If you ever want to end your continuous struggle with eczema you need to start thinking of prevention rather than cure.
Eczema prevention is the only way to be free from eczema for long periods of time, if not indefinitely.
As long as you focus on managing your eczema after it flared up you will continue having regular flare-ups simply because you are not focusing on the triggers of eczema than trying to avoid them.
Here are nine things you can do to prevent eczema: 1.
Moisturise: Enemy number one is a dry skin.
It is one of the easiest things you can do and it contributes much towards preventing eczema.
Pick an emollient you like and apply it often, especially after you took a bath to lock in the moisture.
Avoid the products with fancy formulations, perfumes and preservatives because they could irritate your skin and cause a flare-up of eczema.
2.
Bath time: Hot baths might be good for relaxing, but doesn't do your eczema any good.
A hot bath dries out your skin and strips your skin of the natural oils that keep it soft and supple.
You can prevent this by taking a quick, lukewarm shower.
Afterwards you should pat yourself dry with a soft towel and immediately apply moisturiser.
Don't use a course towel and don't dry yourself with vigorous strokes that will irritate and strip the skin of moisture.
3.
About your soap: Use milder soaps with a more neutral pH.
Regular soaps and detergents are quite alkaline and will dry out and irritate your skin.
4.
Allergens: Allergens are the things in the environment that make you have an allergic reaction that may lead to eczema.
Common allergens are dust, pollen, animal hair etc.
The logic thing to do would be to know what you are allergic to and avoid them.
5.
Sweating: In certain areas of your body where the skin folds back on itself like under the breasts and those rolls around the midriff excessive sweating may cause irritation and a rash.
The long term solution here would be some weight loss.
6.
Laundry time: After washing clothes a small amount of laundry soap may remain behind in the fibres of the clothes and may irritate your skin.
To prevent this you obviously need to rinse your laundry well and also use laundry soaps for sensitive skin.
7.
Weather: Extremely hot weather causes sweating and irritation.
Extremely cold or dry weather dries out the skin and subsequently leads to eczema.
Extreme changes in climate can also elicit eczema.
8.
Food: Some food groups are known to be triggers of eczema.
You should know which food you are sensitive to.
The usual suspects are eggs, nuts, soy, dairy products and tinned food.
If you want to prevent eczema, eat more fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grain foods.
9.
Reduce stress: This is a big culprit in the causing and aggravation of eczema and often underestimated and overlooked.
Anger, anxiety and depression cause and aggravate your eczema.
You need to identify and avoid or eliminate your sources of stress.
All of the abovementioned points of prevention are things that should be included into your daily habits to achieve long term success.
At first it may be a little tricky, but when they start becoming habits you it will be plain sailing.
You will save yourself much discomfort and pain, not to mention some hard earned money you would have spent on eczema medication.