Living with eczema can be absolutely horrible as well as painful. The skin condition is usually going to remain highly visible on your skin and that could really turn your life upside down. Many of us, who step outside, are always concerned with what the rest of the world has to say, and this could really be detrimental to many people’s mental health. Just remember that there are things you can do to make living with eczema much easier. In fact, there are ways to manage your eczema better and that will ultimately alleviate the symptoms. Within this guide, you’re going to find seven tips for doing just that.
Is There A Cure For Eczema?
Pretty much every medical condition out there has some type of cure. Sadly, there are still a few problems that cannot be cured and this is where eczema enters the picture. While the skin condition has been studied rigorously over the years, doctors have never been able to find a potential solution to the problem. Therefore, people currently dealing with eczema are left out in the cold. Nevertheless, there are some things that you can do to improve matters.
Just remember that these tips are not going to cure anything. They’ll deal with the symptoms of eczema and not eczema itself. Nevertheless, dealing with the symptoms is best. After all, this is going to ensure that you’re able to reduce flareups and stop the itch. In return, you’ll be able to live a completely normal life even if you do have eczema. With this in mind, you should most definitely incorporate the tips below into your life. Do so and things will improve immensely in the coming weeks and months.
1. Identify The Triggers
First and foremost, you should understand that eczema is actually going to be inflamed and intensified by certain things. It is absolutely paramount to familiarize yourself with these things right from the get-go. Eczema can simply be triggered by things you’re using in your home on a daily basis. This includes household cleaning products. It might even get worse when you’re exposed to pet dander. Heat is another serious problem. If your eczema is exposed to intense heat, there is a pretty good chance that it is going to become very itchy and that will further complicate the situation. The diet you abide by is another way your eczema can flare-up and be triggered, so be aware of that the next time your crazing that greasy burger, fries, and a large soda.
If you’re able to identify these triggers, you’ll know how to avoid them. It’s in your best interest to do just that. By avoiding these triggers, you won’t have to worry so much about going into public places and scratching yourself like a madman or woman. Avoid the triggers to prevent the skin rashes from flaring up. In return, your eczema rashes will heal so much faster and you’ll eventually feel comfortable going outside with your skin exposed.
2. Try Not To Scratch
There is absolutely no doubt that your eczema is going to itch like crazy. This is completely unavoidable. And of course, you’re going to feel the urge to consistently scratch your eczema when it’s bothering you. This might be the most impulsive thing to do. Sadly, scratching the skin is only going to make the problem much worse. This is something that you need to avoid. Trying to resist is going to be very tough, but it’ll be well worth it in the long run. If you’re trying to stop scratching the skin at night, you should try wearing gloves on your hands or even an old pair of socks. This will definitely help. If you’re dealing with the itch during the day, you’ll be happy to know that there are products that can help.
Certain products will be able to nullify the pain and itch. Just remember to stray away from products that contain alcohol. They can actually dry out the skin and make things far worse. Also, you should not become dependent on these products. If you’re going to use them, you should only use them for a brief period of time. Otherwise, they may do more harm than good in the long run.
3. Moisturize More Often
It’s not a secret that dry skin can be very itchy. Eczema often causes horribly dry skin and that is a problem that is going to be very difficult to remedy. Thankfully, there are things you can do to offset the problem to some degree. If you really want to put a stop to the dryness and the itch, you should moisturize your skin as much as possible. The only problem here is that choosing a moisturizer can be a little more difficult than you could ever imagine. In order to choose one that meets your needs, you first need to take a closer look at your skin condition. Make sure that your product of choice isn’t going to inflame the condition.
It is also pertinent to pay very close attention to the ingredients. Remember that alcohol and certain other ingredients are only going to dry out the skin even more. You need to avoid them at all costs. Before buying and using a skin moisturizer, you should read the back label. This is the best way to ensure that you’re going to get the end results that you’re after. Otherwise, you may end up drying out the skin even further.
4. Deal With Your Stress
Stress is far more serious than you could ever imagine. If you do not get your stress under control as quickly as possible, you can guarantee that it is going to consume you. Stress will make it very difficult for you to be a happy individual. Plus, it is going to reduce your immune system’s performance and that will leave you far more likely to get ill in the future. The good news is that dealing with stress doesn’t have to be too difficult. At the same time, you should realize that everyone is going to have stress. Some people just have excess stress and that is when it is problematic.
If you’re dealing with excess stress, you need to find ways to reduce it as quickly as possible. You can use some of the techniques below to push your stress down to manageable levels. It’s in your interest to do that.
