Focus & Fixes – Dermatitis/Eczema

Dermatitis (or eczema) is a condition that is near impossible to cure, but not hard to control.

 

Why you have eczema

Dermatitis is usually hereditary. It happens when your skin barrier function is impaired, due to the lack of natural oil. Other than dryness, itching, redness, rashes, blisters and weeping sores are also common symptoms.

 

Daily routine focus

Avoid products with common irritants/allergens* like fragrance (including natural essential oils).

Cleanse

• • Gentle and rinses off completely

Your cleanser shouldn’t not strip nor leave surfactant residue after washing.

• • Avoid hot water/showers

Heat speeds up moisture loss. Use room temperature water, or lukewarm at most. Avoiding hot showers if you get eczema on your body.

 

Treat

• • Anti-irritants

Calming ingredients(e.g allantoin, bisabolol) are great for reducing redness and inflammation.

• • Barrier-repairing

Niacinamide (vitamin B3) promotes skin ceramide production, reinforcing its barrier function.

 

Moisturise

• • • Humectants and emollients

Your moisturiser should contain both humectants and barrier-enhancing emollients e.g. squalane and lanolin. Together, they combat dryness by increasing water content and reducing water loss. For body, rich creams are beneficial.

• • • Timing

Our skin is most receptive when slightly damp. To get the most out of your moisturiser, apply on face/body within 3 minutes after washing to lock in maximum moisture.

 

Flare-ups SOS

The following temporary measures help your skin settle during a flare-up, so you can return to your normal routine quickly.

• • • Avoid actives

Ingredients like vitamin C, A and acids, though normally beneficial, can sometimes be too much for inflamed skin.

• • • Cleanse once a day

Limit cleansing to once a day, using a non-foaming cleanser at night.

• • • Medicate asap

Use your prescribed topical steroid as early as possible to subside the redness and inflammation. Don’t wait for the situation to get really bad.

 

Eczema management is all about daily prevention. Being careful of what you use and when you use them will make all the difference.

 

*common skin irritants/allergens

Fragrance (natural or synthetic)
Naturally fragrant botanicals (e.g clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, basil, lemonbalm, lemongrass)
Potent preservatives (methylisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea)