Your doctor told you, “It’s eczema,” or you figured it out by doing your own research. What are you going to do now? You could do like I did, say, “Aw crap!” and try to ignore it, hoping it will go away, or you can take action, which I finally did after a year or so. But, what action are you going to take?
The first thing you should do is figure out what’s causing your eczema. Unfortunately, this may not be an easy task. There are many causes, from allergies, to contact with certain chemicals, to the changing climate throughout the year. Determining the cause may take some time and it will probably involve lots of trial and error.
It’s helpful to keep a journal. I know, it sounds tedious – and it is – but when you have flare ups you can’t rely on your memory to accurately remember what you were doing and when you were doing it when the flare up occurred. After I started keeping tabs on my condition, I finally figured out that my eczema got worse starting in mid-October, when the fall and winter air starts getting dryer.
Once you think you have found something that triggers a flare up, try to avoid it. That’s sometimes easier said than done, especially if you find that your eczema flares up when Fido sits on your lap. If you seem flared up all the time and can’t find a specific trigger, maybe it’s the clothes you wear, or more specifically, what you wash your clothes with. Most laundry detergents contain a whole host of harsh chemicals. You might consider switching to laundry products with more natural ingredients. For example, Seventh Generation has a very good line of natural laundry and cleaning products.
While you’re trying to determine what’s causing your eczema, you’re still suffering, so get some immediate relief by moisturizing your skin with soothing lotions or creams. There are a lot of eczema home remedies available that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, so experiment until you find something that works for you.
Antihistamines and anti-itch creams can also prove effective. Anti-itch creams are topical and should be applied carefully and only to the area you want to treat. Antihistamines are designed to treat allergies, which can actually be a cause of eczema. They help stop the itch, as well as clear up rashes and hives. If you use them, I recommend using them sparingly since they can have some unwanted side effects and you body will also eventually build up a tolerance to them.
A big, big thing is to not feel like a victim and dwell on “Why me?” like I did for awhile. That doesn’t do you any good and it simply delays the day when you will find relief from your adult eczema – and you will find relief. In the meantime, you will feel so much better if you have a take-charge attitude.
There are a lot of eczema treatments and “cures” out there. Some work, some don’t. I have tried Beat Eczema and it is working for me. Click on the banner below to give it a look.
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