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How To Help Someone With Eczema

Favorite Alternative Medicine Resource

10 tips to HEAL YOUR ECZEMA| Dr Dray

This NEA page offers information about how acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine, natural oils, and other alternative treatments can help to ease eczema symptoms.

The National Eczema Association has an online store of sensitive skinfriendly products that bear the NEA Seal of Acceptance, meaning they are intended for people with moderate to severe skin conditions. Get moisturizers, cleansers, detergents, and other items designed to protect and not irritate your skin.

The Importance Of Sleep When You Have Eczema

Easier said than done, right? People living with eczema know how difficult it is to sleep when your skin is itchy and uncomfortable. If eczema is keeping you or your child awake at night, talk with your doctor about how to get a better handle on your symptoms. Taking an antihistamine before bed can help you become drowsy. Enjoying warm, relaxing baths or showers and lathering on the moisturizer before bed can induce sleepiness and stave off itch. It also helps to turn your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary by keeping the room dark, cool and clean, and limiting the use of electronics an hour or two before bedtime.

Learn more about how to get a good nights sleep even when your eczema is flaring.

When To Call A Doctor

  • Itching makes you or your child irritable.
  • Itching is interfering with daily activities or with sleep.
  • There are crusting or oozing sores, severe scratch marks, widespread rash, severe discoloration of the skin, or a fever that is accompanied by a rash.
  • Painful cracks form on the hands or fingers.
  • Atopic dermatitis on the hands interferes with daily school, work, or home activities.
  • Signs of an infection develop. These may include:
  • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
  • Red streaks leading from the area.
  • Pus draining from the area.

Recommended Reading: Eczema Rash All Over Body

Signs And Symptoms Of Eczema

People with eczema have very dry, itchy skin and rashes on various parts of the body particularly the face, hands, feet, insides of the elbows, and behind the knees.

In addition, skin lesions and blotches may develop on the wrists, ankles, sides of the neck, or around the mouth.

For most people, the main symptom of eczema is itching, which can lead to scratching and rubbing that further irritates the skin. This can, in turn, lead to the itch-scratch cycle or increased itching and scratching that worsens eczema symptoms.

Other skin symptoms associated with eczema include:

  • Rough, leathery patches of skin
  • Red, raised bumps

Things That Trigger A Flare

A lot of people are affected by various skin conditions ranging from ...

The itching and rash of atopic dermatitis can be triggered by:

  • Allergens, such as dust mites, pollen, moulds, or animal dander.
  • Harsh soaps or detergents, rubbing the skin, and wearing wool.
  • Workplace irritants, such as fumes and chemicals.
  • Weather changes, especially dry and cold.
  • Temperature changes, such as a suddenly higher temperature. This may bring on sweating, which can cause itching.
  • Stress. Emotions such as frustration or embarrassment may lead to more itching and scratching.
  • Certain foods. This can include eggs, peanuts, milk, soy, or wheat products, if you are allergic to them. But experts don’t agree on this as a cause.
  • Excessive washing. This can lead to drier skin and more itching.

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Lifestyle Changes That Can Relieve Symptoms

While it can seem that nothing will relieve the discomfort, you can ease symptoms of atopic dermatitis . Here are some easy-to-make changes that dermatologists recommend:

  • Moisturize after bathing and when your skin feels dry. Keeping your skin hydrated helps form a barrier between you and the world. To avoid irritating your skin, use a fragrance-free cream or ointment instead of a lotion.

  • Choose fragrance-free skin care products. Fragrance can cause an AD flare-up. To avoid this, only use products labeled fragrance free. You may see the word unscented on a product label. Avoid these, too. Unscented means that the fragrance has been masked. Although you wont smell the fragrance in an unscented product, a masked fragrance can still trigger a flare-up.

  • Test all skin care products before using them. While fragrance often causes AD to flare, other ingredients in skin care products can also cause a flare-up. To test a product, apply a small amount to skin without AD. Leave it on your skin for 24 hours. If your skin remains clear after 24 hours, its less likely to cause a flare-up.

  • Bathe daily, taking a 5- to 10-minute bath or shower in lukewarm water. A short bath or shower helps hydrate the skin. When you apply your moisturizer within 5 minutes of bathing, this helps to lock in the moisture.

  • Wash clothing in detergent that is fragrance free and dye free. The fragrance and dye can trigger a flare-up.

  • Washing new clothing before you wears it.
  • Related AAD resources

    What Do Fungal Infections Look Like

    Fungal skin infections often look like a rash. Doctors usually suspect a fungal infection when a red, irritated, or scaly rash appears in one of the commonly affected areas. Fungal skin infections may also appear in the shape of a scaly, raised, red, itchy ring, often called ringworm. This rash can appear in other areas of the body, and is not always in the shape of a ring. It may go by other namessuch as athletes foot when it appears on the feetwhen it appears on other areas of the body.3-5

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    Find An Eczema Support Group

    Even though eczema is a common disease affecting more than 31 million Americans, many people say they are too embarrassed or ashamed to talk about it. Oftentimes, they report covering up their skin and thus go through life not knowing if the person standing in line next to them also has eczema. Its human nature to want to talk with others who have the same problem and know what youre going through. The National Eczema Association can help. Connect with us on and to discuss the latest news and research with others in the eczema community. Join Eczema Wise, an online support group where people living with or affected by eczema can post discussion topics, exchange ideas and make new friends.

