Taking control of your eczema

Living with chronic eczema can be extremely debilitating. The daily maintenance and sudden outbreaks, can be a tough thing to live with. For many sufferers this means a constant use of steroid creams, which when used for long periods, can contribute to thinning of the skin, possibly even making it more susceptible to outbreaks. It's a vicious circle and one that's hard to jump out of.

There are alternatives however. And, as an eczema sufferer myself, and one who has had enough of eczema interrupting my life, it is time to take control of the situation and seek alternative solutions that work.

For me, the big problem with steroid creams is that they treat the problem, but not the cause. They are a short term solution, which, in some occasions can serve very well. But in order to break the cycle and actually prevent an outbreak, we need to look at the cause.

Eczema can be triggered by many factors. Some of the most common include:

• Food allergies or sensitivities
• Chemical irritants
• Climate - dry or hot environment
• Stress
• Hormonal factors
  

The obvious answer would be to avoid these irritants, but sometimes an outbreak can occur for no apparent reason. This often can make it harder to deal with, the frustration of which can in turn exasberate the eczema even more.

Many excema sufferesr have thin skin, making it more suceptible to environmental damage. This is certainly something I notice in myself. Rebuilding this outter layer, so it is better able to defend itself, and locking in moisture to prevent dryness, may help to reduce outbreaks.

Hydrate yourself from the inside out and drink plenty of water. A diet rich in omega oils will help to boost your skins natural oils.

Externally, look for natural skin products specifically tailored to skin sensitivities or eczema itself. Visit your local health store and speak with a consultant there. See if you can sample the product first to avoid forking out money on a product that you may react to. Start a positive skin routine and take care with your skin. If it has been damaged by years of harsh steroid creams it will be extra sensitive.

It may take a bit of trial and error, but ultimately your skin be more self sufficient. And wouldn't it be fantastic if you could liberate yourself from eczema forever!

published 3 years ago

schmeidi

641 points