Top 7 Ways to Reduce Your Eczema Flare-Ups

Even if you can't eliminate your eczema, you can reduce flare-ups (visibly red skin that is scaly and/or excessively itchy) to the point where no one notices that you have it. Since flare-ups are triggered by exposure to certain pollens, detergents, and allergens which create an inflammatory response in your body, they can be reduced by limiting your exposure to these environmental catalysts.

Below, I provide some simple eating, dieting, skin maintenance, and supplement tips you can use to reduce your flare-ups.

Properly Clean Your Skin. Use only natural soaps to clean your skin. Do not use products that contain synthetic fragrances, parabens, sulfates, or drying alcohols. Start reading the product labels—it only takes a few seconds but it will save you from hours of itching and irritation. If you have sensitive or eczema-prone skin, try a natural product by Beauty 4 Ashes online which contain powerful and relieving essential oils, aloe vera, and the most powerful natural inflammation and bacteria fighter, tea tree oil. This line of products is the all-natural equivalent of Eucerin, a great, non-irritating skin care line proven in clinical tests to be safe for patients with atopic dermatitis.

Wash Your Skin with Warm Water. If you have eczema, do not wash your skin with hot water. Instead, take lukewarm showers and baths. If it is really hot outside, you can even wash in cool water to soothe your skin. It will have a less drying effect on your skin.

Do Not Scrub Your Skin. This means that when you bathe, do not use plastic loofahs or abrasive scrub brushes. Instead, use 100% cotton rags to clean your skin. Try buying cotton cloths with higher thread counts, especially if you have delicate skin. Trust me, no matter how much you try to vigorously scrub your eczema away, you will not remove it, you'll only irritate it. Always pat dry your skin with a soft towel instead of rubbing it dry.

Moisturize Your Skin Immediately After the Bath. One of the best-keep secrets to maintain healthy skin is immediately moisturizing after bathing. You can use either use creams or oils, as long as they are designed to treat eczema. Creams will provide better moisture to the top layer of skin, while oils will penetrate deeper layers of skin, assisting quick healing. Again, Beauty 4 Ashes creams and oils are effective natural products, and Eucerin is a great, inexpensive solution as well.

Make an Eczema Food Diary. Certain foods can trigger your flare-ups, and that is why you need to keep track of what you eat. Some of the most common trigger foods are eggs, fish, shellfish, wheat, tomatoes, and nuts. Remember, unless you keep a diary, you will never know that your favorite ice cream is the source of your pain and not your happiness.

Take Your Vitamins. The best vitamins to use are evening primrose oil, fish oil, and zinc. Also, take a good multi-vitamin. Do not worry about taking a supplement, you can get many of these vitamins from the foods you eat. Simply eat more fish, peanut butter, olives, safflower oil, nuts, beans, and leafy greens.

Reduce Your Stress Levels. Believe it or not, stress is a proven trigger of eczema. If you work in a high stress work environment, like sales or customer service, then start taking breaks to combat the distress. Don't smoke cigarettes or use another toxic substance to calm your nerves. To the contrary, employ more positive stress-relief activities such as reading, praying, and/or meditating.