Eczema is a common skin condition affecting 10-20% of children and some adults. It's characterized by scaly, dry, rough, or thickened skin patches that may suddenly flare up due to triggers. Eczema might develop due to genetic, immune system, environmental, or emotional factors.
While flare-ups are often uncomfortable or distressing, they can usually be managed with lifestyle changes, home remedies, over-the-counter products, or medical interventions. This article offers strategies for managing eczema flare-ups using natural and medicinal solutions.
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What is an Eczema Flare-Up?
An eczema flare-up involves a sudden worsening of symptoms, such as itching, redness, inflammation, dryness, and scaliness. Common triggers for eczema flare-ups include:
- Some fabrics
- Dry weather with low humidity
- Some skin care products
- Pollutants
- Smoke
- Harsh soaps or detergents
- Stress
- Allergies
- Some foods like eggs, dairy, peanuts, wheat, or soy
- Autoimmune conditions
Eczema isn't contagious, so you cannot contract it from exposure to another person. While eczema flare-ups are part of living with this common skin condition, they can be minimized with diet, other lifestyle interventions, home remedies, and over-the-counter products or medicines.
Immediate Steps to Take During a Flare-Up
Immediate steps to take during a flare-up for eczema symptom relief include:
Apply Moisturizer
Moisturizing the skin after flare-up symptoms can ease bothersome itching and dryness. The best moisturizers for flare-ups include ointments, balms, oils, petroleum jelly, or thick creams for eczema. Look for moisturizing products containing the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance™.
Use Anti-Inflammatory Treatments
Anti-inflammatory treatments for eczema include topical corticosteroids and non-steroid options, such as calcineurin inhibitors for sensitive areas. Apply these medicines exactly as directed by a healthcare professional. Consider prescription treatments if natural remedies and over-the-counter options haven't effectively relieved your symptoms.
Cool Down the Affected Area
Try using a cool compress or wet wraps to minimize itching and inflammation caused by eczema. Cooling the skin can help break the itch-scratch cycle.
Avoid Scratching
Scratching eczematous skin can worsen symptoms and cause breaks in the skin, increasing the risk of pain and infection. Strategies that may help resist scratching include keeping your nails trimmed short and using mindfulness to resist the habit of scratching and avoid complications. Try tapping or pinching the skin rather than scratching to experience relief.
Long-Term Flare-Up Management Strategies
Long-term flare-up management strategies that can reduce eczema flare-ups in eczema-prone skin include:
Build a Consistent Skincare Routine
Establish a consistent skincare routine. Consider gentle cleansing using warm water instead of hot water for about 5-10 minutes. Avoid harsh soaps and other irritating skin care products; choose hypoallergenic and those free from dyes, fragrances, stabilizers, and preservatives.
Moisturize the skin daily as a preventive measure to keep it hydrated and at its healthiest. You might need several different products and trial and error to find a personalized skincare regimen that works best for eczematous skin. Look for cleansing and moisturizing products containing the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance™.
Identify and Avoid Triggers
Identifying and avoiding eczema symptom flare-up triggers is helpful by documenting patterns that worsen symptoms. Such triggers may include:
- Dry weather
- Stress
- Pollutants
- High-histamine foods
- Food allergies
- Irritating clothing
- Harsh skincare products
- Dry skin
To reduce exposure to potential triggers, use hypoallergenic products, consider a food elimination diet, moisturize the skin daily, stay hydrated, and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Keep stress levels as low as possible.
Managing Stress and Emotional Health
Studies show a link between stress and emotional health and eczema flare-ups. Symptoms may suddenly become worse during high-stress periods.
Meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi, mindfulness, and therapy can reduce stress and minimize bothersome eczema symptoms. Getting at least 7 hours of high-quality sleep is vital to minimizing the frequency of eczema flare-ups.
Addressing Severe or Persistent Flare-Ups
Addressing severe or persistent eczema flare-ups may consist of:
Over-the-Counter Products
Over-the-counter products, such as topical hydrocortisone, oral antihistamines, or medicated shampoos, can be helpful.
