If you are an eczema sufferer, you’ll understand just how much a flare-up can affect your everyday life. The dryness, red patches and extreme itchiness can leave your skin seriously inflamed and can even knock your body confidence too. Eczema, whether mild or more severe, can plague your life and leave you feeling like skincare is a minefield.
It’s important to remember that you are not alone. According to the National Eczema Society, one in ten adults in the UK suffers from some form of eczema, with the most common form of the skin condition being atopic dermatitis. Whilst you’re bemoaning your skin in the mirror, know that countless others up and down the country are doing exactly the same thing!
If you’ve struggled with dermatitis or eczema, you’ll know just how uncomfortable the condition can be. Whilst of course you care about what it looks like, the priority is often the discomfort. Having a skincare routine that can address the causes of eczema will help to alleviate some of the troublesome symptoms. Read on to discover our top eczema skincare tips and recommendations for our favourite natural skincare products to help manage eczema.
Common eczema causes and how to treat them
Many factors can contribute to an eczema flare-up, including the weather (especially in the winter months when the air is colder and drier), stress, certain foods or even a simple change in washing powder or detergent. It is sometimes a combination of triggers that creates the perfect storm. For some people it can be difficult to pin down the primary trigger, especially if there is a delay – for example, with stress reactions.
Stay cool to reduce eczema triggers
During the colder months, it’s tempting to crank up the central heating to stay cosy, but all that warmth could irritate eczema-prone skin. Instead, allow fresh air to flow through your home by opening a window slightly.
Hot baths and showers should also be avoided since the heat will strip your skin of natural oils and dry out your complexion. This causes dryness which could trigger your eczema. Stick to warm baths, or an invigorating cool shower to kick start your day.
You could also invest in a humidifier for the home, which will add moisture to the air and help to prevent the red, itchy eczema patches that can occur when the central heating is on.
Top tip: Add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil to the humidifier to make your home smell amazing too.
For many people, it is the rapid change in temperatures that can cause problems. For example, going from freezing cold outdoors into central heating. Try to go for more gradual transitions!
Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise
We can’t stress this enough! The single most important thing you can do to control your eczema is to establish a regular moisturising routine to stop your skin from drying out and flaking. It’s a wonderful act of self-care too, which is vital when you have troublesome skin.
Eczema sufferers usually have a damaged skin barrier, which makes the affected area more sensitive to allergens. This also means it’s much harder for the skin to lock in water, so the skin becomes easily inflamed, itchy and sore.
Moisturisers are designed to protect the top layer of the skin and replenish lost water. They are most effective when applied after a warm shower or bath before any moisture on the skin gets the chance to evaporate.
Try a moisturiser enriched with cocoa butter, as the fatty acids help to repair the skin’s natural barrier. Glycerine is another commonly used eczema-busting ingredient that keeps moisture locked into the skin. Try our Hydration Skincare Bundle, with an award-winning face moisturiser and serum designed to take care of dry and irritated skin. It’s a real kindness to yourself and won’t be ‘yet another’ skincare set that languishes at the back of the cupboard because it’s just not suitable for those with eczema.
Of course, eczema doesn’t just affect the face, so a hydrating body cream should also be applied to any troublesome areas of the body. Choose a natural body cream with ingredients such as raw shea butter that is rich in hydrating Vitamins A and E to soothe irritated skin. As we say, apply when you get out of the shower or bath for best effect.
Our luxurious Body Cream with Date Seeds will nourish your skin. While the extract of leftover date seeds (a by-product of date farming) has anti-inflammatory properties to calm any itchy patches you might have.
Look after your hands
The pandemic has left all of us washing hands more frequently – and this can be problematic for anyone living with eczema. Constant hand washing will lead to sore, red hands which need to be soothed. Take extra care here because the last thing you want is open wounds or sore patches on your hands.
We know how difficult it can be to resist the temptation of scratching at itchy hands. Instead of scratching, try one of our best products for eczema on the hands, our Signature Hand and Bodycare Duo.
The hand wash contains the residual juice of kiwi, which is a natural anti-inflammatory, and mandarin oil which helps to heal wounds and is rich in antioxidants.
The second product in this fruity duo is a luxurious lotion containing organic bergamot water and vitamin-rich grapefruit oils to nourish and repair eczema-prone skin.
Top tip: Try keeping a diary of your eczema breakouts to determine any triggers, so you can take positive steps to minimise the effects.
Natural skincare products for eczema
If you’re living with eczema, you have undoubtedly tried a plethora of creams, lotions and potions. We believe that using natural skincare products is the best way to support your skin and provide relief from the redness, itchiness and irritation caused by eczema.
All our skincare products, from serums to soaps, are suitable for vegans and 100% cruelty-free. Browse the full range and discover the best plant-based, natural products for eczema-prone skin.