5 Things That Make Eczema Worse

5 Things To Avoid If You Have Eczema

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Eczema is one of the most common skin concerns that affects people from all ages, both male and female and is usually chronic. The symptoms of eczema include (but are not limited to) very dry, tight skin, formation of dry, red patches and blisters on the skin, frequent rashes, itchy skin, etc.

While it is true that with  certain lifestyle and diet changes you can keep eczema under control, there are also things that make it worse and have to be avoided at all costs. Since I’ve been struggling with dermatitis (a form of eczema) my entire life I’d like to share with you (based on my personal experience) 5 of the most common eczema triggers that are sure to make your skin feel “unhappy”.

Hot Showers & Long Baths

If you have eczema, you are probably familiar with the rule “Moisturize right after you get out of the shower!”. Since when you have eczema the lipid barrier of the skin is disrupted, dermatologists suggest applying rich, hydrating cream in order to preserve more moisture inside the cells.

Sadly, after taking a hot bath, even the most nutrient rich moisturizer, will not be able to restore the moisture levels in your skin, neither your lipid barrier. Hot water literally melts the sebum your skin produces and washes it away, leaving you skin without its protective layer of lipids.

Similar thing happens when you spend more than 10-15 minutes under the shower/in the bath tub (even when the water is not very hot). Because water is actually dehydrating for your skin, every time you indulge on a nice, relaxing bath/shower your skin becomes dry and tight (especially if you live in a region where the water is heavy).

Reducing the amount of time you spend in the bathroom is crucial for keeping the symptoms of eczema under control.

Harsh Cleansers

Strong detergents, be it in shampoos, shower gels or soaps are your worst enemy. They break down the natural lipid mantel of the skin, leaving the skin dehydrated and unprotected. Ingredients like  sulfates literally strip your skin off (not to mention they increase its irritability and make it more susceptible to external damage and infections).

If you have eczema, I’d recommend switching to organic cleansers or at least ones that are not loaded with sulfates.

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Scratching Your Skin

This one is tough. I’ve been there and I know it. When your skin itches, you just can’t control your hands.

Finding a way to resist the urge to scratch, though, is sure to make your life with eczema way easier. Scratching causes further damage to the skin and aggravates any pre-existing inflammations. Scratching vigorously leads to the formation of wounds that are basically “open doors” for bacteria and viruses to enter your body. Not to mention, that when these wounds start healing the urge to scratch doubles (when tissues heal, they scratch).

Now take your hands of your skin, go to Pinterest and find some DIY crafts to occupy yourself with – a better way to use your hands, trust me.

Stressing Our

Even though it’s pretty much impossible to remove all stress from your life, reducing its levels will help you feel more relaxed. When you are nervous and anxious, you are more likely to give in to the urge to scratch. There are many ways to reduce stress, but until you find your own, you may have to experiment with some stuff – yoga, meditation, deep breathing, running, dancing, going out with friends (no beer/wine included – both increase the levels of histamine in your body, hence make eczema worse), etc.

Plus, most of the things that stress us out are basically things we can’t change/do anything about, hence the energy we put into worrying about them is practically wasted. Use your energy for something better.

Synthetic Clothing

Wearing clothes made of synthetic fiber (and wool, in my case) is the worst I could do to my skin. From all triggers listed in this article, this particular one, is the one that always flared-up my eczema to an extent where I literally wanted to “take my skin off”.

After switching to organic cotton and loose-fitting clothes (keep in mind - the tighter the clothes, the more the rubbing) my skin feels great. It is no longer irritated and I have less swollen, red patches.

Lastly, I’d like to mention that finding your own personal eczema triggers takes some time. The ones mentioned here are the most common ones, but since we are all different, so are the external factors that irritate our skin. Listen to your body carefully and it will tell you everything. 

What makes your eczema worse? What helps your skin feel better? Tell us in the comments below - let's share experience! 

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