Hydration is a two way street- it must be done on the outside of the body as well as the inside. Hydration is an extremely important aspect of an eczema patient’s life as they are less likely to suffer as many flare-ups if their skin is kept well moisturized. Protecting the skin is key as is making sure the body has plenty of liquids on a daily basis. Hydration or to hydrate is defined as “supplying water to (a person, for example) in order to restore or maintain fluid balance.”

To keep eczema at bay one of the most important tips is to always, always, keep the skin well hydrated (moisturized is another word for hydrated). Skin that is rich in hydration holds in natural moisture and lubrication a great deal better than does dry skin and it also supports the skin at healing at a speedy rate. Any bath or beauty product that removes natural oils from a person’s skin should be avoided at all costs. Bubble bath, scented body washes, soaps, cleansers or scented lotions must all be avoided for eczema sufferers. Look for a moisturizer that is categorized as an emollient. Keep this in mind- the flakier and drier the skin is, the thicker a moisturizer should be used on the skin’s delicate surface.

When a bath is what you long for (a quick one, not a long one!) instead of bubble bath add emollient bath oil under running water. The emollient will soothe and hydrate your skin as you enjoy your bath. Apply a moisturizer when your skin is still damp. Just towel dry a little and then apply it and then finish patting yourself dry. Always use an emollient or another form of a moisturizer such as a lotion or cream on your sensitive eczema prone skin twice a day, morning and night, and more often if necessary. Keep in mind that cream moisturizers contain a high percentage of water and ointments a lower one, therefore cream formulas must be reapplied more times a day than ointments.

Hydrating on the inside is so important as well. Water is vital to good health. The human body is made up of sixty to seventy percent water (our blood being eight-three percent, and the brain a whopping seventy-four percent) but every day we lose water naturally from breathing, sweating and waste, as well as a result of exercise and environmental considerations such as heat and humidity. Aim to drink anywhere from six to eight glasses of purified water a day. Not only will this aid in the digestive process, but it will also help to detoxify your liver and kidneys and help to improve your sensitive skin. As well adequate hydration helps in the absorption of nutrients and carries waster material away as easily as can be. Once you become thirsty you are already dehydrated so you should try to never get to that point. Even if you are not thirsty, drink up anyway! Hydration is key and water is sometimes referred to as “Mother Nature’s healthy cocktail.”

If your eczema is in remission then good for you! Now it is time to take steps to ensure that it won’t be coming back anytime soon. But how do you do that? First, relax and take time out for yourself whenever you can. Stress plays a huge role in the incidence of eczema flare-ups so the more you can do to calm yourself and enjoy life the better! Enjoy quality time with family and friends, participate in activities you enjoy and pursue hobbies that make you happy. Laughter goes along with having a good time and laughing is akin to a mini-workout according to researchers. US cardiologist Dr. William Fry says that, “100 to 200 laughs are equivalent to ten minutes of jogging or rowing.” Not only that but laughter lowers an individual’s blood pressure as well as the level of stress hormones and it encourages the work of the immune system. Laughing is really good for you so do it as often as possible to keep stress at bay and therefore eczema flare-ups as well.

Don’t slack off with your moisturizing regime just because your eczema has gone into remission. Remember that it could turn on a dime so keep up your excellent hydration rules. Moisturizing often is such an essential part of living with eczema, regardless of who you are, your age or how often it does, or doesn’t flare up. Skin that is well hydrated on a daily basis is healthier skin than dry skin. It holds in natural oils very well and its healing capacities are greater. Use emollient oil in the bathtub when you are taking one of your quick power baths or showers (with lukewarm water, not hot or scalding!). Apply your moisturizing cream, lotion or ointment immediately after exiting the bath or shower, when your skin is still damp and more responsive to the replenishment of moisture. Always read the ingredients on labels for skin care products carefully and avoid any products that contain alcohol or any form of scent as these can serve to irritate and dry out your skin worse. Some of the best choices for all around moisturizers for eczema skin include Vaseline, Alpha Keri, Aquaphor, Curel, Eucerin, Moisturel, and Lubriderm.

