Eczema is an incredibly common chronic skin condition that causes rashes and your skin to become itchy, dry, red, and flaky.
There is no cure for eczema; however, there are plenty of treatment options available. While severe eczema might require professional care, there are some at-home remedies that many people living with eczema have found helpful.
Because flare-ups of eczema can be pretty miserable, Elaine Phuah, DO, MBA, FACOI, Leon Tio, DO, MA, FACOI, and the rest of our team at Clover Internal Medicine Associates in Fort Worth, Texas, want to provide a variety of eczema-relieving techniques you can try at home in hopes that you can find one that works for you.
Because everyone is different, there is no “one-size-fits-all” magic cure for making your eczema go away. However, this is a list of tricks that many people living with eczema have found helpful to both relieve current eczema symptoms and prevent future flare-ups:
When your skin is dry and itchy, it can be hard to stop scratching, which can exacerbate your symptoms and worsen your eczema. Try some of these topical treatments to relieve itching and heal broken patches of skin:
These can provide much-needed moisture, helping reduce the severity of an eczema flare-up while also repairing your skin barrier and reducing risk of infection from a break in your skin.
Baths are a great solution for minimizing both itching and skin inflammation. Try taking a warm bath with gentle soaps about 2-3 days per week. Avoid using hot water or bath products with harsh chemicals or scents, since these can dry out your skin and worsen your eczema.
You can also try adding a half-cup bleach to your bath about once a week. While this may seem dangerous or counterintuitive, it can actually help kill harmful bacteria that could lead to a staph infection.
Different people have different eczema triggers. Trying out some lifestyle changes could help you narrow down what your triggers are. At the very least, you may find some of these tips helpful for lessening the amount of eczema flare-ups you have.
Adding foods to your diet that actively lower inflammation can give your body what it needs to fight against eczema flare-ups. These include foods such as leafy greens, fish, vegetables, beans, lentils, and fruits.
Stress is often a trigger for eczema, so trying some relaxation techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, journaling, and breathing exercises can lower your stress and bring down eczema-triggering inflammation as well.
Protecting your skin by not wearing irritating fabrics, minimizing time in the hot sun, and covering your skin during cold temperatures can keep it from drying out or becoming irritated and itchy. All these things can help keep your skin healthy and reduce eczema flares.
If you find that these at-home eczema management tips aren’t enough to keep your eczema at bay, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our team for next-level care. You can book with us by simply calling our office or using our online scheduler today.
