Eczema is a problem that some people have to take on, but they don’t know where to begin. If you’re someone that’s been dealing with eczema, then you know that there is a lot of information out there about it. Use this as a guide to help you get through the various things in the world of dealing with eczema.
If you have eczema, hot showers are a bad idea. Instead, take warm showers. Use gentle soaps that aren’t too harsh on the skin, and stay away from rubbing the skin too much. Once your skin is clean, gently pat to dry it.
Make your moisturizer your best friend. Every time you wash your hands or take a bath, apply the moisturizer. Do not get fancy. Anything that has a scent attached to it could exacerbate your condition. Also, look for a very thick product to get the best results for your skin.
Lotions and creams do not usually work as well as ointments. Ointments have a bit more oil in them, which generally helps them moisturize more effectively. They are a little harder to apply than creams, however, but they are much better at adding a protective layer to the skin and easing your symptoms.
If you have eczema, rubbing your skin with a towel to get it dry may aggravate your eczema and lead to a flare-up. Rubbing produces friction which can irritate sensitive skin areas. It also removes your body’s naturals oils. When drying you body after bathing, use a towel to pat your skin until it’s partially dry. While your skin is still a bit damp, apply a moisturizer to lock in the bath’s moisture.
Get your skin damp before applying your moisturizer. This helps the moisturizer to seal into your skin and soften it. Following your shower or bath, just pat your skin with a towel. This will remove a lot of the wetness but still leave the skin damp and ready for moisturizing.
Use an antibiotic ointment on severely cracked skin. This can prevent infections from forming. It also serves as a moisturizer. Do this sparingly though; prolonged use of antibiotic ointments can render them ineffective. If you do have an infection, you should consult your doctor, who may give you an oral antibiotic.
Moisturize immediately following bathing. This is the best time to do it because your skin is still damp. Make sure to only pat dry your skin between showering and moisturizing. You don’t want to remove any moisture that your skin has already absorbed; that is counterproductive to treating your eczema.
For those that have eczema, skin care must be modified in the cold, dry winter months. During these months, you should use an oil-based moisturizer. The oil in these moisturizers promote moisture retention. The best form of moisturizer to use in these circumstances is an ointment due to the amount of oil it contains. Since ointments are 80% oil, it protects the skin more effectively than either lotions or creams.
You can now deal with an eczema problem because you have all of this information. It’s not terribly difficult to take on, you just have to be prepared for it all. Take this information and use it to help you get to where you need to be when it comes to dealing with eczema.