Avoid common irritants that could cause your eczema to show itself again. Don’t wear scratchy material such as wool, and don’t wear clothes that are restrictive or don’t fit your body properly. Stay away from harsh soaps, cleansers, detergents and air sprays that might put your eczema problems back into circulation. Avoid chemicals and solvents (such as paint thinner and turpentine) and do your best to keep your home as free of pet hair, dust and mold as possible.

Keep in mind that extremes of temperature, whether they be high or low can aggravate eczema, even when it is lying dormant. Stay inside on these kind of days, or at least for a portion of the day and plan your outdoor physical activities when the weather is mild and more “middle of the road.” As well when you do exert yourself, either through work or through physical activity such as exercise, don’t allow yourself to become overheated or to sweat excessively. This could possibly signal your eczema to come out of hiding.

In children allergies are the most common reason for chronic nasal congestion. An estimated one third of all American citizens suffer from one form of allergy or another. Some people turn to allergy shots as an option for effectively managing their eczema flare-ups. A general practitioner will often refer a patient with eczema to an allergist. An allergist is a doctor who is trained to help pinpoint the source of a patient’s allergy and then help the person to treat the symptoms, thereby reducing how often flare-ups occur.

Allergy shots are “a form of allergy and asthma treatment in which increasing, controlled doses of an allergen are injected into a patient over a period of time.” The goal behind the use of allergy shots is to increase a patient’s ability to tolerate a particular allergen while at the same time, decreasing the symptoms that come about as a result of an allergic reaction.

Allergy shots (also known as allergen immunotherapy) can be compared to a vaccination. They serve to increase the ability of the immune system to do its job properly and therefore the stronger it is, the easier it will be to block an allergic reaction taking place. An allergic reaction takes place when “the body mistakes a common, harmless substance for an ‘invader’. When the body is exposed to this ‘invader’, it carries out a series of chemical reactions to protect itself.” As long as the person administering them is trained and knows exactly what they are doing, allergy shots can be both effective as well as safe and can often be successfully used on young children of four or five years of age.

Some people believe in their effectiveness to control eczema while other people are less than impressed with the results. Research into allergy shots for eczema has shown that in some cases they can cause the symptoms to get worse. However allergy shots have been found to be very beneficial in treating other problems such as the symptoms associated with hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis), which are a runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes; breathing problems in regards to asthma and symptoms that accompany an insect sting allergy.

Allergy shots contain a form of the suspected allergen that is purified. Generally the shots are given to a sufferer year round and over a five-year span of time. The dosage of the allergy shot begins small and then gradually over the first four to six months is increased, little by little. After that period of time the dosage levels off to what is called a “maintenance dose.” This leveled off amount is then administered to the patient for up to a period of three years.

It is important to go for your allergy shots once or twice a week in the beginning of the treatment. The dose is started slower and then gradually increased to allow the immune system to get used to it as well as allow it time to begin to build an immunity to the invading substance. This is generally referred to as the buildup phase. Once this is reached, the maintenance dose (as mentioned above) goes into play and then the frequency of having to get allergy shots begins to drop. It goes from a weekly shot, to bi-weekly, and then in many cases to monthly.

Allergy shots have been found to work better for some allergens than others. For example, they work best with inhaled allergens such as pet fur, dust, pollens, mold and pollens. That may explain why hay fever and asthma are two conditions that respond better to allergy shots than eczema.

When the symptoms of eczema show themselves on your skin, it is important to schedule a visit with the doctor to determine what the problem is. Common medical testing will help to identify whether your skin condition is eczema or something else. An initial diagnosis of eczema is usually made based on what the skin looks like. Certain areas of the body are considered to be “eczema sensitive areas” such as the face, skin creases and the chest. If skin in these areas of the body is red, dry, itchy or swollen this may lead doctors to believe that eczema is the cause.

Doctors will discuss many other aspects of a patient’s life in order to form a better idea of what is going on. Other items that need to be considered are a patient’s family history (and other allergic related diseases in the family such as asthma or hay fever), lifestyle, dietary habits, tendency towards certain allergies (or any or all known allergies), prescription drugs the patient is currently taking and any chemicals or otherwise hazardous materials that the patient is exposed to either in his/her home environment or place of work. Other necessary pieces of information a patient should share with his or her physician include when the skin condition first made its appearance; all of the signs and symptoms of the condition, including itching or recurrent redness and inflammation; circumstances under which the skin condition is made worse, such as a high level of stress, excessive sweating and/or very dry air and a thorough medical history.

