How Do I Know If My Eczema Is Under Control?

Eczema is a skin condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, and dry. It gets worse when you scratch the affected area of the skin. If you have eczema, it is essential to recognize whether your skin is under control. The most important thing is to keep the skin clean and moisturized at all times. Once you have improved your condition, you can stop using strong creams on small areas but continue using milder ones there. If the disease flares up again, this suggests that you need more potent treatment, so talk to your doctor about changing your treatments.

What causes eczema?

1. Allergies can make eczema worse

Allergens such as dust mites, animal hair, and house dust can cause skin irritation, which may lead to dermatitis. If you have allergies, it is essential to avoid them where possible, and if this is not possible, keep homes clean and remove bedding from your pet or vacuum frequently. Irritants like soap and shampoo should also be avoided, but some people find they have no choice but to use these, so try different moisturizers after bathing instead of using soap on your skin.

2. Hormones can make eczema worse

Eczema is a common inflammatory condition, particularly among children, although adults can suffer from it too. In many cases, there are probably several factors that cause or worsen eczema. Hormones can affect the immune system and influence flare-ups of atopic dermatitis (eczema). The symptoms of atopic dermatitis usually go away after puberty, but they can come back again during another time of high stress such as pregnancy, menopause, or periods. Flares triggered by these events often happen even when hormone levels are normal, so it is essential to be prepared for this and talk to your doctor if you think changes in your lifestyle may be worsening your condition.

3. Not enough sleep

Lack of sleep makes you more prone to illness, which holds for those with skin conditions. Sleep is an essential part of our daily lives as it helps us recover from our daily activities. When we sleep, our bodies recover from the various pressures of life, including skin conditions such as eczema. If you have a blemish or itch during the day, try to get a good night’s sleep first, as it may just disappear overnight if nothing is done to disturb it.

4. Taking certain medications

Certain medications can worsen your condition if taken regularly. Common drugs that can cause eczema include beta-blockers used for high blood pressure, asthma, and aspirin. Check with your doctor before taking any medication, as stopping it suddenly could harm your health. It is also important not to start new medicines without discussing them first, as some can cause dermatitis too!

5. Stress

Stress can make your skin worse, and this is particularly true for those with eczema. Stress hormones such as cortisol seem to play a key role in inflammatory skin conditions like atopic dermatitis (eczema). Cortisol levels rise when you’re stressed, and the more cortisol there is, the worse your eczema will be. This makes sense because historically, stress has been shown to increase one’s susceptibility to infection, which means that people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to developing a disease or worsening their condition.

6. Dry Skin

It may itch or burn if you have dry skin, even though it looks red or irritated. The reason for this is during periods of low humidity; our skin dries up more quickly. If you have dry skin, make sure it’s very well moisturized – maybe even using heavier creams than usual.

7. Allergens can make eczema worse

Allergens such as dust mites, animal hair, and house dust can cause skin irritation, which may lead to dermatitis. If you have allergies, it is essential to avoid them where possible, and if this is not possible, keep homes clean and remove bedding from your pet or vacuum frequently. Irritants like soap and shampoo should also be avoided, but some people find they have no choice but to use these, so try different moisturizers after bathing instead of using soap on your skin.

Here are the signs that can tell your eczema is under control:

1. Dried skin

Dried skin is the most obvious sign that you are doing things right in your fight against eczema, but this will only come after you’ve gone through some trial and error. When the weather changes, sometimes even just a little bit, your body needs to get used to it, so give new moisturizers at least two weeks before deciding if they work or not.

2. Itching subsides

Eczema sufferers need to notice when their itchiness starts since this is often an early warning sign of flare-ups. Bear in mind that the itching can be anywhere on your body, so one side effect of scratching may be marking all your thighs! If you start noticing that your itchiness is disappearing, this may be a sign that you’re on the right track.

3. Skin no longer flares up after exposure to irritants

When you’re suffering from dermatitis, it’s common to develop irritation or redness when exposed to specific triggers such as soap, dust mites, etc. If you start noticing that your condition does not react like this anymore, this may mean there has been some improvement, and it could be time to pat yourself on the back!

4. Skin starts clearing up

If your eczema clears up completely, there is nothing more for you to worry about. You can go months without seeing any flare-ups, which makes life easier but bear in mind that even if you have been following a good skincare routine, your condition can still flare up from time to time, so don’t be too disheartened if this happens.

5. Skin becomes less itchy

Find yourself scratching less when the weather is humid or when you are in bed at night. There may be some improvement in your eczema but don’t forget that even when the itch has subsided completely, it does not mean that your dermatitis has gone away forever, so keep up with your moisturizing routine – just in case!

