Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes rashes that look red, feel itchy and can be extremely uncomfortable. It is a relatively common skin condition, especially among children! While this condition may improve overtime with age, it may still persist through adulthood in some cases. Make sure to read until the end for a handy-dandy eczema-safe cheat sheet!

There are several different types of eczema, and atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema. Here are some of the common symptoms of atopic dermatitis:

• Dry, scaly skin
• Red and inflamed skin
• Intense itchiness
• Crusting and oozing

Factors that may trigger eczema

Eczema can be triggered by many factors and can differ with each individual. Some common triggers include:

Food (allergy)

There are several types of food that can trigger a nasty skin reaction. Common food culprits include eggs, soy, peanuts, and also seafood. By limiting the consumption of any suspected food trigger, you can actively lessen the severity and occurrences of symptoms.

Dry skin

When your skin lacks moisture, it means that irritants can more easily seep in through the weakened skin barrier. This is why it is extremely important to keep your skin moisturized if you are suffering from this condition.

Stress

Research has shown that emotional stress can trigger an eczema flare-up. Do your best to relax after a long day at school or work, and focus on your mental wellbeing. This could do wonders for your skin, body and mind!

Irritants

Your skin may come encounter irritants through physical contact or environmental conditions like the air, and may irritate your skin and worsen your eczema condition. Therefore, always make sure that the products that come into contact with your skin are free of irritants as well. Some examples include using less skincare and body products, switching laundry detergents, and wearing natural fabrics made of cotton to reduce potential irritants.

Sweat

We know this sounds bad, but some people can actually develop an allergy to their own sweat. This means that your eczema may potentially worsen each time you exercise! While it is still important to maintain a certain extent of activity, one advice that we can offer is to always have a change of clothes ready if you know that you are going to do something that will make you sweat.  

Extreme temperatures

Scorching hot weather causes you to sweat. Freezing cold temperatures dry out your skin. No wonder your eczema flares up a lot more easily in extreme weather conditions!

If you find that your eczema cannot be managed with over the counter products, and that its symptoms worsen to the point of affecting your quality of life, make sure to go to a specialist for an accurate diagnosis and prescription.  

Now, we are going to give you tips on how to prevent/reduce flare-ups!

Ways to prevent flare-ups

1. Find out all potential triggers

The first step to prevention is to actually figure out what the potential causes are and avoid them at all cost. This means you have to pay close attention to your lifestyle habits. You may want to keep a diary recording details such as your food and skincare product choices. If you observe a correlation between certain decisions and worsening symptoms, it might be best to eliminate these possible triggers moving forward.

2. Relieve itchiness by applying cool compress to your skin

Another method is to soak your skin in colloidal oatmeal, which has been proven to relieve itchiness!

3. Avoid scratching

Yes, we know that it is so tempting to scratch your skin when there is an unbearable itch. The next time before you scratch, though, remember that that action might cause more damage to your skin, leading to infection!

4. Use fragrance-free detergents and skincare products

5. Wear loose-fitting clothes made of natural fabrics, such as cotton

Eczema skincare tips:

1. Keep it simple. Don’t feel that you are compromising on your skincare routine by using less products. Instead, focus on finding effective products that you know will work on your skin! Remember: the more product you put on your skin, the higher the chances of any potentially irritating ingredient causing yet another case of flare-up.
2. Start with a gentle cleanser. Use a cleanser that will not strip your skin of its natural oils, as they form an important part of your skin barrier.
3. Do not rub your products into your face. Instead, tap it in gently, as if your face were a balloon that you do not want to pop!
4. Moisturize your skin well. Moisturizer is the most vital step for eczema skincare. Use an emollient and occlusive- rich moisturizer, with or without corticosteroid cream prescribed from your physician. The moisturizer locks in moisture and keeps any irritants away from your skin.
5. Avoid ingredients that can possibly trigger any flares up such as: AHA, BHA, alcohol, retinol, fragrances, essential oil, and other irritants.

Here’s an easy solution to make finding eczema-safe products a breeze. Use Picky’s ‘eczema-safe’ filter the next time you’re searching for skincare. We’ve gone ahead to make sure that products containing eczema-triggering ingredients are filtered out, so that you can browse with a peace of mind. Log into Picky to get started, or click here to go back to the Picky blog,