Ringworm, Acne & Skin Care

Even though the common view is that eczema can’t be cured, the symptoms can be alleviated by avoiding the common trigger factors. It’s difficult to know exactly what triggers off a flare-up of eczema, but since some types are caused by contact with a specific allergen or irritant, it would be prudent to avoid these.

There are several common trigger factors that can possible cause a flare up of eczema and these will be discussed below together with tips on how to avoid them.

House Dust Mites

These pesky little mites are so tiny that they cannot be seen by the naked eye. They conceal themselves in your carpets, cushions, soft toys, furniture and mattresses, in fact whereever dust can settle. As dust mites thrive in moist and damp environments, it is important to firstly keep your house well ventilated – so make sure open your windows as much as you can. The next thing to do is to either avoid having furry toys and cushions, especially in your child’s bedroom as these tend to trap dust.

Try and air your mattresses as much as you can, if possible out in the sun as this kills the dust mites off. You might want to think about buying a mattress that is resistant to mold and dust mites. Finally, a good idea would be to replace carpets with wooden floors which are easier to keep clean. Let’s talk about bedding. As dust mites hate hot temperatures, make sure that you wash bedding regularly in hot water as this kills them off. Dry the bedding in a dryer at a high temperature or hang it outside to dry in the sun. Letting damp bedding hang around the house for too long will attract dust mites.

Clothing

If you suffer with eczema then you really want to make sure that you do not wear abrasive or scratching fabrics, like wool, next you your skin as this can cause irritation. Try and wear breathable fabrics, e.g. 100% cotton fabrics or other smoother materials next to your skin. Derma Smart, a new fabric created recently by dermatologists, is made of microfiber which is claimed to glide over the surface of the skin and relieve itchiness. As far as washing clothes is concerned, my tip is to use non-biological liquid laundry products as these do not contain irritating enzymes or bleaches.

Pets

As much as it is wonderful to have a cat and a dog in the house with children, quite often you can react to their fur and dander with symptoms such as wheezing, sneezing and a runny nose. In fact, coming into contact with furry animals can increase the risk of developing eczema in susceptible people. If at all possible don’t have any furry animals in the house, but if you do have one then try and keep it away from your child. If you or your child comes in contact with a furry animal, make sure you wash your hands immediately.

So now that you know how to avoid common trigger factors you can, if not cure your eczema, at least keep it at bay. To find out more about eczema cure and eczema relief, please visit my Clear Skin Guide website.