If a doctor suspects that a skin flare-up is due to an allergen then he or she will call for a blood test to check for any antibodies in the blood as well as the quantity of a variety of kinds of cells. If eczema is the cause of the symptoms, then the patient’s blood will show a raised “IgE” (or an eosinophilia). Sometimes the blood also needs to undergo a test known as a Radioallergosorbent Test (or RAST) or a Paper Radioimmunosorbent Test (PRIST). This test is done by mixing the blood separately with a variety of different allergens and then the level of the antibodies are measured carefully. Blood that is shown to have a great deal of antibodies in it means that there is definitely an allergy to a certain thing.

Some physicians will order a special test known as a skin patch test. In this case when something is suspected to be the source of the problem (i.e. an irritant to the skin) it is pressed to the skin and then held there with an adhesive patch. Another adhesive patch that is devoid of anything on it is also applied as a source of comparison. The irritant patch is left in place for anywhere from one day to two days. After that period of time it is taken away and the skin is examined. If the skin shows to be red, itchy and/or inflamed then more than likely it is the said irritant that the patient is allergic to.

On occasion a doctor will decided that the patient must have a skin lesion biopsy. This is when a small part of the skin is removed and then is sent to a lab to be viewed under a microscope. Biopsies as well as blood are not undertaken in every case where eczema is suspected. However they are often done when the symptoms are severe or out of the ordinary.

Cosmetics are a staple of many women’s lives but for those suffering from eczema on their faces, whether it be mild, moderate or severe, it can be a very challenging situation. Women with eczema need to find skincare and cosmetic products that are both hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic. Let’s take a closer look at this situation.

Hypoallergenic is a word that describes products that will not encourage allergic reactions to take place in the skin. For example, many types of cosmetics as well as skin creams contain fragrances and ingredients that can cause itchy, dry skin and mild to severe eczema rashes. Many eye shadow manufacturers include metallic compounds in their products and this is not good for most women but especially for those who suffer from any kind of allergy, including eczema.

Finding hypoallergenic cosmetics can sometimes be difficult as all stores do not carry these kinds of makeup lines although some popular brands are finally getting the message that women with sensitive allergy prone skin like to wear makeup as much as other women do. When hypoallergenic makeup products can be found, they are often extremely pricey. However many organic markets or stores carry specialty lines of hypoallergenic cosmetics and these very likely are more cost efficient than more well known brand products.

Noncomedogenic is a word used to describe creams, oils, lotions, sunscreens and cosmetics that do not serve to block or plug up pores. Sometimes noncomedogenic is known as “non-occlusive.” While this term is usually meant for those who have problems with acne, noncomedogenic products often contain less harsh ingredients than products that are not labeled as such. If you have a flair for making your own skincare or cosmetic products then choose the noncomedogenic oils to make them with. These oils include almond oil, evening primrose oil, olive oil, peanut oil, safflower oil and sunflower oil.

Some of the worst synthetic ingredients that are often included in skincare products, cosmetics and hair care products include butyl, ethyl parabens, methyl and propyl. These ingredients are well known to cause allergies and/or reactions in the skin and to be extremely toxic. Read product labels carefully and speak to the cosmetician for more information if you are unsure as to what products would be best for your ultra sensitive skin.

Take time to acquaint yourself with the cosmetic companies that you like and feel you can trust. Do your research and learn all you can about the company or companies in question. Find a mailing address or e-mail address for the cosmetic company and make contact with them. Tell them that you would like to be sent information regarding the ingredients they use in their products. Tell them that you are particularly concerned because of the allergy you suffer from. It is important to make cosmetic companies aware of your specific needs in order to help them serve you, their customer, and all of their other many customers, as best as they can. Remember that many women are “cosmetically challenged” due to skin problems so become a spokesperson for others by making your voice heard with cosmetic manufacturers.

No one understands an itch like a person who suffers from eczema. There are many products available from a grocery store or pharmacy that you can purchase to help relieve the stinging itch of eczema. As well there are stronger products that will fight the eczema itch but these cannot be obtained without a doctor’s prescription. The good news in all of this is that there are many natural remedies that can be made right at home or purchased from an alternative health store that can bring you some relief. Let’s take a closer look at some of these natural alternatives for that awful (ouch!) itch.

First of all remember that eczema is less likely to flare up and be intolerably itchy if you keep it well hydrated. This means moisturize your skin faithfully twice a day, morning and night, and more often if you feel the need is there. The best type of moisturizer for an eczema sufferer is an emollient. An emollient is simply a moisturizer that is oilier in its consistency than a regular moisturizing cream or lotion. Emollient can also come in the form of emollient oils that can be added to a bath or applied to the body while you are in the shower. In the summertime store your emollient in the refrigerator so it is extremely cooling to the skin when you put it on.

One natural remedy to use in the bathtub that is very soothing to itchy skin is to soak in an oatmeal bath. It may sound strange but oatmeal is excellent for calming inflamed skin that you just want to scratch off your body. You can simply buy porridge oats from the grocery store (such as Quaker Oats) and add them to a lukewarm bath. A cup or two should be fine. The itchier you are the more water and oats you should add. If you don’t want to make your own oatmeal bath, Aveeno sells one that is excellent for managing that eczema itch.

Try a natural remedy skin wash to control the itch of eczema. Mix these ingredients together in a bowl- one-teaspoon of comfrey root, one-teaspoon of white oak bark, one-teaspoon of slippery elm bark and two cups of water. Then boil the concoction for thirty-five minutes, allow it to cool and then wash the affected areas of your skin with it. While it might not completely get rid of the itch it should go along way in improving it.

Lotions that are made out of blueberry leaves are very good at relieving the inflammation of eczema and at improving the irritation that accompanies itching. Taking zinc pills orally as well as applying them directly to your itchy skin should help a lot, as should taking shark cartilage tablets or capsules on a regular basis. Vitamin E has been proven to be one of the best vitamins for fighting eczema itch, as it is very soothing to the affected area. However always read labels carefully and never buy synthetic vitamin E and the body cannot process the artificial form. In order to know the difference on labels, synthetic vitamin E always has a “dl” instead of a “d” before its description. For example, synthetic vitamin E would look like this: dl-alpha tocopherol while genuine vitamin E would look like this: d-alpha tocopherol.

The best advice for those with eczema on their hands is to keep your hands well moisturized and do your best to avoid anything that could irritate your skin. This is not always a simple task but avoiding irritants to the best of your ability will keep keep red, swollen, itchy and cracked skin at bay.

Many things around your home and workplace could serve to bother the sensitive skin on your hands. Some of these could include, but not be limited to detergents, household cleaners, air fresheners or sprays, soap, cosmetic products, perfume, aftershave lotion, turpentine, gasoline, pain stripper and other solvents and a variety of chemicals. Skin is likely to break out the more often you find yourself in close proximity to any of these substances. Having your hands in and out of water too much and washing them excessively with soap is a no no as it can serve to dry your skin out ten times faster. However when you do wash your hands, always dry them thoroughly and that includes between the fingers as well. Also make sure all soap residue has been rinsed away before you dry your hands off.

Wear a pair of vinyl or plastic gloves that fit properly at work or at home whenever it is absolutely necessary for you to have your hands in and out of water. If you suspect but don’t know for sure that a substance will irritate your skin then wear gloves to prevent anything bad from happening. The more you protect your hands the better. It is a good idea to wear a pair of thin cotton gloves under a pair of plastic gloves in order for the cotton gloves to soak up the sweating you are bound to do because you are wearing gloves in the first place. Always take breaks from the task at hand and when you do so, take off both pairs of gloves and give your hands some air. This prevents too much sweat from building up in the gloves, which can trigger a flare-up of eczema. Wear a pair of regular gloves whenever you step outside during the winter months. The cold air, blustery wind and low humidity of the winter season can dry the hands out tremendously, even on days when the temperature is moderate and there is no wind.

