Eczema is an itchy, inflamed skin condition that affects more than 15 million Americans. Unfortunately, the cause of eczema is still unknown, but factors like the environment, genetics, allergies, stress, and skin sensitivities can trigger the condition.
What does eczema look and feel like? Eczema sufferers struggle with dry, cracking, and itchy skin. They also commonly have rashes on the arms, legs, and cheeks, as well as red bumps on the skin. What’s even worse is that eczema flares up in colder weather when there’s less humidity in the air, causing the skin to naturally become drier and more irritated.
Clearly, eczema is no laughing matter.
Whether you’ve been clinically diagnosed with eczema or are experiencing the majority of the symptoms listed above, there is still hope for you. The key to treating a chronic condition like eczema is to nourish and soothe your skin so that it’s less likely to become red and irritated.
While that may sound like a simple concept, eczema sufferers know full well how easily their skin can flare up at the drop of a hat. So what can you do to protect your sensitive skin and minimize eczema reactions?
- Use natural skin care products exclusively. The types of products that you use on your skin make a world of difference when it comes to managing eczema. An antibacterial ingredient like tea tree oil can help to kill bacteria and prevent infection in vulnerable skin inflamed by eczema. This is the first step to take to prevent infection in your skin and start the healing process.It’s also important to use gentle cleansers and moisturizers with an ingredient like oat extract. Oat straw has been used as a natural remedy for centuries. It is an excellent source of silica, which helps to support healthy skin.1 Oat straw and oat extract can soften dry, flaky skin and relieve inflammation when used in a cleanser.Last but not least, neem oil is another natural ingredient known to soothe red, itchy, and irritated skin. At the same time, it will help to fight bacterial infections and boost the natural immunity of the skin to keep eczema reactions to a minimum.
- Relax and unwind. What does kicking back and relaxing have to do with treating eczema? Eczema can flare up under stress, making it essential to minimize stress in your daily life.Using stress-reduction techniques like yoga, deep breathing, and meditation will help to calm you and reduce any anxiety that could trigger a reaction. Even better, make it a priority to deal with sources of stress in your life if at all possible, whether it be a stressful job, a toxic relationship, or family problems.
- Don’t scratch! While scratching may be your first reaction when your skin is itchy, it’s the last thing you should do if you want to keep your skin healthy. Scratching will only make irritated skin worse – and it could even break the skin and cause a bacterial infection.
- Moisturize daily. The best way to prevent constant itchiness is to moisturize your skin regularly with the natural ingredients listed above. Keep in mind that moisturizing with chemical ingredients will only compromise your skin’s moisture barrier and dry it out even further.On that note, avoid fragrances and dyes in all of your personal care products, like soaps, detergents, and perfumes. Artificial fragrances will irritate your skin and may even trigger an unnecessary eczema outbreak.
If you’re still struggling with chronic eczema after using all of the suggestions above, you may want to consider UV light therapy. UV light therapy is a topical treatment that uses a combination of UVA and UVB rays to stimulate the immune system. Constant exposure to UV rays under the care of a dermatologist may be able to minimize the immune response that flares up eczema in the first place.
Here’s one final fact for parents of children with eczema. A 2010 University of Cincinnati study showed that young children with dog allergies who lived with a dog as an infant were less likely to develop eczema.2 Children who were allergic to dogs and didn’t live with a dog were four times more likely to develop eczema over time. Although the same findings didn’t hold true for young children and cats, your choice in a family pet could make a big difference in managing eczema outbreaks in your child.
Sincerely,
Kamila Fiore, ARNP, NP-C
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[Ed. Note: Kamila Fiore is the resident Nurse Practitioner at the Sears’ Center for Health and Wellness in Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Kamila is passionate about taking a natural approach to healthcare. She believes it’s a vital necessity in this day and age – a time when our health is being jeopardized by the chemicals, toxins and processes that are incorporated in almost everything we consume, touch or breathe. She earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Florida and became state-licensed and board-certified in 2007. Her professional experience includes Aesthetics, Internal Medicine/Geriatrics and Anti-Aging. Kamila educates her patients on health promotion and disease prevention. She also is experienced in laser hair removal.] |
1. “Health Benefits of Oat Straw.” MDidea. Dec. 20, 2010.
2. Harper, A. “Dog Ownership May Help Prevent Eczema in Children with Dog Allergies.” Sept. 30, 2010.