Prescription or Medical Treatments
Sometimes, prescription medications or other medical interventions are necessary if lifestyle changes and over-the-counter products haven't reduced the severity of eczema symptoms. Examples include:
- Oral medications, such as JAK inhibitors, corticosteroids, antihistamines, immunosuppressants, and traditional systemic medications
- Topical JAK inhibitors, calcineurin inhibitors, phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors, or topical steroids
- Phototherapy (light therapy)
- Biologics injections
Working with a dermatologist for severe eczema symptoms and frequent flare-ups is vital to address triggers and ease unpleasant symptoms.
Treatments for Infections
Recognizing signs of a secondary infection in eczematous skin, such as crusting, weeping, and yellow discharge, is critical. A healthcare professional may suggest antivirals, antibiotics, or antifungals for individuals with severe or persistent infections.
Maintain proper skin hygiene habits by cleansing the affected skin regularly using mild products and warm water during eczema flare-ups to reduce the risk of skin infections.
Home Remedies and Natural Options
Home remedies are often beneficial for managing eczema symptoms, though severe forms of eczema may require medical intervention. Examples of natural home remedies for eczema include:
- Topical coconut oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, manuka honey, or vitamin B12
- Colloidal oatmeal baths
- Aloe vera
- Shea butter
- Tea tree oil in bathwater
- Petroleum jelly
- Mineral oil
- Probiotics supplements
- Vitamin D supplements
- Dietary changes (avoiding high-histamine foods, dairy, gluten, other food allergens, added sugar, highly processed foods, food dyes, and other artificial ingredients)
- Stress-reduction techniques, such as acupuncture, massage, hypnosis, meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and tai chi
- Hydration (aim to drink at least eight glasses of water daily)
- Wet dressings
While natural remedies have pros (they are cheaper and more convenient with a low risk of side effects) and cons (they might not work as well for severe eczema), it's vital to consult a dermatologist before trying alternative treatments.
Preventing Future Flare-Ups
Consider the following tips for reducing the risk of future eczema flare-ups:
Maintain Healthy Skin Habits
Examples of healthy skin habits include:
- Use a moisturizer at least twice daily
- Try gentle cleansers
- Choose products that are fragrance-free, dye-free, preservative-free and hypoallergenic
- Consider petroleum jelly, mineral oil, or other natural oils containing lipids that improve the skin's barrier
- Minimize stress
- Clean skin with warm vs. hot water
- Stay well-hydrated
- Get at least 7 hours of sleep
- Consider a humidifier
- Avoid irritating fabrics and other eczema triggers
Avoiding eczema flare-up triggers by making healthy lifestyle adjustments (such as dietary changes as needed), effectively managing stress, getting plenty of sleep, and reducing exposure to allergens is highly beneficial.
Seasonal and Environmental Adjustments
Making seasonal and environmental adjustments to your skincare routine is helpful to optimize skin health. For example, moisturize your skin more in the winter, drink extra water during the hot summer months, and protect your skin during extreme weather changes.
When to Seek Professional Help
Signs that an eczema flare-up may require medical attention include:
- Extreme discomfort
- Worsening symptoms
- Signs of infection (pus, streaks, pus, or yellow scabbing or oozing)
- Ineffective current treatment plan
Individuals with persistent or extreme eczema symptoms must follow up with a dermatologist for long-term flare-up management and consider advanced treatment options when severe, bothersome, or chronic eczema symptoms arise.
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Key Takeaways
- Steps to take during and after eczema flare-ups include altering your diet, taking dietary supplements (if okayed by a healthcare provider), applying natural oils to the skin, keeping the skin moisturized, using topical or oral medications as needed, staying adequately hydrated, or trying phototherapy (light therapy).
- Minimizing stress, sleeping well, and avoiding allergens and other eczema flare-up triggers are vital.
- It's critical to proactively manage skin health by adopting a consistent skincare regimen and effective stress and anxiety management techniques.
- While there's no cure for eczema, taking the right personalized approach to skin care can help individuals effectively manage eczema symptoms and minimize the risk of frequent flare-ups.
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