Many people have eczema. Anyone who suddenly has an outbreak of the condition may feel shocked and confused. Learning more about it is one of the best treatments out there. Read on to discover a lot that can help.
You nails should always be trimmed and clean. Even if you are already aware that scratching is bad, you may still find yourself scratching in your sleep. Doing this can exacerbate your flareup, and therefore your nails need to stay short. Also, make sure to clean beneath your nails on a regular basis.
Cream and moisturizes will help hydrate the skin and reduce the effects of eczema felt on the skin. Moisturizers are much more effective than lotions. You could even soften your skin with petroleum jelly. However, always make sure that your moisturizers don’t contain any alcohol or scents. You should apply moisturizer twice a day for best results.
When picking moisturizers, consider using ointments. They are typically better than lotions and such because they lock moisture into the skin. You don’t get this from creams or lotions. Thus, ointments are preferred when it comes to treating cracked skin.
A warm bath can be very soothing for itching eczema. Soak in lukewarm water. Add some colloidal oatmeal or baking soda to your water for soothing the skin. You can also try half a cup of bleach in a forty gallon bath. This can be helpful in eliminating bacteria that affects the skin.
Your clothes play a big role in your eczema. However, your comfort will be determined by the clothing that you wear. You should wear loose-fit clothing made out of fabrics such as cotton. Steer clear of rough fabric such as wool. Before you wear any new clothing, make sure you wash and rinse it twice before the first wear.
There are things that can trigger your eczema, so you will find it helpful to locate the things that trigger it. Various items such as fabrics, soaps and detergents can cause flare-ups. Other things that can cause eczema to flare include stress and sweating. Once you learn what your triggers are, stay away from them the best you can.
Notice what you wear. The clothes that touch your skin can trigger eczema. Buy primarily cotton and cotton-blend clothing. Fabrics like wool can cause irritation. Similarly, you need to pay attention to how you wash your clothes. Avoid using things like fabric softener and harsh laundry detergents.
Don’t scratch if you can avoid it. Of course, eczema can make you uncomfortable and cause this to happen. If you decide to scratch, however, you’re going to find yourself scratching even more. It could damage your skin and lead to infections. Put a cold compress on your skin if it is becoming very inflamed.
Hot Showers
Don’t take showers that are too hot. Hot showers may feel great to you, but they can make your skin irritated. If you are someone who deals with eczema, then reducing your number of hot showers my help. You should actually shower using room temperature water. Use a gentle cleanser on your skin and moisturize it when you are done.
Make regular use of moisturizers. Moisturizers can help quite a bit when you’re dealing with something like eczema. Apply your moisturizer when you exit the shower or bath. You should use moisturizers that are chemical and fragrance free. These can cause irritation on your skin. Creams or ointments work better.
Keep skin moisturized. Soft, moisturized skin is not as likely to crack. Use Vaseline or natural products to moisturize your skin. Chemicals and fragrances that are used in certain moisturizers can aggravate eczema instead of preventing or soothing it.
Cotton Gloves
When dealing with eczema, it is important that you choose clothing that does not make the skin irritable. Non-natural fibers, such as synthetics, will cause irritation. If you are dealing with eczema, try to stick with cotton clothing. Also, always wash any new clothing in advance of wearing it. Don’t use fabric softeners or detergents that contain fragrances.
You need to think about situations in which you should wear some gloves. You need to keep your hands protected. If you’re dish washing, put on rubber gloves to keep your skin from getting irritated. Try wearing cotton gloves for housework. You can wear leather or cotton gloves for when you’re out in the cold, too. Avoid wool whenever possible. Wool can irritate sensitive skin.
Think about using a humidifier as a way to handle eczema. Dry air makes your skin dry, and can cause eczema, especially during the winter months. With a humidifier, moisture is pumped into the air. This make it less likely that your skin dries out and that eczema flares up.
Always make sure your fingernails are clean and short. While you know to resist scratching, you could do it in your sleep. If your nails are long, you can cause damage to your skin. You should also clean underneath the nails regularly.
If you have an occasional eczema outbreak, it may caused by things that also cause allergies. Stay away from household chemicals that are strong, and avoid those heavily scented laundry detergents. You should pay attention to if you get outbreaks after using any products in particular.
Try to take all tags off of your clothing. This will cause itching of your skin, which can exacerbate your eczema. Remove tags from clothing or buy clothing that does not have tags. Watch out for seams that could become uncomfortable when worn for prolonged periods. If there are seams in your undergarments, try putting them inside-out.
Studies have shown that setting a text message as a reminder can be effective in treating atopic dermatitis. This is eczema’s most common form. Harvard Medical School’s research showed texts offered success in those dealing with eczema over 14. It helped these patients focus on treatment and showed less eczema existed after six weeks. The majority of patients wished to keep receiving the text messages.
Pick a mild body wash or soap instead of one with a heavy fragrance. Perfumes often irritate eczema. So choose a soap that’s hypoallergenic or one made for babies.
You might have heard somewhere to avoid the sun if you have a problem with eczema. Too much sun isn’t generally healthy for anyone. It can cause burns and lead to more serious health conditions. However, if you are deficient in vitamin D, that can contribute to eczema. This deficiency can be caused by not getting enough sun. Ideally, getting sun exposure for ten to fifteen minutes is best.
Use a humidifier for patchy eczema. Humidifiers release clean steam into the home. Clean steam helps keep the air and your skin moisturized. This will allow you to have comfortable and smooth skin no matter what time of the year it is. Be sure to also keep your skin clean to avoid health issues.
Eczema can be quite frustrating. You should not have to deal with this alone. You should take this time to make sure you are happy with your skin again. Apply all of the tips that you have learned as soon as possible.