20 Eczema Relief Tips to Keep You Flare-Up Free

If you're a regular reader of our blog, you know that we often provide tips and tricks to help keep eczema at bay. This post is a bit different because we're aiming to give you a super big assortment of ideas that can each help with eczema.

We've come up with 20 great relief tips, and we aimed to tackle a wide assortment of the reasons that people might experience flare-ups. This way, there's a little something new for everyone and you should find some relief tips you haven't tried yet.

Eczema isn't a one size fits all condition. Some people will have triggers related to food, others might find that stress deals them a harsher flare-up. It takes some time to figure out your own body and which treatments will work better for you. A lot of people with eczema also find that their skin changes over time. They might suddenly start seeing more flare-ups without warning, or they may find remedies that always worked for them in the past are less effective.

You may notice a higher rate of flare-ups during one season. Many people have difficulty with winter weather because the cold irritates their skin. For others, summer poses a bigger problem because the heat irritates symptoms. Then in the fall and spring, people with seasonal allergies notice that they exacerbate eczema.

If you've got a season that tends to result in higher prevalence of symptoms, heading off flare-ups can be the best idea. This might mean taking extra time with your skin care routine and being proactive about limiting trigger foods and behaviors.

20 Eczema Relief Tips to Keep You Flare-Up Free

This list isn't exhaustive because it's impossible to find every possible trigger for all eczema cases. We'll hit the more common ones and offer relief tips that can be good for a wide variety of cases. You might find some tricks that we haven't mentioned. We'd love to hear about them in comments to share with other eczema sufferers.

