A very common dermatological condition, eczema often seems quite unwieldy to handle and appears frustrating at times. Those who have to undergo the condition would know that the most mundane, everyday tasks might flare up.
Understanding Eczema
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis is a skin disease characterised by symptoms such as red rashes and itching on skin. Such eruptions are probably due to provocation stimuli or factors from the external and internal environment which may differ from one individual to another. Most of the common features associated with its symptoms include dry and sensitive skin, increased severity of itching, and occurrence of coarse, scaly surfaces on the skin. Knowledge of what causes eczema will sit at the heart of handling the condition, mainly because most daily activities will unconsciously aggravate symptoms.
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How Daily Habits Cause Eczema
The types of triggers that come to mind when we think of eczema automatically include the allergen or harmful chemicals. However, daily habits as a form of certain behaviors can also be highly contributing in aggravating the condition. Let us look at some common activities that may cause or flare up eczema.
Household Cleaning Products
Most housecleaning products are chemical-based, which irritates sensitive skin. Common ingredients include bleach, ammonia, and fragrance chemicals, which dry out the skin and activate eczema symptoms. In fact, people with eczema may develop irritation from secondhand exposure: inhaling fumes or coming into contact with surfaces cleaned by others.
Cut down on the impact by opting for natural cleaning alternatives or wearing gloves. This way, exposure of the skin to potentially dangerous chemicals is kept at bay and flare-ups are reduced to a minimum.
More Hand Washing
Hands need to be washed, especially during the cold and flu season. However, repeated hand-washing removes oils from the skin that are what keep that barrier tight; thus, dry, cracked skin with an easy vulnerability to eczema is the result. Washing with hot water or harsh soap makes matters worse, leaving skin exposed and more prone to flaring up.
To minimize such effects, use warm water and gentle, fragrance-free soaps. After washing, apply a moisturizer to hydrate and protect the skin.
Exercise and Sweating
Exercise is good for health in general but challenging in many ways with eczema. For instance, when you exercise and you start sweating, the salt in sweat irritates sensitive skin thus causing itching and redness. Moreover, the irritation sets in when the skin rubs on clothing during an exercise. Eczema complicates exercise for people.
It is possible to control this by wearing moisture-wicking fabrics during the exercise periods and showering immediately after exercising and washing off the sweat. A mild moisturizer applied right after exercise can help ease the irritation on the skin while preventing irritation in the area.
Environmental Factors
Main management is within the environment. Changes in the climate, allergens, and pollutants may cause flare-ups. For instance, cold temperatures cause dryness on the skin leading to itchiness, whereas, hot temperatures cause sweating; we all know how sweating can irritate the skin. This is a common cause found in allergens, such as pollen or dander from pets which cause reactions that worsen eczema.
Prevention 2 generally involves being mindful of your environment and taking measures before the allergens even reach you. For example, this may involve using a humidifier while it is winter because moisturized skin is not exposed to allergens. Wearing protective clothing and avoiding allergens also reduces one’s exposure to environmental triggers.
Stress and Its Impact on Eczema
Stress is a part of life, but for those with eczema, it might be a psychological burden with physical manifestations. The relationship between stress and the health of one’s skin is important, since stress creates hormones that enhance inflammation, thereby worsening eczema symptomatology. This creates a vicious circle: stress triggers flare-ups, and flare-ups give way to more stress.
Reducing stress through the use of relaxation techniques, exercise, or simply spending time on hobbies can improve eczema symptoms significantly. Although it does not remove eczema, reducing stress may help to make the eczema less intense and occur less often.
Tips for Management of Eczema with Daily Activities
You do not need to make huge changes in your daily activities to manage eczema. Sometimes simple adjustments can help prevent eczema flare-ups caused by everyday activities.
- Reduce Exposure to Harsh Chemicals: Work with agents which are non-fragranced and hypoallergenic because the potential for irritation from these agents to the skin is high.
- Moisturize: This is the using after washing your hand and after taking shower, or after sweating moisturization that reinforces skin barrier.
- Wear Gentle: Wear soft-breathing fabrics like cotton. Avoid wearing those irritating fabrics that have a great rubbing potential on the skin.
- Manage Stress: Reduce eczema through stress-reducing techniques that include yoga, meditation, or journaling.
- Stay Informed: Keep track of what is causing your flares. Identification of specific causes can allow avoidance and better management of symptoms.