- Take up a healthy hobby. There are plenty of things that will work. Painting and knitting are two good examples here.
- Try exercising more. When you work out and exercise, you’ll be able to focus on something else that will take your mind off of your stressors and it’ll allow you to refresh yourself. In return, your stress levels will drop quickly.
- Music is great. If you really want to deal with your stress, you should try turning on some of your favorite songs.
- Speaking with a friend can help. Use your friend as a listening post and unload your problems onto them. Once the conversation has ended, you’re going to feel so much better about the situation.
There are plenty of effective ways to reduce stress. Doing so is going to help tremendously. Stress has been known to make an abundance of conditions far worse and this includes eczema. If you want to alleviate the symptoms linked to your eczema, you really need to deal with your stress. Do that and both problems will be remedied before you realize it.
5. Better Control Your Home’s Temperature And Humidity
When it comes down to it, eczema can also be impacted by temperature and humidity. I highly recommend that you check out this article I wrote that goes more in-depth on the best climate conditions for eczema sufferers. It’s no secret though, that the type of environment and the elements that you expose yourself to can make a huge difference in the long run. As mentioned above, excess heat is often a major issue. It might feel good on the skin, but the hot temperatures are actually going to dry out your skin very quickly. In return, your skin will begin to itch and things aren’t going to get any better. With this in mind, you need to take steps to maintain optimum temperatures and humidity in your home.
It’s in your best interest to keep your home on the cooler side. Using air conditioning is recommended. This will keep your home cold and that will prevent excess heat from inflaming the issue. You also have to be cautious during the winter. During this time of the year, there is a good chance that you’re going to be using your home’s heater around the clock. Use it too much and your skin is going to dry out quickly. You can offset this problem by utilizing a cool-mist humidifier. This will add moisture to the air and prevent your skin from drying out.
If you’re out and about, you’re going to have a tougher time managing the temperature and humidity. Still, you should do your best to keep things perfect at home.
6. Shower And Dry Carefully
Before getting in too far, you should begin changing your daily habits. If you have eczema, you need to bathe or shower every single day (you should be doing this anyway). Just remember that you have to take extra precautions when you’re an eczema sufferer. If you’re not bathing and showering correctly, there is a pretty good chance that the problem is going to worsen. Thankfully, the changes that you’ll need to make won’t be too tough. You need to take some precautions along the way to keep the skin protected. First and foremost, you should be very careful about using water at hot temperatures.
Again, heat is going to cause the skin to dry out and that will further complicate the problem. You can prevent this issue by keeping the temperature lukewarm or colder. You should also avoid staying in the shower for too long. Get in, get clean and get out. It is also pertinent to make sure that you’re drying the skin carefully afterward. Do not rub the skin. This will create the impression that you’re scratching the skin and that will only make things worse.
Pat the skin dry and you’ll be fine. This is the best way to shower and prevent your eczema from spiraling out of control.
7. Use Medication When Absolutely Necessary
At the end of the day, it is generally best to avoid using medications. If you’re going to be using them, you should do so for a short period of time. After all, long-term usage of medications is usually going to come with severe side effects. Still, there are several medications that can indeed help you deal with eczema. If your condition has worsened and you can no longer keep it under control, you need to act as quickly as possible. It might be in your best interest to use a medication prescribed by or recommended by your doctor. One of the most popular is hydrocortisone.
This over-the-counter ointment or cream will make a big difference. If your condition is severe, there is a real possibility that your doctor will prescribe a higher dosage. You should also try using antihistamines and corticosteroids. Just remember that the latter will require a prescription. Therefore, you’ll need to speak with your doctor ahead of time. Before rushing forward, you should learn more about these medications. Be careful. If you use them for too long, you’re probably going to encounter adverse side effects.
Speak to your doctor and ask them about your options. If you have no other choice, using medications to manage your eczema from day to day is recommended. Just remember that this should be your last resort.
Summary
All in all, eczema is never pleasant to deal with. It’s a problem that is not easy to heal. In reality, there is no viable cure for eczema. Instead, doctors will attempt to put together a treatment plan that reduces the itching and alleviates the pain. This too will reduce the risk that infection is going to occur in the future. The good news is that there are ways to make things better. You don’t have to suffer on a year-year basis. If you’re dealing with eczema, you most definitely need to find ways to manage the problem. Otherwise, things are only going to get worse and worse.
Better manage your eczema and the condition will improve considerably. You may even be able to stop using your medications. Using the tips above is highly recommended.
