

Manage temperatures at home.

Don’t scratch eczema patches.

Keep sweating to a minimum

Wear eczema-friendly fabrics

Watch your stress levels

Sensible bathing/showering

Protect your hands.

Use eczema medication/get medical support when you need it.

Please note that this article reflects my own personal views and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice. Always contact your own medical professional if in any doubt.