How to Deal with Eczema

Living with eczema can be intolerable particularly if you are unsure about how to deal with it, but once you know what to do, you can enjoy your life to the fullest. It’s also comforting to know that if you have eczema, you aren’t alone. It is estimated that more than 35 million Americans have this skin condition. Most eczema sufferers develop it in childhood; however, more adults are reporting eczema than ever before. Why? Well, there are lots of reasons, many of them are attributed to the chemicals used in toiletries and household cleaners. Other flare-ups can be due to eating the wrong food. In addition to checking your diet for allergies, it’s important to use extra care by checking the labels of your personal products (including cleaning detergents). We have five top tips here to make living with eczema tolerable.

Do You Know What Causes a Flare-up?

It’s vital that you take note of what causes your eczema to flare. It might be a brand of shower gel, a certain kitchen cleaner or when you overdo it on dairy consumption! Every time you notice your eczema worsening, think back to something that might have triggered it. When you know the cause, you can go out of your way to banish it! Sometimes, eczema comes as a result of hard water. Do you know what the water is categorized as in your area? If it is “hard”, you might want to consider a water softener. If you consume dairy or gluten and suddenly experience a flare-up, either remove it from your diet or reduce it significantly. Do check the labels on your toiletries – phthalates, SLS or SLF and parabens are often eczema-related.

Don’t Scratch!

As much as you want to scratch – resist the urge! In doing so, you will make your flare-up worse. If you don’t even realize you’re scratching, try a pair of soft, cotton gloves and wear them to bed (night-times are notoriously bad for that itchy feeling). Keep your nails nice and short and use Delfina Skin Dry Skin Oil, a natural product that significantly reduces the symptoms of eczema.

Wear Cotton and Natural Fibers

Manmade fibers exacerbate eczema because they don’t allow the skin to breathe. Stick to cotton and natural fibers such as linen and silk. If you want to wear a manmade fiber, don’t wear it for long periods at a time and every time you notice a flare-up starting, switch to cotton or natural fibers as soon as you can.

Don’t Stress

Unfortunately, anxiety and stress are common, especially in adults they are known eczema-triggers. It’s easy to say learn to manage your anxiety and harder to put it into practice. What you can do is make sure you factor in some relaxation time to do something you enjoy. Go to the movies, go for a walk in the fresh air, listen to gentle music, light some aromatherapy candles or discuss your worries with a good friend or family member. If you suffer with prolonged stress, do speak to your doctor because dealing with eczema and anxiety can make both conditions worse.