It is estimated that around 2% of the UK adult population live with eczema, an unpleasant skin condition that causes the skin to become red, itchy and inflamed. Eczema is a recurring condition with the symptoms breaking out in “flares” and then subsiding over a period of time. Often these flares can be associated with “triggers,” which somehow cause the condition to reactivate and the skin to become red, sore and weepy once more. Every person with eczema is different and what triggers an eczema flare in one person, may not cause any effect in another, so working out causes and allergies can be a trial-and-error process. However, there are a number of well recognised triggers for you to look out for, so we caught up with Dr. Rupert Mason from DermaTherapy Bedding to help distinguish the triggers.
Combat Stress
Emotional stress has been considered to be an eczema trigger, but the exact mechanism is uncertain. Some people comment that their eczema deteriorates when they are feeling “stressed” but others may suffer from stress, just knowing they have eczema, and this can make their skin flare up. Stress can affect many aspects of our health, so it is likely that any methods to reduce stress are likely to have a positive effect on your eczema.
Allergens and Irritants
This is a huge area to cover as there are dozens of potential allergens which you can come into contact with. The most obvious are airborne allergens like pollen, dust mites and pet dander; discarded hair from your cat or dog. Seasonal outbreaks could point to specific types of pollen being the culprit, or time spent away from home surrounded by unfamiliar and unexpected triggers. Household products such as soaps, washing up liquids, laundry detergents and even bubble baths and shower gels, as well as a number of chemicals found in glues, dyes and cosmetics, are well known to trigger allergies. These can cause eczema flare ups to significantly worsen after prolonged exposure or frequent use. Look out for common irritants in the composition of wash products and avoid other products which contain them. Other unexpected sources such as natural liquids, like the juice from fresh fruit, vegetables, or meats, can irritate your skin when you touch them. Fabrics, such as wool, Cashmere, angora and even organic cotton can be very scratchy on the microscopic level and irritate eczema-prone skin. Finally, even your favourite perfume may trigger an eczema reaction.
Figure out Food
As mentioned before, even the juice from fresh fruit, vegetables, or meats, can irritate your skin when you touch them. You also have to consider the foods that you eat as part of your daily diet. Basic staples like bread, pasta, eggs, dairy products some fish and some nuts can act as a trigger factor in young children. Identification and avoidance are the best ways to prevent food being a trigger to your eczema.
The Weather and Your Environment
Many people notice that their eczema flares due to weather changes. For example, the seasonal change from a cool spring to a hot summer will play havoc with the skin of eczema-prone people and the autumnal shift to single figure temperatures, damper air and the dryness in the home due to the sudden use of central heating, will also have an effect on many individuals’ skin conditions.
Stay Hydrated
It’s important to keep your skin hydrated throughout the year, especially during the warmer months, as you lose far more water through the skin during the summer. This is particularly important for those who suffer from eczema, as their skin isn’t as good at retaining moisture to begin with. It’s important to make an effort to keep your water intake consistent throughout the year—and consider sipping even more if you start to notice unusual dryness or tightness in your skin.
The Right Night time Temperature
Your skin can also be affected by the bedding you sleep on and in, due to overheating, so investing in temperature regulating bedding is helpful, particularly if you have a memory foam mattress, which can often be more reflective of your body heat. Remember that “high thread count” cotton sheets may feel soft, but they can trap you in a hot, humid environment within your bed, which can trigger your eczema. Try specialised bedding such as, DermaTherpy Bedding (http://www.dermatherapybedding.co.uk), in order to regulate your night time temperature and keep your eczema woes at bay.
Never Underestimate Underwear
Few fabrics are considered suitable for underwear, so eczema sufferers are often directed to organic cotton and silk. All cotton, even organic sourced fabric is made from short fibres which can irritate the skin, especially when dampened, so they are generally not recommended. Typical woven silk, found in retail underwear may be soft but the fabric is woven and therefore occlusive. It is also prone to attack by bacteria. Only medical, knitted silk clothing has any clinically proven qualities to make it a recognised product for use with eczema patients. Trying specifically designed underwear such as DermaSilk (www.dermasilk.co.uk), to help keep your eczema flare ups at bay throughout the day.
Eczema flares are a significant burden on both the sufferer and their families. They can be triggered by a number of different chemical and environmental factors and it is important that you identify the likely triggers to these flare ups and take steps to avoid them. Eczema flares may still happen, but hopefully they will be less frequent, less severe and last a shorter time, allowing a return to normal as quickly as possible.