Eczema Unveiled: Understanding and Managing the Itch

Are you living with the frustration of eczema? Our team at Skin Cancer & Dermatology Center in Colorado Springs, Pueblo & Trinidad, CO can help relieve your symptoms through personalized care.

4 Tips for Preventing and Managing Eczema Symptoms

If you have eczema, you know just how frustrating it can be. The itchy, flaky skin can be hard to ignore, leaving you wanting to claw at your skin all day. Fortunately, you don’t have to do that. Our Skin Cancer & Dermatology Center team in Colorado Springs, Pueblo & Trinidad, CO shares a few simple yet effective ways to manage the itch below.

Understanding Eczema 

In order to understand how the following tips can help, it’s important to start with an understanding of eczema. The skin needs moisture to keep it healthy, and the moisture layer or stratum corneum of the skin helps protect it from irritants and other issues. 

With eczema, however, there is a genetic issue that prevents the skin from retaining the proper amount of moisture. Without this healthy barrier, sufferers are more vulnerable to irritants. Those irritants, in turn, create an overactive immune response that leads to dryness, sensitivity, redness, bumps, scaly patches, and more. The tips below help sufferers build a better barrier and minimize exposure to irritants, preventing or reducing this response. 

1. Moisturize

As eczema sufferers lack the proper moisture, one of the most important steps is to restore it. Moisturize at least once daily, preferably when getting out of your shower and your skin is still damp. It’s a good idea also to keep moisturizer with you, as you might find some spots – like your hands – drying out throughout the day.

2. Keep It Cool

Hot showers and long hot baths might feel great, but they can dry out your skin. Turn the temperature down a bit and minimize how long you soak in your tub.

3. Change Your Products

Many of your beauty, bath, cleaning, and laundry products could be at the root of your flare-ups. Make sure everything is gentle and free from harsh chemicals, dyes, and fragrances. Hypoallergenic products are typically best. 

4. Visit Our Dermatologist

A dermatologist can help you identify your triggers and develop a plan to avoid them. Additionally, dermatologists can recommend and prescribe the best products to prevent and treat any symptoms you face.

Let our team at Skin Cancer & Dermatology Center in Colorado Springs, Pueblo & Trinidad, CO help you manage your eczema symptoms. Schedule an appointment at our Colorado Springs location at (719) 574-0310, our Pueblo location at (719) 564-5544, or our Trinidad location at (800) 290-2478.