Everything You Need To Know About Treating Eczema
Everything You Need To Know About Treating Eczema
Eczema is a relatively rare skin condition that involves a significant amount of itching and irritation. It is most common among babies and small children, but for some people, it lasts their entire life. The itching can sometimes be very hard to deal with. Keep reading for some tips on minimizing this condition.
As you may already know, when you have a flare-up with your eczema, the itching associated with it is almost unbearable. You want to scratch the affected skin, but you know that if you do it will only make the situation worse. A cold compress can curb your desire to scratch. The compress provides some relief because it reduces inflammation of the affected skin cells.
Common treatments for eczema include topical creams and ointments that contain cortisone. You could try hydrocortisone that can be purchased at your local drug store. If this doesn't soothe your eczema, you should talk with your doctor about possibly getting a stronger prescription from him. These will work like other steroid creams, but will be able to be used for a longer time.
Know what your triggers are so you can avoid them. Your triggers may laundry detergent, soaps, and dust. You should probably steer clear of any products that contain fragrances, chemicals or other unnatural additives. Choose pure and unscented products instead. This will help to reduce the discomfort of daily eczema flare-ups.
Winter weather can cause eczema to worsen. Anytime your skin is exposed to frigid air, it needs a protective barrier to protect it from moisture loss. On any skin areas, such as the face or neck, be sure to heavily apply a moisturizer. Moisturizers will help you avoid dry and cracking skin because it locks in your skin's natural oils.
Discuss medications with your doctor. If an over-the-counter medication doesn't do the trick, a prescription one might. Use store-bought and prescription medication as directed. Straying from the instructions could cause more harm than good. At the very least, it will be ineffective, resulting in a waste of both effort and money.
When selecting a moisturizer look for ointments. They help to seal in moisture and provide a protective layer. Creams and lotions do not form this protective layer. Therefore, ointments are better for areas of eczema.
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.
If you live in an area that experiences cold weather in the winter, buy a humidifier to help decrease eczema flare-ups. During the cold winter months, we close all of our windows and turn on the furnace. This can make the air inside of a house very dry which makes the itching and dry skin associated with eczema even worse. To replace moisture in your internal environment, use a humidifier. This added moisture will keep your skin from becoming dry, cracked, itchy and irritated.
Now that you have read this article, you should have a better idea of how to deal with your eczema. If you do not take the proper precautions, your eczema can flare up at any time, leaving you feeling miserable. With the right treatments, however, you can easily keep it controlled.