Triggering Factors to Steer Clear Of When Treating Eczema
What’s better than employing an eczema treatment for the skin disease’s many symptoms? It’s staying away from the things that trigger such symptoms. Although there are many ways of alleviating inflammation, itching and scaling of the eczematous skin during flare ups, preventing them from occurring is still the best management you can give yourself. Read on to learn about some of the known triggering factors of eczema flare ups.
Skin Irritants
Avoid the affected skin from coming in contact with fabrics such as nylon, polyester and wool. Unless lined with cotton cloth, do without clothing items that use latex, rubber and other synthetic materials. Fabrics that are less likely to trigger flare ups are cotton and linen. They are also best as bedding.
If doing housework is unavoidable, protect your hands. For doing the laundry, use PVC gloves to protect the skin from hard water and harsh detergents. For gardening and cleaning the house, use cotton gloves. They will prevent unnecessary washing of the hands with soap and water afterwards.
When buying cosmetics, you should opt for fragrance- and alcohol-free items. Try to apply the makeup on small areas of the unaffected skin before applying them on your face. Never apply makeup on lesions to hide them. This will irritate them and they will worsen and be more noticeable.
Skin dryness causes itchiness; this is why you need to avoid contact with alkalies. They include soaps, shampoos, detergents, shaving creams and other similar products. Try to look for items that are hypoallergenic and contain no harmful chemicals.
Sweat can irritate eczematous skin as well. When you exercise or exert yourself try to do so in cool and well-ventilated areas. Also, doing these activities in short sessions will be a lot easier on your skin.
Weather and Allergens in the Air
There is a reason why eczema is more common in industrialized and urban areas. Exposure to air pollution and smog increases the risks of having flare ups. Skin dryness is also affected by extremes in temperature, such as very cold, or hot and humid weather conditions. It is best if you can install a humidifier if your house has central heating or air conditioning.
Try to keep the house free of dust. Vacuuming of curtains and carpets must be done on a weekly basis. Steer away from house dust mites, molds, pollen grains and animal dander such as hair, feather and scales. For beddings, change or wash them weekly with mild detergent and rinse them thoroughly to help lessen the occurrence of flare ups.
Food Restrictions
Research has shown that certain foods, especially in infants and young children afflicted with the skin disease, have an adverse effect on eczema. However, such adverse reactions tend to dissipate as we grow older.
The best way to find out which food items cause flare ups is to monitor daily what you put in your mouth. This way, you can avoid consuming problematic foods next time, so the eczema symptoms are put off as much as possible.
Some of the foods that tend to cause flare ups include milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat and seafood. It has also been shown that certain food preservatives and additives such as sulfites and MSG may contribute to flare ups.
The best eczema treatment is the one that helps prevent the occurrence of flare ups. With less flare ups, the less you need to take prescription medications to alleviate the symptoms and tolerate their side effects.
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