Eczema-Friendly Skincare Routine Changes

According to medical studies, over 31% of people in the United States are suffering from a type of eczema. While symptoms of this disease can vary, bumpy rashes and dry, scaly skin is one of the most common ones found in all of its different stages. It can be triggered by the consumption of certain foods, and allergens in the environment like pollen, smoke, and dust. This disease has no cure just yet, and all those who suffer can do is to manage the symptoms. This can mean lifestyle changes, like avoiding areas that can have a lot of pollutants, choosing clothing that’s more friendly to sensitive skin, or dietary changes like not eating certain foods that can trigger the symptoms. Here are three skincare routine changes that you should be looking to implement when you have eczema:

Face-Washing Habits – Due to the increased sensitivity of eczema-prone skin, you want to wash your face with lukewarm to room temperature water. When you wash your face with hot water, all the natural oils that your skin produces get stripped away, drying out your face. As far as cleansers go, a simple and mild over-the-counter cleanser would be just fine. You also want to cleanse your face more than once to remove all the makeup completely. Using makeup wipes along with your cleanser should help with this.

Acne Treatments – Acne treatments should be tailored to your skin’s composition, type and any other issues being taken into consideration. So rather than using over-the-counter products, it’s better if you use acne creams or serums prescribed by your dermatologist. This way, you are using products that will not cause any eczema flare ups or cause your current problems to worsen. Serums like vitamin C are good to protect your already-sensitive skin from the free radicals that its exposed to during the day.  Prescription strength retinols should also be part of your anti-acne treatment rotuine.

Moisturizing Routine – If you have eczema, one of the key things you should be doing is to be moisturizing from head to toe HEAVILY. Moisturizers that contain ceramides are the best for this condition. Ceramides are lipids that lock in the moisture and form a protective barrier on top of your skin to protect it from drying out. Those who suffer from eczema know that dryness and scaling can lead to more inflammation and itching. The best time to apply a moisturizer is just as soon as you finish bathing, when your skin is still damp.