Skincare Treated

Other Self Care Options for Eczema

Eczema is a long-term or chronic skin disorder and besides medical treatments prescribed by a doctor; there are various other self care options to manage the condition.

Reducing Irritation

An important step in treating eczema is reducing skin irritation.  This can be achieved by various preventive measures. Do not rub or scratch your skin.  If itching is difficult to control, cover the affected area with a dressing and wear gloves at night. 

Cool gel packs, cold compresses or cold wet fomentations can be applied on the itchy area to reduce irritation.

Do not wear tight-fitting clothes made from rough or scratchy fabric such as wool. Cotton clothes are the best. Wash new clothes before wearing them to remove chemicals used during manufacture and packing.

Avoid vigorous exercise that causes sweating and skin irritation, especially during an eczema flare-up.

Avoid exposing your skin to detergents and harsh soaps. Wear gloves when performing household chores like washing up and cleaning.

Preventing Dry Skin

Other self care options include taking lukewarm showers or brief baths with a mild non-soap cleanser. Daub the skin dry and moisturize immediately. Use products that are free of dyes and fragrances. Moisturize your skin at least twice a day.

Swimming hydrates the skin, and the chlorine in the water kills bacteria. Shower immediately after a swim to remove the residual chlorine.

Use sunscreen regularly and avoid sunburn as skin with eczema patches is very sensitive to ultraviolet light.

Removing Allergens

Identify the allergens causing eczema and remove or minimize them in your immediate environment. These include animal dander, dust mites, detergents and soaps, mental stress and fatigue. Some foods like shellfish, eggs and nuts also trigger eczema and must be eliminated from your diet.

Did you know that you can get a severe rash from contact with a mango rind? Contact with certain plants and fruits containing allergens can be avoided by wearing gloves when gardening.

Hydrocortisone cream is useful in mild eczema. A calamine lotion can relieve itching. Antihistamines can be taken orally, especially when the itching is severe and disrupts sleep.

Natural Therapies

Evening primrose oil has been found effective in reducing inflammation. Other self care natural remedies include nutmeg paste, a paste of camphor and sandalwood, natural vitamin E, even blueberry leaves.

Traditional Chinese herbal therapy has been found effective in some cases of eczema and is among the other self care options.