Eczema-prone skin rewards routine more than novelty. The goal is to keep the skin barrier as intact as possible, avoid known triggers and treat flares early with the help of a doctor. Here is a simple routine built on those principles.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have been prescribed treatment, follow your clinician's plan.
Morning
- Rinse the face with lukewarm water, or use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser if needed.
- Apply a fragrance-free emollient to face and any dry patches.
- Use a sunscreen suited to sensitive skin. Mineral filters such as zinc oxide are often well tolerated.
Evening
- Take a short, lukewarm bath or shower. Hot water strips lipids and makes itch worse afterwards.
- Use a soap substitute rather than ordinary soap or foaming body wash.
- Pat dry gently and apply emollient all over within a few minutes. Be generous: guidance in the UK suggests adults with widespread eczema may need several hundred grams of emollient a week.
- Apply any prescribed treatment as directed.
Choosing products
Fewer ingredients usually means fewer chances of a reaction. Fragrance, including essential oils and "natural" scents, is one of the most common causes of contact allergy from cosmetics. Look for products labelled fragrance-free rather than unscented, and patch test new ones first.
Thicker textures, such as ointments and creams, generally hold water in better than thin lotions. Many people use an ointment at night and a lighter cream during the day.
Everyday triggers
- Wool and rough fabrics next to the skin.
- Overheating and sweating, then letting sweat dry on the skin.
- Low humidity in winter and in heavily air-conditioned buildings.
- Stress and lack of sleep, which many people notice make itching worse.
Late nights out have a way of combining several triggers at once. A long evening in a warm, crowded casino followed by a walk into cold night air is a classic example. Moisturising before you go out and again when you get home helps.
When to get help
Seek medical advice if your eczema is spreading, painful, weeping or crusted, if it keeps you awake, or if it is not improving with good daily care. Signs of infection, such as yellow crusts, pus or feeling unwell, need prompt attention.
