More than 31 million children and adults in the United States have some form of eczema, an itchy, dry skin condition that can cause red rashes and swelling. Eczema usually first appears in childhood — most people outgrow it, but not everyone does.
If you have a type of eczema, you dread your next flare-up. The itchy, inflamed, and sometimes painful skin rashes are embarrassing, uncomfortable, and can even prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.
Your dry, itchy skin could be caused by an allergy or other factors, and Catherine Fuller, MD, our expert allergist, wants to get to the root of your eczema. At our office in West Los Angeles, California, she treats your eczema to calm down a flare and can test you for allergies, too.
But what if you can’t get to a doctor when you or your kid breaks out into a painful, itchy flare? Trying not to scratch only increases the stress. Use these home remedies to feel comfortable again.
Lying on the beach in the middle of a hot day damages your skin and can cause skin cancer. But you do need a controlled amount of sunlight on bare, non-sunscreened skin every day to set your circadian clock and help your body produce vitamin D.
As long as you don’t have a condition that precludes such heliotherapy, and as long as sunlight isn’t one of your triggers, sun exposure can help your itchy skin calm down. Limit your exposure to 5-10 minutes. If you’re going to be outdoors longer than that, apply a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and cover your skin with clothing.
A lukewarm bath can help soothe itchy skin. However, don’t take a hot bath because hot water dries your skin and may make your eczema worse.
You can also add ingredients to the bath that help with eczema. Try:
After a short soak in the bathtub, gently pat your skin dry — don’t rub or remove all of the moisture. Keep your skin slightly damp and then immediately slather on a heavy, fragrance-free moisturizer or oil.
Most lotions you buy over the counter contain ingredients that could irritate skin with eczema. Instead, seal in the moisture from a bath or shower with single-ingredient emollients, such as:
Virgin coconut oil has the added benefit of being a natural antimicrobial and antioxidant.
Wet a washcloth in cool water, and then wring it out. Apply the compress to the itchy area for a few minutes. Once you remove the compress, seal in the moisture with virgin coconut oil or another nonirritating emollient.
Summers in Los Angeles are notoriously dry. While you can’t do anything about the climate outdoors, you can control your indoor environment. Buy a humidifier and keep your indoor air filled with skin-soothing moisture. Your plants will love it, too.
Yogurt and other fermented foods with live bacteria contain probiotics that feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut that help keep your skin healthy. Try:
Probiotics also boost your immune system and are a part of the traditional diets of most cultures.
Nothing’s more frustrating than having an itch you can’t scratch. And you shouldn’t scratch because that can break the skin and lead to infections. Instead, tap with your fingertips around the itchy area — not on it — which soothes the nerves and the itching.
If these remedies don't prevent the rash and itching, there's hope with new biologic therapies. Please contact Catherine Fuller, MD, to see if you are a candidate for these new, highly effective treatments. Phone our friendly staff at 310-909-1910 or use our handy online form to schedule an appointment.
