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This post is all about things to avoid if you have eczema.
Eczema can wreak havoc on not just your skin but your life, depending on how severe it may be.
As someone who has struggled with very severe eczema (covering my face and body), I know just how difficult it can be. Especially with the overabundance of information online telling you what you should do to heal.
If I’m going to be honest, I think a lot of it is B.S.
Some of it is product lines that are a ploy to make money or people trying to scare you into avoiding certain foods or going on an extreme diet.
Contrary to popular belief, I have found the best way to heal from eczema, is with a balanced approach.
Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely certain things to avoid doing, and that’s what I’m covering in this post.
Basically, everyone tells you what to do to heal eczema, but what are things you absolutely shouldn’t do in order to heal from or avoid an eczema flare up?
1. Things to avoid if you have eczema: Trying new products frequently
One mistake I see people making far too often is switching products frequently or constantly trying new products.
Once you find products that don’t irritate your skin, don’t change it!
It’s tempting to try new products, especially with social media in your face with marketing for new products and influencers pushing products they claim work wonders.
The truth of it is, you don’t know what is real and what companies sent free products in exchange for a positive review or even paid sponsorships.
Trust me, you are way better off sticking with your tried and true “boring” products.
Your skin will thank you for not always reaching for the next shiny product with cute packaging.
2. Having too many products
Similar to the above, I strongly advise keeping your products minimal.
I see so many people on social media, even ones that are prominent in the eczema community, showing off their over-the-top collection of skincare products.
There is no way they are keeping track of all the different products they are applying to their skin, and if they do happen to flare up, they definitely won’t be able to pinpoint which product was responsible.
It’s also wise, before you clear out your collection, to go get patch testing done. This way you can figure out which product allergens your skin could be reacting to, and then downsize your skincare collection (throw out any products that contain ingredients that your skin is reacting to) accordingly.
If I’m being completely transparent, I believe your skincare collection should only include:
- 1 face wash
- 1 face oil or serum
- 1 face cream
- 1 barrier balm
You should follow a similar process for your makeup routine, only keeping a few select products in your lineup that you know your skin isn’t reacting to.
For more info on putting makeup on eczema as well as my exact skincare routine for eczema be sure to check out these posts:
Eczema Skincare – My 5 Step Routine (That You Should Follow Too)
Putting Makeup on Eczema – The Ultimate Guide to Glowing Through a Flare Up
3. Things to avoid if you have eczema: Not showering daily
I’ve seen some people in the eczema community warn against daily showers. I’ve also seen the same people saying to take lukewarm/cold showers; but I couldn’t disagree more.
If you go longer than 24 hours without bathing, bacteria starts to form on the surface of your skin and it can cause more inflammation and itch.
Regarding cold or lukewarm showers: I’m sorry, but no.
Although I agree that hot water can cause inflammation, as long as you aren’t taking super lengthy showers, I don’t see any harm in taking a nice, hot, relaxing shower.
In fact, in this post, I cover my exact anti-itch method for taking a hot shower and simultaneously preventing the itch of eczema completely. Hint: it involves salt!
4. Not washing your sheets weekly
Okay, so this tip isn’t so unlikely.
But it is something that can be easily forgotten or postponed.
Make sure you are washing your sheets in hot water every single week.
If I go longer than one week without washing my sheets, my skin quickly lets me know. Hello crawly, itchy legs under the covers!
Kill off the dust mites and reduce any possible skin inflammation by keeping your sheets clean AF.
5. Things to avoid if you have eczema: Hiding from the sun
There’s so much information being thrown at us today about how important it is to avoid the sun.
This is in large part due to sun exposure being linked to skin aging.
However, getting exposure to the sun has many benefits including anti-inflammatory properties that have been proven to heal many diseases and skin conditions.
In fact, sun exposure was one of the primary ways I was able to stop the itch of eczema.
This Harvard article talks about the benefits of moderate sun exposure and how the same UVB wavelengths that sunscreens are designed to block can also be beneficial.
Basically, we have been wrongly influenced to believe that sun exposure is something to avoid.
While sun exposure should be in moderation, you don’t need to treat the sun like your worst enemy.
Moral of the story: don’t be afraid of some good ol’ vitamin D! The sun, in moderation, is not something to fear: especially if you have eczema!
6. Obsessing over your diet
When people are talking about things to avoid if you have eczema, diet is one of the main topics of discussion.
While I do promote getting tested for allergens to foods, beyond that, I think the balanced approach is the way to go with diet.
Stressing too much over your diet can actually cause an adverse affect, and stress is a huge eczema trigger.
Food is something to enjoy, not to obsess over.
Instead, avoid going on extreme diets or protocols and do your best to eat a lot of fruits and veggies, drink a lot of water, and eat natural/organic, whole-foods as often as you can.
7. Things to avoid if you have eczema: Not exercising
Many people avoid exercise during an eczema flare up, or think that getting hot and sweaty can make your skin itch more.
While this is true, getting in a good 45 minutes a day of exercise can work wonders when it comes to eczema healing.
When I was in the worst of my eczema healing journey, I would workout daily (and still get eczema itch attacks), but for whatever reason, it didn’t damage my skin as much as when I wasn’t exercising.
I don’t know the science behind it, but trust me- go for a jog and watch your skin clear!
Keep in mind as well, if you don’t want to do an intense workout or break a sweat, you can still go for a long, light walk and reap the health benefits.
8. Negative self talk or downplaying your eczema
Something I see a lot in people who have eczema, is negative internal self talk.
It’s obviously not going to be as simple as embracing your itchy, crusty flared up skin. But, you can give yourself grace and know that this period is temporary. Healing will happen, and having eczema doesn’t make you any less beautiful.
The same goes for trying to talk yourself out of feeling down on yourself for getting upset about eczema, when there are people out there struggling with far worse ailments.
This is especially true because most people around you don’t understand if they aren’t going through it, how mentally taxing living with chronic eczema can be. They see a rash and think, “so what”!
Remember, everything is relative, and just because your struggle may not be the severity of someone else’s, doesn’t mean it isn’t valid.
This post was all about things to avoid if you have eczema.
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