Eczema is a relatively rare skin condition that involves a significant amount of itching and irritation. It is most common among babies and small children, but for some people, it lasts their entire life. The itching can sometimes be very hard to deal with. Keep reading for some tips on minimizing this condition.
Avoid taking hot showers if you suffer from eczema. Use warm water for a brief shower every day. Avoid using soap, rather use a gentle type of cleanser and avoid rubbing your skin while using it. Pat dry your skin when you are done.
Be careful when you put on sunscreen. You never know what may cause you to have an outbreak of eczema. The higher the SPF, the more likely it is that the sunscreen may cause you to have an issue. Try and find something with an SPF of around 35. That should protect your skin from the sun and keep it in good shape overall.
There are several things you can do to keep yourself from scratching your eczema. The best thing to do is keep it covered. Loose clothing may work, or try bandages or dressings on the afflicted area. Keep your fingernails trimmed short, and consider wearing gloves when you go to bed to avoid scratching while you are sleeping.
If you live in an area that experiences cold weather in the winter, buy a humidifier to help decrease eczema flare-ups. During the cold winter months, we close all of our windows and turn on the furnace. This can make the air inside of a house very dry which makes the itching and dry skin associated with eczema even worse. To replace moisture in your internal environment, use a humidifier. This added moisture will keep your skin from becoming dry, cracked, itchy and irritated.
It is important to avoid too much stress if you suffer from eczema. Of course, having the skin condition can cause stress, as can life itself. But, a lot of stress increases flare-ups. If you find yourself getting stressed out, learn how to relax yourself. Yoga and meditation are two great ideas.
Always preform a patch test. When you are trying a new product, it is important to know whether or not it will irritate your skin before putting it all over yourself. Take a small amount of the product and apply it to a small portion of your skin. After a few hours, you should be able to determine whether or not it triggers your eczema.
To avoid getting dust mites into the air, use a wet cloth to dust. The cleaner helps the dust cling to your cloth. If the cloth is not damp, you will only be moving the dust around, which can cause issues for your eczema.
Now that you have read this article, you should have a better idea of how to deal with your eczema. If you do not take the proper precautions, your eczema can flare up at any time, leaving you feeling miserable. With the right treatments, however, you can easily keep it controlled.