What Triggers Eczema | Tips to Reduce Eczema Flare-Ups

Eczema is a skin condition that can induce redness, itchiness, and skin inflammation. Its root cause is not fully understood, but identifying and avoiding potential triggers is one effective way to manage its triggers.

Mild eczema will most probably respond well to OTC topical creams, but you may need to visit a dermatologist for an effective treatment if you have severe eczema.

Eczema Triggers

The following eczema triggers may surprise you:

1- Weather

Cold, hot, dry, or in-between, almost any kind of weather change can impact your eczema. Researchers are not sure how this change can affect or flare up your eczema. Some aspects of the season, like humidity, extreme hot or cold, can easily affect anyone’s skin regardless they have eczema or not.

Detecting what kind of weather influences your skin the most can help you deduce how to manage your flare-ups.

If cold and dry weather impacts it, do your most to stay as moisturized in the winter as possible. If hot and humid weather affects it, try to keep an even body temperature and reduce sweat by wearing loose, cotton clothing and keeping yourself hydrated.

Diet

Food allergies, including milk, eggs, peanuts, and wheat, have been recognized as eczema triggers for some individuals.

Likewise, you may get an eczema flare-up after eating foods and ingredients that are known to be inflammatory. For instance, added sugars, refined carbohydrates, and gluten are significant eczema triggers for some people.

If you have noticed a connection between eczema flares and certain foods, consult your doctor right away.

2- Perfumed Products

It has been discovered that the scented products you apply to the skin can aggravate your eczema. It can trigger contact dermatitis in some people that form rashes after contact with a substance.

Products like scented soaps, shower gels, perfumes, deodorants, etc., can aggravate your skin and cause a flare.

If you feel your skin is sensitive to specific personal care products, try using hypoallergenic and scent-free brands.

3- Fabric

At times, the fabric you are wearing can trigger your eczema. A lot of people are susceptible to polyester or wool, starting itchiness and redness. Therefore, you should avoid wearing fabrics that may worsen your condition. You can also wear an extra layer underneath a material that may trigger your eczema.

4- Workouts

Working out is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. However, if you have eczema, sweating a lot could likely provoke a flare.

It is because human sweat has traces of metals that can trigger a flare by building upon the surface of your skin. Thus, if you experience a flare-up after working out, lower the intensity and always exercise at a cooler time of the day, like mornings.

5- Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes have often induced eczema flare-ups. Researchers assume it is primarily due to the estrogen drop occurring during menopause, pregnancy, and before a menstrual cycle.

Hormonal changes are entirely normal, but talk to your doctor about it if you notice a relation between your cycle and eczema flare-ups.

6- Saliva

Eczema is common in babies and children due to excessive saliva. Eczema patches commonly form around the cheeks and chin of a drooling kid. Saliva dries out the skin that induces eczema. You should be applying lotion to the affected part to avoid such kind of flare-up.

Tips to Reduce Eczema Flare-Ups

Following are some practical tips that can prevent eczema flare-ups:

Limit your Contact with Household Objects

You need to limit contact with the following objects to reduce eczema triggers:

• Wool and polyester
• Soaps with fragrances
• Laundry detergents
• Aftershave lotions
• Turpentine and other solvents
• Certain household cleaners

Wear Gloves

Always remember to wear gloves when you are out in the cold. Wearing gloves also protect your hands against the cold air that can make your skin dry and aggravate your eczema. However, you should be wearing plastic ones when you do dishes and other work that reveals your hand to harsh chemicals or irritants, such as laundry detergents. However, you should not be wearing gloves all the time, as your skin needs to breathe, and excessive moisture can worsen things.

Practice Good Shower Etiquette

Take warm showers but keep them short. It is because long, hot showers can dry out your skin, making it more vulnerable to flare-ups. Use unscented soaps and lather your skin with moisturizer once you are done drying up.

Moisturize

Dry skin gets aggravated quickly, leading to an eczema flare-up. To avoid this, you need to slather moisturizer all over your body at least twice a day and pick moisturizers without scent or extra ingredients. Moreover, creamy and thick creams are better than thin and watery moisturizers.

Lessen Stress

Getting stressed makes your eczema worse, just as scratching leads to flare-up. Practicing stress reduction techniques can decrease stress in your life can help stop an eczema flare-up.

These are some common eczema triggers. It is best to keep an expert with you in your journey for better guidance. Book an appointment with the best dermatologist in Karachi through Marham for more information.