Listen, I’ve been telling y’all for YEARS to ease up on the hot showers. This time of year it’s even more important especially for those of us with eczema, but it doesn’t just end there. Mess around and not have your shower routine on point, and you’ll be scratching like a fiend during your afternoon huddle.
ECZEMA-PRONE SKIN TIPS:
- Bathe in WARM *NOT* boiling hot water.
Hot water dries the skin and can contribute to damaging the skin’s barrier. And if you have eczema, your skin barrier is already impaired
- Overhaul your body care.
This time of year I often have to say goodbye to some of the products I can use in the summer (fragranced body washes, body scrubs, etc) and instead opt for gentle, fragrance-free options that soothe and protect my skin. The Eucerin Eczema-Relief Body Wash and Body Cream are perfect for this. There’s also a baby version!
- Exfoliate sparingly.
Yes, I know some of y’all wanna be scrubbed within an inch of your life, but dry, eczema-prone skin is already impaired—exfoliating too often can cause more flare-ups (and you can wind up injuring your skin).
So what do you do? Definitely skip the exfoliating when you have active flare-ups. Besides, so many things we do to our skin already count as exfoliation. Simply rubbing your hands against your skin counts as exfoliation.
When your barrier is healthy, limit exfoliating to 1-2 times a week and look into gentle exfoliants made for sensitive skin—maybe even the types made for your face
- Avoid itchy fabrics
Some wools and knits can further irritate the skin—try to avoid these or if you do wear
them, consider layering something silk or satin underneath to protect your skin.
5. Use a humidifier and limit indoor heating use—heat (and even AC) can be very drying on the skin. I am notorious for layering up instead of cranking the heat up.
