What Factors Worsen Your Eczema?

Here’s a list of eczema (atopic dermatitis) triggers you should watch out for:

Soap, Detergent, and Fabric Conditioner

Harsh soap formulations remove the skin’s natural oils. They make the skin dry, itchy, and more susceptible to irritants. Fragrant detergent and fabric conditioners also worsen eczema (atopic dermatitis) symptoms.

Cosmetics, Perfume

Alcohol found in some makeup, skincare, and perfume products dries and irritates your skin. It also stings or burns, making you feel more uncomfortable.

Pets

If you dream of being a furmom or a furdad, weigh the pros and cons. Because in some cases, you might experience an increase in eczema symptoms when you come into contact with fur, dander (shed skin cells), saliva, and urine. Fur also sticks to furniture, carpets, beddings, and clothes.

Clothing Materials

Materials like wool, polyester, nylon, and other synthetic types irritate your skin. Remember that there are other ways you can be fashionable without compromising your health.

Chemicals

Various chemicals used in different products can trigger your eczema.

• Formaldehyde is found in glue/adhesives, disinfectant products, and some vaccines.
• Isothiazolinone, an antibacterial found in baby wipes.
• Paraphenylene-diamine is used in temporary tattoos.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate is used to make soaps’ foaming action but can irritate the skin.
• Cocamidopropyl betaine is also used as a foaming agent for shampoos, conditioners, and body washes. Like sodium lauryl sulfate, it also irritates your skin.

Metals

For some, touching coins, keys, and doorknobs trigger an immune response. Even a piece of low-quality costume jewelry or an eyeglass frame made of nickel can cause skin irritation.

Extreme Temperatures

Low humidity makes your skin dry and itchy because the moisture from your skin is extracted. But high humidity coupled with more heat also makes your skin sweat and itch.

Sand

Sand can cause micro-tearing and abrasions to sensitive skin. Unwashed sand can also cause dryness and irritation, which can then trigger the urge to scratch.

Long Hot Showers

Limit your time when taking a shower. The longer you take, the drier your skin gets. Additionally, heat can be a detriment to defective skin barriers because moisture doesn’t get locked in. So avoid taking hot showers, too. Don’t wait for your fingers to look like prunes. If you think that’s cute, think again! It literally means moisture’s been stripped away from your skin.

Food Allergies

Be careful about the food you eat, especially if you have food allergies. Mainly because your body’s immediate immune response, once exposed to these allergens, is inflammation or flare-ups. Common allergens include peanuts, fish, eggs, cow’s milk, soy, and wheat.

Stress

Some react to stress by scratching their skin. In turn, it can become habitual: the itch-scratch cycle. You stress, you scratch, and then you stress even more now that your skin’s compromised.

Hormones

Some women have reported experiencing more eczema symptoms before their period or during their pregnancies.

These are the triggers you should watch out for. Remember, even if eczema (atopic dermatitis) has no cure, you can manage its symptoms. For one, you can apply medication to help ease your discomfort. Mometasone furoate (Elica®) products help stop itching, reduce redness, ease swelling, and provide relief within 24 hours.

Mometasone furoate (Elica®) cream is applied on thin skin (like on the face) and moist lesions while Mometasone furoate (Elica®) ointment is applied on dry lesions and thickened skin. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.