    Favorite Eczema Tracking App

    Heal your eczema from the inside out, for good.

    Eczema Tracker

    Information is power when it comes to managing eczema symptoms and flare-ups. Eczema Tracker allows you to take a photo of flare-ups and monitor your condition, as well as track and analyze a wealth of information concerning your triggers, allergies, and skin. The app even provides local pollen, weather, mold, and humidity information to help you manage your symptoms. It uses your data to find trends that may lead to flare-ups. Eczema Tracker is available only for iOS in the Apple Store. It is a free app.

    Recommended Reading: Best Natural Body Lotion For Eczema

    When To Call Your Doctor About Eczema

    No matter what type of eczema you might have, schedule a visit if:

    • You get an itchy rash and have a family history of eczema or asthma.
    • The inflammation doesnt respond within a week to treatment with over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams. You may need stronger forms of treatment.
    • You get yellowish to light brown crust or pus-filled blisters over patches of eczema, especially if youâve been scratching. You could have a bacterial infection that should be treated with an antibiotic. In fact, youâre also more likely to get viral and fungal skin infections.
    • During a flare-up of eczema, you have contact with anyone with a viral skin disease such as cold sores or genital herpes. Having eczema puts you at higher risk of catching the herpes simplex virus.
    • You get many painful, small, fluid-filled blisters in the areas of eczema. You may have eczema herpeticum, a rare but potentially serious complication caused by the herpes simplex virus.

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    Caring For Someone With Eczema: Tips From A Former Eczema Sufferer

    To all the carers, moms/mums, dads, friends caring and supporting someone with chronic eczema: this latest blog by Bonnie is for you. {Photo of Bonnie, taken by Karen Fischer)

    Recently my mother was snooping around my mess and picked up a book that I had been reading Curing My Incurable Eczema. In her book, Cara Ward recalls her journey with eczema and Topical Steroid Withdrawal.

    Mum came to me to confess that she had to stop reading it because it bought back such painful and vivid memories of the many years that I suffered with atopic eczema. She was surprised at her response, as those days seem so long ago now. So we chatted about our eczema journey and I decided that it was something I wanted to share.

    Beyond are ups, the broader pain of eczema takes place on many fronts affecting us not only physically but mentally too, and this notion ripples through to loved ones supporting us on the journey to healed skin.

    Illness and all the associated stress and anxiety is an exhausting business for everyone involved! After recovery, are we able to reflect on the immense physical and emotional toll for ourselves and our families.

    For me personally, without the love and both practical and emotional support of my family, and my mum in particular, the long journey to recovery would have been much more difficult. I had dark days. But the love, compassion, humour and patience from parents, friends and other loved ones during the tough times can transform these dark moments.

    Also Check: Best Way To Cure Eczema On Hands

    How To Use Emollients

    Use your emollient all the time, even if you’re not experiencing symptoms.

    Many people find it helpful to keep separate supplies of emollients at work or school, or a tub in the bathroom and one in a living area.

    To apply the emollient:

    • use a large amount
    • do not rub it in smooth it into the skin in the same direction the hair grows
    • after a bath or shower, gently pat the skin dry and apply the emollient while the skin is still moist to keep the moisture in

    You should use an emollient at least twice a day if you can, or more often if you have very dry skin.

    During a flare-up, apply generous amounts of emollient more frequently, but remember to treat inflamed skin with a topical corticosteroid as emollients used on their own are not enough to control it.

    Do not put your fingers into an emollient pot use a spoon or pump dispenser instead, as this reduces the risk of infection. And never share your emollient with other people.

    Medical Treatments Or Eczema On Face

    9 Ways To Treat Eczema Naturally

    If the home remedies dont make any improvement of eczema on your face, then its understandable and advisable to try out medical treatment. First, visit a specialist or dermatologist before trying out any facial cream or procedure to deal with eczema. Here are the medical treatments of eczema on face:

    Also Check: Is Dandruff A Form Of Eczema

    Will Petroleum Jelly Help Ear Eczema

    Petroleum jelly or skin care ointments can help treat your ear eczema. These products moisturize and protect your affected skin. Theyre hypoallergenic and have antibacterial and antifungal characteristics that help heal your skin.

    Gently wash your ears with warm running water and mild soap. Then, use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of petroleum jelly or skin care ointment over your ears. Try to avoid touching your ears to prevent dirt or bacteria from entering the area.

    Support Groups For Eczema

    Participating in a support group where one can share their frustrations, exchange tips for coping with eczema and offer encouragement to others, going through similar challenges, can help.

    The National Eczema Association offers an online community of people with eczema who are there to share their experiences and offer hope. You can connect with the group on Facebook and Twitter and learn about the latest research and news pertaining to new developments in eczema treatment.

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    Gentle Soaps And Detergents

    Laundry detergent can contain harsh chemicals that aggravate eczema.

