Christy CushingMy eczema causes me to itch. Many times I itch unconsciously and cannot control it. Reading numerous stories of people suffering from eczema has pressed me to identify exactly what triggers my own eczema.
The 5 ways I proactively treat my eczema involve:
1. Staying Hydrated
Staying hydrated is critical to how I deal with my eczema. Drinking lots of water not only makes me feel better, but it also makes my skin feel less dry. Dehydration dries out your skin. To stay motivated to drink enough water daily, I enjoy drinking unsweetened hot and iced tea. I’ve also found I drink a lot more water that’s infused with fruit!
2. Using Lotion
Lotion helps your skin retain moisture. Using lotion immediately after I bath, regularly reduces my desire to itch. Lotion is so powerful at relieving my itch that I make sure that I keep it with me wherever I go. My lips also get dry and because of my eczema, I chose to not wear lipstick or makeup. Instead, I prefer the travel size “on the go” Aquaphor healing ointments.
3. Keeping My Nails Short
Clipping my nails weekly helps me manage the damage I do to my skin when I itch. When my nails are shorter, I have a more difficult time satisfying the itch. When I cannot adequately itch my eczema I become more aware of it and apply these steps.
4. Reducing Stress
Too much stress is terrible for our bodies. Managing my stress leads to less severe eczema flare ups. When I am stressed out, I anxiously itch. The best way for me to deal with my stress includes getting enough sleep, listening to music, questioning why I feel so stressed out and taking time to relax.
5. Identifying Any Food or Environmental Allergies
I have always had eczema. As a child, I remember placing petroleum jelly all over my hands before putting them in cotton gloves when I went to sleep. I have also always had hay fever. Many studies have shown a direct connection between having hay fever and developing eczema. In addition, I was diagnosed with my nickel food allergy in my mid twenties. Eating foods with high concentrations of nickel triggers my eczema.
Eczema is a chronic skin condition. Learning your own triggers for your eczema flare ups will allow you to develop your own coping mechanisms to better manage your eczema.
Are there tips or techniques you use to treat your own eczema? If so, I’d love to hear about it in the comment section below.
Christy Cushing
Stevie Howe
2 comments
I do all these steps really well except for #4. I too often let my stress control me, rather than the other way around.
Hi James,
Thanks for your comment. I completely relate. Managing stress is an ongoing battle. Lately I have been trying to create and consistently establish boundaries where I acknowledge I can’t fulfill all requests asked of me. Not overcommitting, especially when my schedule is already full, has allowed me to manage my stress better so I’m not so overwhelmed. I also have a separate stress journal where overtime I have identified what things stress me out, so I can try to deal with each stressor individually.
Warm regards,
Christy