Hoe een Eczeem Flare-up te Beheersen - Tips en Advies

Types of Eczema

Eczema includes conditions such as:

Atopic dermatitis

This is what people usually mean when they say “eczema.” This is the most common form, and it affects more than 7% of American adults. Other allergic disorders, such as asthma and hay fever, can trigger it. It often starts in childhood.

This is a less common but more challenging form of eczema. It causes outbreaks of tiny blisters on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sides of the fingers. Sweat or irritants such as metals may trigger it.

Neurodermatitis

Nummular eczema

This coin-shaped eczema often appears after a skin injury such as a burn or insect bite. You’re more likely to get nummular eczema if you or your family members have atopic dermatitis, allergies, or asthma.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Stasis dermatitis

This type happens in people who have poor blood flow, usually in their lower legs. Unlike some other types of eczema, these plaques don't mean you have abnormal genes. Some lifestyle habits raise the risk too, such as being overweight or not getting enough physical activity.

Read more about the different types of eczema .

An Overview of Eczema on the Face

An eczema rash can pop up anywhere on the body. But eczema on the face can be especially uncomfortable, painful, and itchy. That's because facial skin is especially sensitive. The rash, which is red, dry, and flaky, can also even blister.

Facial eczema can appear on its own or alongside eczema on the body. And while some people have it only occasionally, others deal with it on a more consistent basis.

This article explains the types and causes of facial eczema and how the condition is diagnosed and treated.

Facial eczema is quite common in babies and toddlers, but it can appear in people of any age.

Natural remedies for eczema

There’s no single best treatment for eczema, but there are a handful of natural eczema treatments that prove helpful for some people. Here are seven to try in your quest for eczema relief.

Colloidal oatmeal

Oatmeal isn’t just tasty and healthy to eat. It’s also fabulous for your skin, which explains why it’s found in numerous bath soaks, body lotions and creams.

Applying an oatmeal-based product to your skin can help calm inflammation and dryness that are common in eczema. “It’s soothing to the skin and really helpful for some people,” says Dr. Anthony.

Bleach bath

It may sound strange and even unsafe, but adding a wee bit of bleach to your bath may help tame an eczema breakout. It’s a treatment that has been used for decades, shares Dr. Kabbur.

“Bleach is championed by a lot of dermatologists as a safe and effective home method to control eczema,” she says. “It has been proven to reduce itch, which provides so much relief.”

But it’s important to only add just a tiny amount of bleach. (We are talking about a household cleaning workhouse best known for its ability to kill mold and bacteria, after all, so caution is advised.)

Dr. Kabbur recommends adding a 1/4 cup (59 milliliters) to a 1/2 cup (118 ml) of plain bleach to a filled bathtub. (Use the lower amount for small children.) Soak in the mixture for about 10 minutes, then rinse with plain water. Bleach baths can be taken two to three times a week.

If you’re more of a shower person, using a sodium hypochlorite (bleach) body wash while rub-a-dubbing can bring a similar benefit.

Vinegar bath

Can’t get into the idea of bathing in bleach? Then, maybe a vinegar bath is more your speed.

Belief remains in some circles that products such as apple cider vinegar or white vinegar can boost your skin’s health, notes Dr. Anthony. It’s tied to acidity levels in vinegar and your skin’s ideal pH balance.

How to Prevent Eczema Flares

You can take steps to help ward off eczema flare-ups or shorten them. Managing eczema flares means doing detective work to identify triggers and taking care of your skin. Often there is a lag time between exposure to a trigger and the itch developing.

Here are some tips to help keep the itch at bay:

• Keep an eczema diary. When you feel a flare coming on, think about any potential triggers you've been exposed to within the last several days and note them. Over time, you may see some patterns.
• Stay moisturized. Dry skin and eczema go hand-in-hand.
• Get familiar with common triggers. Develop the habit of reading cosmetics, cleansing agents, and household products ingredient labels.
• Think seasonally. When the air is dry, such as during the winter or at altitude, think ahead and add additional moisturizer to your routine.
• Follow your healthcare provider's advice.

How to Prepare for an Eczema Flare

Make sure you have an action plan for when you start to feel itchy. Check that you have adequate supplies of moisturizers, anti-itch products, and eczema prescriptions so you can start using them right away. The earlier you treat, the sooner you're likely to feel relief.