Moisturize your skin every day without fail, in the morning and before you go to bed, regardless of what time of day you bathe. That includes your hands as well. Moisturizers keep the skin supple and hydrated and prevent skin from cracking, as well as keeping flare-ups at bay. Well-moisturized skin does not age as quickly either. A very basis “no frill” kind of moisturizer is best. Avoid anything with alcohol or fragrance in it and choose one that is more on the greasy side as opposed to the creamy side. Regular petroleum jelly is an excellent choice for hands, whether it is a brand name like Vaseline or a generic form. Another excellent hand cream for eczema skin is Eucerin 5% Urea Hand Cream which has a light texture and is both free of fragrance and color. This moisturizer is suitable for everyday use and cuts down on the tightness of skin that plagues some eczema sufferers.

Eczema is a skin condition that does not have a known cure. Although it can be unpleasant, unsightly and very uncomfortable, eczema is not contagious, nor is it infectious. However sometimes a case of eczema can become so severe that other infections (known as secondary infections) can result. The greatest enemy of eczema prone skin is dryness which can cause all symptoms to become a great deal worse. When the epidermal layer of the skin loses a tremendous amount of moisture, it allows the skin the susceptibility to be invaded by a number of infections, some of which are viral while other are bacterial.

Some examples of secondary infections that eczema sufferers can develop include herpes simplex, warts, viral molluscum, as well as staphylococcal and streptococcal bacterial skin infections. Other secondary skin problems that can result from the worsening of eczema include, but are not limited to, papules (or small raised rough bumps on the skin), crusting as well as scaling of the skin, cheilitis (also known as inflammation around the lip area) and eyelids that become much darker in color.

One of the simplest ways to prevent infections that could stem from eczema is to keep your skin well moisturized. Use a gentle moisturizer for eczema prone skin such as Aquaphor, Alpha Keri, Eucerin, Curel, Lubriderm, Moisturel or Vaseline twice a day and even more if you feel it is necessary. Don’t ever allow your skin to become parched, instead moisturize it so it never gets to the point of feeling as though it has been out in the desert without water for days! Speaking of moisture, hydrate yourself well on the inside of day. Drink six to eight glasses of purified water per day. This will help flush out your organs and guard against infections.

Broken or cracked skin is an entryway for bacteria to enter into the skin so avoid this happening by resisting the urge to scratch. Use cortisone cream or extra moisturizer when you feel the itch coming on. For added protection, keep your fingernails at a short length so you won’t be able to cause as much damage to the skin if you do scratch. If scratching at night is a problem consider investing in a pair or thin gloves and wearing them at night while you sleep. If your skin does have cracks or breaks in it that came about despite your best efforts to prevent them, apply antibiotic cream to them liberally and if necessary bandage the wounded area of skin until it begins to heal.

Other ways to help avoid infections that stem from eczema include using an air-purification system in your home or workplace to filter out air particles that could serve to cause a flare-up of your skin condition. As well, use a humidifier in your home, which will serve to keep moisture in the air and thus not contribute to drying out your skin excessively. In your diet increase your consumption of fatty fish such as salmon and sardines. Also eat more raw seeds such as flax seeds or pumpkin seeds. Flax seed is also available in oil or powder form. These foods all contain high quantities of omega-3 fatty acids, which are an excellent way to reduce swelling in the skin. Avoid consuming trans-fatty acids in the form of hydrogenated oils as much as you can as these tend to promote diseases as well as decreasing the effectiveness of the immune system.

Many people dismiss eczema as a minor inconvenience or irritation and do not fully comprehend the extent to which it can affect the normal functioning of a person’s life. Besides the physical appearance and discomfort of it, the dry, red, itchy and inflamed skin also exacts a terrible psychological toll on its sufferers’ lives.

In 2004 the National Eczema Society as well as a series of global patient support groups backed a study that was the biggest and most comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted anywhere in the world. The study, which was called ISOLATE (which stood for International Study Of Life with ATopic Eczema) looked at the emotional and psychological cost of living with atopic eczema (the most widespread type of eczema). The individuals who participated in the study equaled two thousand and they hailed from eight different countries, which included France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the United States and the UK. They chose a good cross section of people, some who suffered from moderate eczema, and all the way up to those who suffered with the severest type of eczema.