    Many body washes and cleansers contain detergents, which help provide a soapy lather. Detergents and other lathering agents can dry out the skin, especially in people with eczema.

    Bar soaps can also be harsh on the skin because of their alkalinity.

    Try using a gentle, no-lather, fragrance-free cleanser. Avoid products with rough particles for scrubbing or exfoliating, as these can further irritate the skin.

    Many people with eczema also find that switching to a more gentle, fragrance- or color-free laundry detergent can help improve symptoms.

    Additionally, try skipping fabric softener, which lingers on clothes and often contains fragrances and chemicals that can irritate the skin.

    Sitting next to a fireplace or near a furnace may feel good, but it can worsen eczema symptoms. The hot, dry air can dehydrate the skin and aggravate the itchiness of eczema.

    Use a humidifier during the dry winter months and avoid getting too close to heaters and fireplaces.

    A Helping Hand Means A Lot

    How I Cured My Eczema

    Itchy, inflamed skin can make everyday tasks a challenge. When Melissa OâNeill, 34, of Wernersville, PA, is having a hard time with the eczema on her hands, itâs a relief when her loved ones help. Her sister bathes the kids or does the dishes. Friends often pitch in with meal prep. âThe best thing anyone can do is to understand that things take me longer to do and that my mind is willing but sometimes my body isnât able,â she says.

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    Try To Reduce The Damage From Scratching

    Eczema is often itchy, and it can be very tempting to scratch the affected areas of skin.

    But scratching usually damages the skin, which can itself cause more eczema to occur.

    The skin eventually thickens into leathery areas as a result of chronic scratching.

    Deep scratching also causes bleeding and increases the risk of your skin becoming infected or scarred.

    Try to reduce scratching whenever possible. You could try gently rubbing your skin with your fingers instead.

    If your baby has atopic eczema, anti-scratch mittens may stop them scratching their skin.

    Keep your nails short and clean to minimise damage to the skin from unintentional scratching.

    Keep your skin covered with light clothing to reduce damage from habitual scratching.

    What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Eczema

    The signs of eczema :

    • are mainly dry, itchy skin. Because it is so itchy, it is often called the itch that rashes.
    • include redness, scales, and bumps that can leak fluid and then crust over
    • tend to come and go. When they get worse, it is called a flare-up.
    • may be more noticeable at night

    Symptoms can vary:

    • Infants younger than 1 year old usually have the eczema rash on their cheeks, forehead, or scalp. It may spread to the knees, elbows, and trunk .
    • Older kids and teens usually get the rash in the bends of the elbows, behind the knees, on the neck, or on the inner wrists and ankles. Their skin is often scalier and drier than when the eczema first began. It also can be thicker, darker, or scarred from all the scratching .

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    Lipid Rich Moisturizers Help Heal And Support The Skin Barrier In Eczema

    I know that applying a really good moisturizer to eczema-prone skin is critically important to hydrate skin and help hold water throughout the skin layers. Lipids in a moisturizer also replenish lost lipids in the skin barrier. Both elements are important to help weakened eczema-prone skin resist transepidermal water loss . I use moisturizers with ceramides and skin-friendly botanical oils.

    At What Age Do They Start

    Eczema Treatment in Singapore

    Eczema usually starts in babies or young children. Often, symptoms improve when a kid becomes a grown-up.

    Its less common, but possible, to get it as an adult. When that happens, its usually because you have another condition like thyroid disease, hormone changes, or stress.

    Psoriasis, on the other hand, usually shows up between ages 15 and 35. But you can get it at other ages too. Its rare for a baby to have it.

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    What Questions Might My Healthcare Provider Ask To Diagnose Eczema

    The conversation with your healthcare provider will need to cover a lot of information. Be sure to be specific about your symptoms.

    • Where is your eczema located?
    • What have you used to try to treat your eczema?
    • What medical conditions do you have? Allergies? Asthma?
    • Is there a history of eczema in your family?
    • How long have you had symptoms of eczema?
    • Do you take hot showers?
    • Is there anything that makes your symptoms worse?
    • Have you noticed that something triggers or worsens your eczema? Soaps? Detergents? Cigarette smoke?
    • Is there so much itchiness that you have trouble sleeping? Working? Living your normal life?

    How To Use Topical Corticosteroids

    Do not be afraid to apply the treatment to affected areas to control your eczema.

    Unless instructed otherwise by a doctor, follow the directions on the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.

    This will give details of how much to apply.

    Most people only have to apply it once a day as there’s no evidence there’s any benefit to applying it more often.

    When using a topical corticosteroid:

    • apply your emollient first and ideally wait around 30 minutes until the emollient has soaked into your skin, or apply the corticosteroid at a different time of day
    • apply the recommended amount of the topical corticosteroid to the affected area
    • continue to use it until 48 hours after the flare-up has cleared so the inflammation under the skin surface is treated

    Occasionally, your doctor may suggest using a topical corticosteroid less frequently, but over a longer period of time. This is designed to help prevent flare-ups.

    This is sometimes called weekend treatment, where a person who has already gained control of their eczema uses the topical corticosteroid every weekend on the trouble sites to prevent them becoming active again.

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