Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Treating your eczema at home
• Method 2 of 3: Using prescription medications
• Method 3 of 3: Prevent eczema by making lifestyle changes
• Tips
• Warnings

You can get eczema all year round, but it tends to be worse during the cold, dry winter months. You may see a rash on your hands, feet, ankles, wrists, on your neck, on the upper chest, on your eyelids, on the back of your knees, the insides of your elbows, on your face and / or your scalp. The rash can be red, brown, or gray in color and look thick, cracked, dry, or scaly. It can also be itchy and sensitive. Eczema also makes you more likely to develop asthma and atopy, which is a syndrome that makes you hyper-allergic. Someone with atopy may also have atopic eczema, hay fever (pollinosis) or asthma. There is no cure for eczema, but there are things you can do to reduce the frequency of eczema you develop.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Treating your eczema at home

1. Use a moisturizer to soothe dry winter skin. Apply moisturizer to your skin at least twice a day, targeting areas of dry skin. This will keep your skin moist and prevent chapping and irritation. Avoid using moisturizers that contain dyes and fragrances that can irritate your skin. Apply moisturizer or oil after taking a bath or shower while your skin is still damp. In this way, the moisture is retained in your skin. The following remedies work well:
   • Cetaphil
   • Neutral
   • Eucerin
   • Baby oil
2. Try an over-the-counter anti-allergy medication. Anti-allergy medications contain antihistamines that can help because eczema can be caused by allergies. Some good resources include:
   • Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
   • Fexofenadine (Telfast)
   • Loratadine (Claritine)
3. Treat the itchiness with a topical cream. Some topical creams, such as steroid creams, calamine lotion, and topical calcineurin inhibitors, help to reduce itching. You can apply them to your eczema a few times a day to soothe the itchiness. You have the following options, among others:
   • Hydrocortisone cream. A cream containing 1% hydrocortisone can help reduce itching. Keep in mind that your skin can become thinner if you regularly use steroid creams. It is therefore best to use these creams only shortly after each other. Before using a hydrocortisone cream on your face or between your skin folds, seek the advice of your doctor.
   • Calamine lotion. Calamine lotion is often used to treat a rash caused by poison ivy, but it can also help with itching caused by eczema.
   • Topical calcineurin inhibitors. These prescription topical creams will reduce itching and rashes, but they don't thin the skin like steroid creams do.
4. Soothe itchy, inflamed areas with a cold compress. A cold compress can help relieve itching and also help reduce swelling. You can use a cold and wet washcloth or an ice pack as a cold compress.
   • To use a wet washcloth, run a washcloth under a cold running tap and then squeeze out the excess water. Place the washcloth on your skin for about five minutes. Then dry the area thoroughly and apply a moisturizer.
   • To use an ice pack, first wrap it in a clean cotton cloth or paper towel. Then hold the ice pack against your eczema for up to 20 minutes. Allow your skin to warm back to normal temperature before using the ice pack again. Otherwise you can damage your skin tissue.
5. Avoid scratching the area. Scratching will irritate the area and can break the skin. This allows bacteria to get into your skin, increasing the risk of infection. If you scratch the area without thinking about it, try the following:
   • Apply a bandage on the area.
   • Keep your nails short.
   • Wear a pair of cotton gloves at night.
6. Take a bath with baking soda or oatmeal. This is particularly pleasant on a cold winter's day and can help reduce itching and soothe your skin.
   • Prepare a warm bath, then sprinkle baking soda, uncooked oatmeal, or colloidal oatmeal into the water.
   • Relax for 15 minutes and then get out of the bath.
   • Apply moisturizer to your wet skin. This way the moisture will be retained in your skin.
   • Some people wait 20 minutes after drying their skin, otherwise the moisturizer can penetrate the skin too quickly and cause more irritation.
7. Dab a saline solution on the eczema. This may sting a bit, but will help kill any bacteria growing in the irritated or broken skin. Swimming in the sea may help in the summer, but in the winter you will have to make your own saline solution.
   • Dissolve a few teaspoons of table salt in 250 ml of warm water.
   • Dab the saline solution on the eczema area with a washcloth and let the solution dry.
8. Experiment with alternative medicines. Always seek the advice of your doctor before trying alternative medicines, especially those involving herbal remedies. These can interact with other medications. These methods have not been scientifically proven to work, but anecdotal evidence shows that they can work for some people:
   • Supplements with vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, probiotics or various oils
   • Herbal remedies such as St. John's wort, calendula flowers, tea tree oil, real chamomile, mahogany roots, liquorice and rice bran broth (topical)
   • Acupuncture or acupressure
   • Using aromatherapy or color therapy to help you relax
   • Massage therapy
9. Try light therapy to reduce inflammation. In winter, days are shorter and we spend more time indoors, exposing us to less sunlight during the day. You can undergo light therapy by deliberately exposing yourself to sunlight or by using artificial UVA light or narrow spectrum UVB light. However, this therapy can be harmful and is generally not used in children. The therapy has the following side effects, among others:
   • Faster aging of the skin
   • The risk of developing skin cancer