6. Your condition is under control with minimal use of steroid creams 

It’s very difficult for most people with eczema to treat their conditions with just over-the-counter treatments. Still, if you start noticing that your flare-ups are not as bad as before and only requires a minimal amount of steroid cream to see an improvement, this is an excellent sign that your condition is under control.

7. Skin feels soft and smooth 

This one may sound odd considering that those with eczema often have dry skin, but it’s still possible for the epidermis to become too dry, which will lead to flakiness, cracking, or scaling – none of which feel nice! If you find yourself reaching for moisturizers less regularly, or if your skin starts feeling more supple without using any creams at all, this could be a good indicator that your dermatitis has started clearing up.

8. Skin color evens out

Usually, when people have eczema, their skin can become uneven in tone, but if you start noticing that this is not the case anymore, it may be a good idea to check your skincare routine to see what has changed. This should never be the first sign of improvement, so if other symptoms are not present, don’t ignore this as it could indicate something else.

9. Itchy skin disappears completely

Suppose you only suffer from itchiness at certain times or on certain parts of your body. In that case, your itching will usually disappear entirely after using steroid creams for three days which means the inflammation is finally under control and should not come back! Bear in mind too that some heavily scented hair products can cause itchiness again, so if you have just started using new products, it may be a good idea to give them some time before patting yourself on the back.

10. Skin heals completely 

This is the best sign that your dermatitis has finally stabilized and is no longer a problem but bear in mind that even if your skin stops being red, dry/flaky, or itchy, this does not mean you can stop moisturizing, so continue with what works for you. Finally, keep in mind that everyone’s body will react differently as far as topical treatments go, and every person’s flare-ups may look different as well – this means that there is no one-size-fits-all cure, which makes life hard for those living with eczema! Eczema cannot be cured, so once you find a routine that works for your skin and prevents flare-ups, keep doing it because dermatitis can come back at any time if you don’t, so it’s essential to continue with the treatment.

What are the ways to prevent eczema?

1. Always moisturize your skin, even if it feels like you do not need to

Eczema patients are often told to moisturize their skin as much as possible, but it’s easy to forget because, after a long day at the office or in school, all you want is to take off your clothes and climb into bed without having to cream up! However, this kind of behaviour can cause flare-ups, so try your best not to skip the skincare routine if you can help it but make sure that whichever cream or lotion you buy does not contain any ingredients which may irritate your skin.

2. Talk with your dermatologist about prescription creams/medicine

Although most eczema sufferers find relief from over-the-counter treatments, they will prescribe stronger creams/medications that may help with your condition more if you can afford to visit a doctor. This is especially important for babies and young children whose skin needs extra protection against allergies and irritants while it’s still developing.

3. Avoid triggers at all costs

Although this is easier said than done, some eczema flare-ups are triggered by allergens, so your doctor will be able to advise you on what you should avoid preventing further reactions. For example, some cases of dermatitis develop after using products containing harsh chemicals or detergents, others appear after using certain types of soap (especially those which have too much fragrance), and still, others find relief when they switch to fragrance-free laundry detergents.

4. Watch what you wear

Clothing and shoes may not seem like something which affects your eczema, but in some cases, tight accessories such as belts or metal can irritate the skin and cause further flare-ups. If this is the case for you, try wearing soft cotton clothing whenever possible and always use a barrier cream before putting on your shoes and jewellery. Swimming in pools may also be a problem for some people, so if that sounds like you, then it might be worth avoiding swimming between March and October since chlorine causes irritation for many eczema sufferers or even avoid pools altogether!

5. Test cosmetics before using them

If you have sensitive skin, the cosmetics and beauty products you use may be causing flare-ups, so try carrying out a patch test before using anything – apply a small amount of the product to your arm and wait 24 hours. If no reactions appear, you can proceed with confidence but if there are any signs of irritation such as redness or itchiness, wash the area immediately.

6. Try homeopathic treatment for eczema:

It is also possible to use alternative treatments such as homeopathy. This approach has existed since the 19th century. It involves deriving remedies from natural substances (such as plants, minerals, or animal products) which are thought to induce symptoms similar to those of the disease in question.

Homeopathic treatment helps to treat the root cause of the problem and is devoid of any side effects. A homeopathy doctor considers your lifestyle and personality and your medical history to derive the correct remedy. Comprehensive homeopathic treatment for eczema is safe, affordable, and effective. For more information, you can book an appointment through OHO Homeopathy!