Averting Eczema Flare-Ups

Eczema is one human affliction that has not been totally solved by modern science. To be precise, there is still no exact cure for the illness. Thankfully, medical experts have found ways to manage the disease, including ways to avert its intermittent flare-ups.

The following guidelines had been recommended by dermatologists to help reduce the discomfort of the itchiness and the rashes. Aside from doing the needed lifestyle modifications, victims of eczema can help reduce the frequency and severity of the flare-ups of the disease by abiding these guidelines.

Moisturizing

Applying moisturizers when needed is one way to combat the dryness and the itchy feeling of the skin caused by eczema. It seals the skin’s own moisture, thus preventing dryness and cracking.

Apply moisturizers right after bathing. In bathing, try not to irritate the afflicted skin areas.

Avoid skin irritants

Every eczema victim has a particular outside irritant or irritants. There’s a whole line-up of materials that can irritate the skin – laundry detergents, soaps, perfumes, cleaners, wool, animal fur, petroleum products, long contact with water, paints…the list is long.

Know what irritates your skin and limit your contact with it.

Sweating and overheating

Sweating and overheating are two most common triggers of the scratch/itch cycle. It can help if you dress up in loose-fitting cotton clothes. Wool and other synthetic fibers can heat you up and they can also feel rough to the touch.

A sudden rise in temperature can make you sweat and sudden drops in humidity can dry the skin. Both conditions can trigger flare-ups.

Clothes

It pays to thoroughly wash new clothes before you wear them. In washing, do a double rinse on all your laundry, old and new. Lingering detergents on the clothes (and fabric preservatives for new clothes) can trigger allergies.

Use only fragrance-free, neutral pH detergents. Some fabric softeners can be harsh on human skin.

Remove the tags on new clothes. They can rub and irritate the skin.

Cold compress

When the afflicted skin area acts up and becomes itchy, a cold compress can help curb the urge to scratch. Scratching can make the condition worse in the event that the skin is punctured or abraded allowing the entry of bacteria and germs.

Keeping fingernails short can also help. To preclude of accidentally or unconsciously scratching yourself while asleep, having short fingernails is a must. Wearing cotton gloves also helps.

Stress

In today’s fast-paced world, eliminating stress is not only good for eczema prevention, it can do wonders on your whole body system, too. Stress had been known to trigger allergies, and consequently, can trigger eczema as well.

There is a wide array of literature out there on reducing, if not totally eliminating stress from your lifestyle.

Environmental triggers (for Atopic dermatitis)

For Atopic dermatitis victims, limit your exposures to environmental triggers. These include pollen, mites, molds, animal dander (fur) and others.

Atopic dermatitis (or atopic eczema) happens to people who have a predisposition to such allergies as hay fever or asthma, or even food allergies. If possible, discover your allergy or allergies for you to avoid them.

Suffering from eczema may be harsh on you, but managing the disease is your only way to combat it at the moment. Following these guidelines will greatly reduce your ordeal.