Method 2 of 3: Using prescription medications

1. Ask your doctor about prescription corticosteroids. However, these can have serious side effects, so be sure to ask your doctor if these drugs are right for you. Corticosteroids are available in the following forms:
   • A topical cream to be applied
   • An oral drug
   • An injection
2. Consider antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if you have scratched open your eczema and the area has become infected. These drugs will also reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin, reducing the chance of a new infection. Your doctor will prescribe an oral antibiotic for treatment. Atopic eczema usually involves an infection with the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. If you show the following signs, it is best to get checked out by a doctor.
   • Skin rash that appears infected and has red streaks, pus, or yellow flakes
   • Skin rash that hurts
   • Eye problems caused by the rash
   • Skin rashes that don't go away with home treatment
   • Skin rash that interferes with your sleep and your daily life
3. Treat itching with prescription antihistamines. These drugs counteract the action of chemicals called histamines and reduce itching.
   • You can take an antihistamine that has a narcotic effect to soothe itching and help you sleep, or take an antihistamine that has no narcotic effect to reduce your itching during the day.
4. Talk to your doctor about medications that suppress the immune system. These drugs may help your skin to heal faster. Two possible drugs are:
   • Tacrolimus (including Prograft)
   • Pimecrolimus (Elidel)
5. Talk to your doctor about using a wet bandage. A wet dressing is often applied by a doctor, but you may also be able to do this at home if your doctor explains in detail how to apply such a dressing. A wet bandage is usually used to treat severe eczema cases.
   • First, a topical corticosteroid is applied to the areas with eczema. Then wet dressings are wrapped around the spots. These provide relief within hours.

Method 3 of 3: Prevent eczema by making lifestyle changes

1. Choose gentle soaps that won't irritate your skin. Aggressive soaps will strip your skin's natural oils, causing your skin to dry out more quickly. This can make your winter eczema worse. Wash yourself with plain water and a mild soap to get clean.
2. Take short, warm showers and don't use hot water. This may be difficult to do on cold winter days, but it will keep your skin from getting very damp.
   • Try not to shower or bathe for more than 15 minutes.
   • Spread almond oil on your skin while your skin is still wet (at least on problem areas).
   • Dry yourself thoroughly.
   • Take a shower right after you exercise so that the sweat doesn't irritate your eczema.
3. Wear rubber gloves while cleaning. People with eczema are often very sensitive to soaps with a strong cleaning effect and exposure to them can cause new eczema. Apply a thick lotion to your skin before putting on the gloves. Avoid contact with the following means:
   • Solvents
   • Cleaning products
   • Dishwashing detergents
   • Detergents
4. Be aware of environmental irritants. Consider whether your eczema is worse when you are exposed to environmental irritants, such as dust and cigarette smoke. Because you spend more time indoors during the winter, you may be exposed to these irritants more often. Try to minimize exposure to environmental irritants.
5. Determine whether certain foods may make your eczema worse. Eczema is often caused by allergies, so it is best to stop eating foods that you are allergic to. You can ask your doctor to test you for allergies if you are not sure if you are allergic to anything. Foods that can make your eczema worse include:
   • Eggs
   • Milk
   • Peanuts
   • Soybeans
   • Fish
   • Wheat
6. Try to maintain a stable indoor climate. Avoid sudden changes in temperature and humidity. If the weather changes drastically, try to stay indoors as much as possible to give your skin a chance to get used to it.
   • If the weather suddenly gets very dry, put a humidifier in your house to humidify the air.
7. Wear clothes that won't scratch or irritate your skin. Loose clothing allows your skin to breathe. Dress warmly in winter and protect your skin from the drying effects of the cold wind.
   • Avoid itchy wool.
   • Wear cool clothes that breathe well during exercise.
8. Reduce stress. Stress can make you more prone to eczema. By reducing your stress, you can ensure that existing spots with eczema heal faster and you are less likely to get new spots with eczema. Some excellent ways to reduce stress are:
   • Sleep eight hours a night. This will give you the mental energy to handle the difficulties in your life.
   • Exercise about 2.5 hours a week. This can be more difficult in the winter, but you will certainly benefit. Your body will release endorphins, which will help you relax and lift your mood. Possible activities include sports, jogging, swimming and cycling.
   • Using relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, visualizing calming images, and massages.

Tips

• Baby oil is made from petroleum and can irritate dry skin that is about to break. It can also be an irritant for people who are sensitive to that particular allergen. At the same time, petroleum jelly works great for many people because it creates a long-lasting, water-resistant protective layer on the skin. So the skin is given time to be able to produce oil itself again instead of the oil being washed away all the time.

Warnings

• Always seek the advice of your doctor before taking any medication and you are pregnant or treating a child. This includes herbal remedies and supplements, which can interact with other medications. Talk to your doctor to find out if the remedies are right for you.
• Read and follow the directions on the package if you are going to use any new medication, including over-the-counter medications. Also follow the advice of your doctor.