Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPractice Self-Care with EczemaEczema Skincare RoutineFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Practice Self-Care with Eczema
Eczema Skincare Routine
Frequently Asked Questions
Self-careis defined as ways people can prevent disease and manage health conditions without the support of a healthcare provider.Self-care is usually complementary to standard medical care.
In some milder health issues, self-care strategies may be the sole strategy to manage the condition. There are many evidence-basedself-care practicesfor treatingatopic dermatitis(eczema).
This article explains how to practice self-care with eczema and provides tips on finding a good skincare routine.
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Different Ways to Practice Self-Care With Eczema
Self-care for eczema involves more than treating your skin—it’s also about identifying triggers to preventflare-ups. Additionally, since eczema can sometimes impact how you feel about yourself, mental and emotional self-care practices are important, too.
Self-Care for Babies and Children
How Eczema Is Treated
Physical Health
Most eczema improves with a good skin care routine.One of the keys to eczema self-care is an establishedskincare routine, which typically involves ensuring skin retains sufficient moisture.
In addition, self-care for physical health includes:
These strategies can help you feel your best and may also work to reduce stress, a commoneczema trigger.
Mental Health
Since eczema symptoms are chronic and can result in pain and itching that can disrupt your life, some people experience depression symptoms. One study found an association betweeneczema and depressionand anxiety.
Self-care for mental health includes:
Mental health self-care has the dual ability to improve eczema anddepression symptoms.
Emotional Health
Some people experience self-consciousness and trouble with self-esteem because eczema can present in prominent places, like on theface. It can interfere with what clothes or cosmetics you can wear or use, which can cause some people to feel limited in expressing themselves. This, in turn, impacts theiremotional health.
The same strategies used for mental health can also support emotional health. The following self-care strategies are good for emotional well-being:
Your Environment
Sometimes it can take time to identify which things trigger your eczema flare-ups. Here are some tips for identifying triggers:
Finding Your Eczema Skincare Routine
A proper eczemaskincare routineis one of the fundamental ways of managing your condition. Finding a routine that works for you is critical to eczema self-care.
Bathing
When you have eczema, avoiding hot water and limiting your time in the tub or shower is important.Hot water and too much time immersed in water can dry out your skin, a risk factor for eczema flare-ups.
Limit your time in the water and keep it lukewarm or cool. Use mild, fragrance-free soap and cleansers. When you get out, avoid vigorously scrubbing your body with a towel and gently patting your skin dry. Then, apply a moisturizer to your skin.
Moisturizing
Daily moisturizing is a way to treat and prevent eczema flare-ups. Look formoisturizersthat are made for people with eczema—these are typically thicker than an average lotion. Be sure to choose a product that is free of dyes and perfumes. Alternatively, some people like petroleum jelly. Build moisturizing into your routine at least twice a day.
Summary
Eczema self-care includes at-home management techniques for treating eczema and those that support physical, mental, and emotional health. Self-care techniques that prevent and treat eczema and help the body holistically include exercise, eating nutritious foods (and avoiding those that trigger flare-ups), meditation, yoga, journaling, getting enough sleep, and enlisting support.
A Word From Verywell
If you have eczema, it’s essential to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment plan from a healthcare provider. People can manage eczema independently, but you may require a prescription for flare-ups. A healthcare provider can help you develop an at-home eczema self-care plan.Learn MoreAt Home Remedies for Eczema
If you have eczema, it’s essential to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment plan from a healthcare provider. People can manage eczema independently, but you may require a prescription for flare-ups. A healthcare provider can help you develop an at-home eczema self-care plan.
Learn MoreAt Home Remedies for Eczema
There are numerous things you should avoid placing on inflamed eczema. These include anything with fragrances, essential oils, urea, lanolin, retinoids, Cocamidopropyl betaine (a foaming agent), propylene glycol (an emulsifier), and ethanol.Learn MoreWhat Is Weeping Eczema?
There are numerous things you should avoid placing on inflamed eczema. These include anything with fragrances, essential oils, urea, lanolin, retinoids, Cocamidopropyl betaine (a foaming agent), propylene glycol (an emulsifier), and ethanol.
Learn MoreWhat Is Weeping Eczema?
Eczema is not contagious and does not spread from person to person. However, it can become more prominent or develop on more than one part of the body. The best way to keep eczema contained and flare-ups reduce is to follow your treatment plan to prevent and manage your eczema, including self-care, a good skin care routine, and avoiding triggers.Learn MoreEczema Is Not Contagious
Eczema is not contagious and does not spread from person to person. However, it can become more prominent or develop on more than one part of the body. The best way to keep eczema contained and flare-ups reduce is to follow your treatment plan to prevent and manage your eczema, including self-care, a good skin care routine, and avoiding triggers.
Learn MoreEczema Is Not Contagious
Learn MoreHow Eczema Is Treated
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.Self-care interventions for health.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Atopic dermatitis: Self-care.National Institute of Mental Health.Caring for your mental health.Long Q, Jin H, You X, et al.Eczema is a shared risk factor for anxiety and depression: a meta-analysis and systematic review.PLOS ONE. 2022;17(2):e0263334. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263334National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.National Eczema Association.How to identify and control eczema triggers without losing your mind.National Eczema Association.8 skincare ingredients to avoid if you have eczema according to dermatologists.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.Self-care interventions for health.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Atopic dermatitis: Self-care.National Institute of Mental Health.Caring for your mental health.Long Q, Jin H, You X, et al.Eczema is a shared risk factor for anxiety and depression: a meta-analysis and systematic review.PLOS ONE. 2022;17(2):e0263334. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263334National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.National Eczema Association.How to identify and control eczema triggers without losing your mind.National Eczema Association.8 skincare ingredients to avoid if you have eczema according to dermatologists.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
World Health Organization.Self-care interventions for health.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Atopic dermatitis: Self-care.National Institute of Mental Health.Caring for your mental health.Long Q, Jin H, You X, et al.Eczema is a shared risk factor for anxiety and depression: a meta-analysis and systematic review.PLOS ONE. 2022;17(2):e0263334. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263334National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.National Eczema Association.How to identify and control eczema triggers without losing your mind.National Eczema Association.8 skincare ingredients to avoid if you have eczema according to dermatologists.
World Health Organization.Self-care interventions for health.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Atopic dermatitis: Self-care.
National Institute of Mental Health.Caring for your mental health.
Long Q, Jin H, You X, et al.Eczema is a shared risk factor for anxiety and depression: a meta-analysis and systematic review.PLOS ONE. 2022;17(2):e0263334. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263334
National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.
National Eczema Association.How to identify and control eczema triggers without losing your mind.
National Eczema Association.8 skincare ingredients to avoid if you have eczema according to dermatologists.
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