The study showed that an astounding one quarter of the people interviewed had at one point or other been teased or bullied by others because of their skin condition. For a number of people whose eczema started in childhood and improved only slightly as they aged, the problems for them carried into their adulthood. Many people interviewed for the study felt that the skin condition was a “curse” that had charted the course of their lives and caused damage at every bend in the road.

For example many people described workplace related problems whereby they had to endure cruel comments being said sometimes to their face or other times whispered behind their backs, constant stares and a lack of knowledge about the disorder. Many co-workers of these individuals mistakenly believed that by touching a surface, such as a chair or desk, that the eczema patient had touched, they could “catch” the disease.

Besides the blatant discrimination at their place of work, one out of every seven patients interviewed firmly believed that their careers were thwarted by their skin condition. Many cited problems in regards to surviving job interviews as well as feeling that their choice of careers was limited, not because of lack of experience, education or knowledge but because of their skin conditions.

An eczema patient’s personal life can also be problematic. Many sufferers reported that dating and even the choice not to marry came about as a result of their skin disorder. Twenty percent of the people interviewed strongly believed that finding a mate was made worse because of their skin problem and forty-three percent admitted to feeling insecure and awkward in intimate situations with a partner, especially during times of the worst flare-ups. Many eczema patients suffer from a self of low self-esteem, suffer constant bouts of depression, as well as embarrassment and frustration at their life situation because of their skin condition. Many people who suffer from this skin condition feel the impact in many areas of their lives. While it may be a physical manifestation of a problem, it easily becomes a psychological quagmire. The ISOLATE survey found that seventy-five percent of the eczema patients interviewed admit that, “Being able to control their eczema effectively would be the single most important improvement to their quality of life.”

Eczema is often caused by irritants in the immediate environment. Dust mite protein is the number one indoor allergen (or irritant) to affect eczema sufferers. Approximately ten percent of the general population develops an allergy to dust mites. The symptoms of an allergic reaction to dust mites include eyes that are itchy and watery, sneezing, a runny nose, nasal congestion, ears that are “stuffed up” and difficult to hear out of, chronic respiratory problems such as head colds and post nasal drip, asthma and the most widespread form of eczema- atopic dermatitis.

Dust mites cannot be seen with the human naked eye. They are extremely small, are shaped like an oval, have eight legs and are cream in color. Dust mites have sticky pads on their feet that enable them to burrow into almost any kind of fiber in your home. They are most often found taking up residence in furniture and carpeting. It is only the particles of dead dust mites that can efficiently be cleaned up with a vacuum cleaner. It’s not pretty but dust mites stay alive and build in strength by consuming the shed skin of people as well as human fingernails as hair. They also eat animal fur, bacteria, fungi and pollen. Dust mites thrive in environments where the humidity is anywhere in the area of seventy to eighty percent. They also require temperatures anywhere between seventy-five and eighty degrees. A humidity level of below forty will not allow dust mites to live or thrive for very long. It is important to keep dust mites out of your home as much as possible to avoid eczema flare-ups.

There are a variety of other irritants that can cause eczema to flare-up with greater frequency and also to cause the intensity of the breakouts to be worse. Avoid harsh laundry detergents and always rinse your clothes twice with cool water when you wash them. Avoid household cleaners, disinfectants, air sprays and other common household substances that cause you to sneeze, itch excessively, develop a stuffy nose and a sore throat. Buy mild natural or organic cleaners for around your home and always spray them away from your face. Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth and never mix cleaners as this can also cause you to pass out on the spot.

Avoid chlorine, solvents (such as paint thinners or turpentine), mineral oil as well as sand (as in the sand found in a child’s sandbox) and dust particles. Cigarette smoke bothers a lot of eczema patients and make sure not to do it yourself! Wool is a very scratchy fiber that can irritate a case of eczema tremendously so stick with synthetic fibers. Cotton is the best choice as it is soft against the skin, it absorbs sweat well and it is a breathable fabric.

Many cosmetic, skincare and beauty products contain a scent of some form or another as well as alcohol (such as skin astringents). Don’t use these types of products on your skin. Buy mild soaps, body cleansers and moisturizers that soothe and comfort skin and not aggravate it. Forego bubble bath, which is very drying to the skin, and instead reach for an emollient oil or a colloidal oatmeal bath to make your skin feel soft, supple and normal.