Drinking plenty of water is a basic way of keeping your body healthy and hydrated. However, drinking lots of water, by itself, will not cure eczema. Some research suggests drinking soft water may be better for eczema sufferers that drinking hard water.
Aim to drink eight glasses of water each day to prevent irritation. And if you are active, make sure you are drinking even more. Avoid sugars. These pro-inflammatory foods should be avoided if you're trying to clear up your eczema.
Your Skin Is Thirsty
For people prone to eczema, skin that's too dry can easily become irritated, itchy, and break out in itchy, red patches. You can rehydrate your skin by drinking plenty of water, moisturizing well, especially after showering, and running a humidifier.
Moisturize your skin at least twice a day.
Find a product or combination of products that works for you. You might try bath oils, creams, lotions, shea butter, ointments or sprays. For a child, the twice-a-day regimen might be an ointment before bedtime and a cream before school.
The appearance of eczema can range from mildly dry, itchy skin to severely dehydrated skin that is painfully inflamed, red, cracked, and/or bumpy.
Thus, vitamin D deficiency is a strong candidate in the rising predisposition to eczema. There are several biological pathways which may account for this beneficial effect of vitamin D.
Anti-inflammatory diet for eczema
Anti-inflammatory diets limit dairy, whole grains, red meat, flour and sugar, but emphasize vegetables and fish. In fact, going vegan (or keeping nearly a fully plant-based diet) is also a good route to take.
For a severe outbreak, apply steroid cream and then wrap a wet bandage around the area to keep it moist. Light therapy from the sun or with a UV ray device at your doctor's office may ease outbreaks, too. For strong eczema itching that keeps you up at night, try oral antihistamines.
For most people, eczema is a lifelong condition that consists of occasional flare-ups. Once treated, it can take several weeks for rashes to clear up. Since these rashes develop from negative immune reactions, there's also a risk that more flare-ups will occur unless you reduce your exposure to triggers.
There isn't a single diet that eliminates eczema in everyone, but a good rule of thumb is to avoid any foods that seem to make your symptoms worse. Focus on a healthy diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean protein.
Covering the skin increases the potency of topical treatments, which may make them more effective.
Can eczema be treated without steroids? Yes! Nonsteroidal medications are available for people with eczema who don't respond well to steroids or want to switch treatments. You may also be able to manage mild eczema symptoms without medications.
Keeping your skin's moisture intact is one of the most important things you can do to help control your eczema or atopic dermatitis. Moisturizers and lotions help protect the outermost layer of skin known as the stratum corneum or skin barrier.
Eczema is not contagious, which means that if you are in close contact—including skin-to-skin contact with someone who has eczema—you will not “catch” it. Eczema is not caused by a fungus, virus, or bacteria that can spread to others.
Myth #2: If I don't scratch, it will go away. Scratching definitely irritates the itchy skin and makes it worse. Even if you are able to avoid scratching during the day, you may scratch your rash in your sleep unknowingly.
Vegetables and fruits that are high in inflammation-fighting flavonoids: Apples, broccoli, cherries, blueberries, spinach, and kale. Flavonoids have been found to help improve the overall health of a person's skin and fight problems such as inflammation (which is associated with eczema).
Vitamin B12 cream: 1 study found it helped reduce eczema in adults. Vitamin D: Possibly helpful during the winter. Vitamin E: Mild positive effect.
Caffeine may be an effective form of treatment for eczema. Researchers have shown evidence dating back several decades that topically applied caffeine along with hydrocortisone can help reduce eczema symptoms. A 2019 review of studies also noted that caffeine can have a positive effect on treating eczema.
Eczema triggers
irritants – such as soaps and detergents, including shampoo, washing-up liquid and bubble bath. environmental factors or allergens – such as cold and dry weather, dampness, and more specific things such as house dust mites, pet fur, pollen and moulds.