1. Chlorinated Water. Chlorine is generally used in swimming pools to keep the ph level balanced and basically to sanitize the water. Recent research also indicates that bleach in a bath can help eczema symptoms for most people. It has antibacterial properties and can decrease inflammation. Swimming in a chlorinated pool is not only good exercise but can help with eczema flare-ups. Some people will find the chlorine irritating, so it's important that you rinse off after a swim and make sure to moisturize directly after that.
2. Get Some Sun. Sun is often recommended for those with eczema and psoriasis to help dry out patches and speed up healing. This is also the best way our body can produce Vitamin D, which helps the immune system and increases energy. Obviously, most of us only have so many months of good weather. If there's no outside natural sun available, ask your doctor if a tanning bed might be a good idea for your eczema. It's always advisable to use SPF to protect against other adverse reactions to overexposure to the sun. 
3. Fatty Fish and Omega-3. Omega-3 has a great reputation in nutrition circles because it's an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. You can find this in fatty fishes, such as salmon. If you're having trouble adding enough Omega-3 to your diet, you can also take it as a supplement. 
4. Bathe Often and in Lukewarm Water. Bathing is an important part of the skincare routine for anyone with eczema. You can choose to take baths or to shower. What's important is that you're not using extremely hot water because it can cause more damage to flare-ups and actually slow down the healing process. We recommend using lukewarm water.
5. Use Eczema Soap or Skip the Soap. Most soaps on the market include scents or harsh ingredients that can irritate skin, so it's important that you choose a soap that's gentle. You can find soaps specially made for those with eczema, such as Eczema Honey Gentle Foaming Hand Soap. It's not recommended that you scrub too hard, especially on areas with a current flare up. If you're interested in adding an exfoliant to your routine, Eczema Honey Premium Oatmeal Scrub is specially formulated to treat skin with eczema.
6. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize. Moisturizing is a first line treatment for anyone with eczema and should be part of your daily routine. It's important that you apply cream after every bath or shower to lock in moisture. Most people also find it helpful to build a routine, such as applying their moisturizer at the same times each day. You might moisturize as soon as you wake up or before going to bed. It's best to use a moisturizer that's gentle without any harsh chemicals or excess processing. Natural ingredients can often be better for those with sensitive skin. You can also use moisturizer specifically formulated for those with eczema, such as Eczema Honey Original Skin Smoothing Cream.
7. Change Your Sheets. You might not think about it but the type of fabric you sleep on can have a big impact on your skin. Obviously it's important to routinely launder your sheets to avoid irritants. You should also pay attention to the types of fabric your sheets are made of as well. Cotton sheets may work well for you. If they are irritating, and you're certain it's not the laundry detergent, you might consider purchasing sheets made specifically for those with eczema. They are made from a material that's antibacterial and breathable to keep your skin cool and dry. 
8. Use Eczema Friendly, Unscented Laundry Detergent. Laundry detergent, cleaning agents, and fabric softeners are among the most common skin irritants that people come into contact with on a daily basis. Making sure that your laundry detergent isn't adding to your skin irritation is hugely important because you're exposed to it on a continual basis. Detergents with strong scents should be avoided. Opt instead for more gentle detergents that have fewer chemicals.
9. Monitor Your Diet for Triggers. If you're not thinking about what you eat, you should. Most people with eczema find that certain foods will set off their symptoms. In some cases, this can be caused by allergies. If you've never done a food journal, this can be an excellent way to really examine how what you eat impacts your eczema. You may find that limiting certain foods makes a huge difference.
10. Witch Hazel. Witch hazel is a very old remedy for pretty much any type of skin irritation. It's an astringent that's used on everything from eczema to acne to boils and all points in between. It does have antibacterial properties and can decrease inflammation. You'll also find that witch hazel reduces the physical irritation that accompanies a flare-up.
11. Honey. There's a reason most of our products are made with honey! Honey is a natural remedy for eczema and other skin irritations. It helps the body heal, has antibacterial properties to keep wounds from becoming infected, and even boosts your own body's immune system. Overall, natural honey offers amazing benefits, both internally and externally. You can use any of our products made with honey for an immediate difference. You can also pair those treatments with using organic honey applied directly to flare-ups to aid in healing.
12. Swim in the Ocean. Salt water is good for eczema. You won't find much saltwater in pools or lakes but, if you live near an ocean or body of salt water, it can be very beneficial for your skin. Treat this the same way you would swimming in a chlorinated pool — make sure to shower off after and moisturize.
13. Add Fruits and Veggies to Your Diet. A healthy diet improves your immune system, adds to your energy, and improves your skin. Fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants can reduce inflammation as well as giving you a boost of powerful vitamins and nutrients. 
14. Get Rid of Perfumes and Products with Perfume. If you're a person who likes scents, this can be a little difficult. You can try out some milder scents or oils made from natural products to see how your skin reacts. A lot of the perfumes and scented products on the market are irritating to skin. In most cases, it's better not to use products with perfumes.
15. Cooling Face and Body Rounds. Eczema can be intensely itchy and uncomfortable, but our Eczema Honey Itch Cooling Face and Body Rounds work wonders. One reason we love these is that they're portable. You can put them in your purse, in your car, or in your laptop bag and carry them everywhere. This is a great quick remedy for when you can't get to the, often messier, treatments that are at home.
16. Try Eczema Gloves. Your hands are one of the most common spots for eczema because they're most exposed to the environment. Try using Eczema Cotton Gloves to help moisturize your skin and to keep exposure to triggers at a minimum.
17. Make Sure Clothing Is Eczema Friendly. Clothing can be another trigger. There are specially made clothing items for those with eczema. Otherwise, you should look for clothing that's comfortable and gentle to your skin.
18. Oatmeal Baths. Now you understand why we make eczema products with oatmeal, too. Colloidal oatmeal is great for eczema. You can add it to your bath or use creams and scrubs made with oatmeal.
19. Baking Soda Baths. This is one of those old wives' remedies that really does work. Baking soda baths are excellent for skin irritation. It's even a go to remedy for babies with a diaper rash. Just fill the tub with lukewarm water and baking soda, soak for a few minutes, and towel off. You'll be amazed how quickly it can reduce irritation.
20. De-Stress. Stress is a major trigger for eczema. There are a lot of ways to attack this problem. You might find a stress relieving sport or activity or you might try yoga and meditation. You can also try to limit stress from your every day. It is important that you really assess how stressed you are and see if you can limit that.

We hope you found a little something on this list that you haven't tried before. Let us know in comments if you have any remedies we haven't seen.