How Changing Your Habits Improves Eczema Conditions
Sometimes, changing your eczema situation for the better requires little more than changing your own habits. More often than not, outbreaks and aggravations are caused by something in your environment, through deliberation and without. While changing your daily habits will not eliminate your eczema, by taking these few steps, you will notice a general increase in health, and your skin will be better for it. The best thing is that each of these habit changers are relatively simple to do, and require nothing more than diligence on your part to maintain the good habit. So now you may be asking, just what are some habitual changes I can make to improve my eczema problems?
Steps to Take to Improve Eczema Conditions
Moisturization is Key!
I mention this all the time, but one of the most important things you can do is to moisturize your skin, primarily after a shower or a bath. In fact, the suggestion to moisturize your skin has been spoken, written, and rewritten for the benefit of those with eczema so many times, that one would believe that by now, everyone would be doing it. However, you might be surprised how often this step gets overlooked. And that’s why it needs to become a habit. Work moisturization into your daily routine. Your skin will be much better off when it is properly moisturized, and you will reduce the likelyhood of inflammation due to irritants getting into cracked, broken skin. Be sure the moisturizer is free of drying agents. Try all natural creams and products to be certain that the moisturizer is free of synthetic and irritating chemicals.
Changing Your Eating Habits
Another habit to changes lies in your diet. This is usually more prominent in those who already have food allergies, and in that sense, you will already be aware of what you can and cannot eat. But for those of you who may be unaware that some foods may be triggering an outbreak, you will want to keep a daily food journal on the things you eat to narrow down and eliminate food triggers. It’s never an easy thing to cut out favorite meals, snacks and produce, but in order to live without causing your body further harm, it is a sacrifice that you will have to make. Some food triggers include eggs, nuts, seafood and dairy. Sometimes, these can be foods with histamine.
Sometimes these foods can even seem contradictory, in that they would actually be very beneficial for eczema. For example, acidic fruits, such as oranges are high in vitamin C, which is good for rebuilding new skin cells, but if you have an intolerance for the citric acid, it will cause you to break out instead. In this situation, we would recommend the use of supplements instead. Vitamin C and vitamin E are both ideal, in that they both correspond to improving the health of your skin among other things. If you are taking supplements, follow the directions on the label as to their usage.
The Clothes You Wear
Get into the habit of buying only clothes that are made of materials that will not aggravate your skin. This may mean that you may have to pass on the newest trend if the material does not agree with your skin. On the other side of the spectrum, it means paying attention to what you’re buying, and not simply tossing a package of underwear into your shopping cart. You will know if certain materials cause your skin to break out. For instance, wool tends to be really itchy, and other scratchy materials (wool included) may rub against existing lesions, which may cause inadvertent scratching, leading to more inflammation and broken skin. On the other hand, cotton is the softest material, and will not scratch against the skin.
Also get into the habit of wearing the right type of clothes for the situation, as well. For example, if you know you have an itching rash on your arms or thighs, wear a long sleeve shirt, instead of a short sleeve shirt. As for the legs, wear pants instead of shorts. By doing this, you will be less likely to scratch, and in the event that you do, you will not be making direct contact with the fingers and nails, which are more abrasive and may carry dirt and germs. Just be sure the material is soft on your skin.
Check Your Household Products
You will need to be aware of the products you buy from the store, whether they are cosmetic, cleansing, or serve an additional purpose such as fabric softener. If you have favorite brands, but suspect that they are aggravating eczema, it is time to cut them off and try to find a new brand. It would be even more beneficial to cut out all products with synthetic fragrances, dyes and perfumes. Beware when using cosmetic products. You will know almost instantly when your break out into a rash. This may also include skin cleaners or exfoliation products. These may include alcohol or harsh chemicals that are not good for your skin. If you need to exfoliate (which is ideal for treating eczema scars), you may want to try a natural product instead, of create one yourself.
Smoking, Drinking, and Stress
It goes without saying that smoking and drinking may cause a breakout in eczema. The tar and substances that make up the cigarette smoke are especially bad for those who have atopic diseases, such as atopic eczema, and alcohol is a big no as well. Stress is another thing that can weaken the immune system. If you find yourself to be one who becomes easily stressed, try to find ways to unwind, such as taking a trip to a spa once a month. It does not have to be an expensive, luxurious spa, but something that can help you release tension. Music may also sooth you after a relatively rough day.
Keep Your Cell Phone at Bay!
Finally, and this one may come as a surprise, you’ll want to limit the amount of radiation you come in contact with. This seems impossible, as radiation isn’t exactly something you can see, control, or even manipulate to your will. However, you can induce it. One of the primary sources of radiation that almost everyone has access to is their cell phone. Did you know that even having your cell phone within reach as you sleep at night exposes you to harmful radiation? It’ true, and that’s why you’ll need to make a few changes on how much you need to be connected.
For starters, turn your cell phone off at night. If you need an alarm, it would be preferable to buy an alarm clock instead. And if you must have your cell phone on for important or dire reasons, place it somewhere that’s within walking distance instead of at arms length. You will be exposed to radiation if you live near a high amount of power lines, and you’ll even obtain radiation just by getting x-rays at your doctor or dentist. You can take anti-pollutant supplements to help counter the things that you can’t control. Once again, vitamin C and vitamin E make good supplements, as they will detoxify your body from toxins such as lead and mercury, as well as rejuvenate the skin. Selenium is also a great detoxification supplement.
Just by following each one of these small steps daily, you will improve your own quality of life. Remember, these changes will not cure eczema, nor will they treat it directly. Instead, they act as ways to prevent eczema from flaring up more often than it needs to. The less you have to deal with eczema throughout your life, the better, and the only way to do so (short of outright ignoring it, which we absolutely do not recommend) is to change your way of thinking, and change your way of living.
Tags: eczema diet, eczema treatment, habits, health, natural eczema treatment
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