Skin Care tips for avoiding Eczema flare ups

Dry skin is often associated with itching and an Eczema sufferer with dry skin can be a serious problem. This is because Eczema sufferers may not resist the temptation to scratch their dry, itchy skin and it may trigger even more itching and inflammation, resulting in a viscous cycle. This article will provide tips which will enable Eczema sufferers to better "lock in" their skin moisture to better control Eczema itch.
" Gently pat your skin dry after a shower: do not rub. Rubbing can irritate the skin and for Eczema sufferers, rubbing can further irritate the already-sensitive skin.
" Moisturize everyday. This may sound intuitive but the importance of moisturizing cannot be overstated. Maintaining the skin's moisture can be one of the best ways to avoid Eczema flare ups.
" Apply moisturizer within three minutes after a bath. While the skin is still damp from the bath, applying a moisturizer within three minutes after the bath can be very beneficial. The water moisture on the skin surface can be "locked in" before evaporation of the water takes place. This will render the moisturizing effects of the moisturizer more effective, as compared to applying the moisturizer on dry skin.
" Take lukewarm baths and showers using mild soaps or non-soap cleansers. Taking hot baths is a no-no, as high temperature baths can strip off the moisture layer off the skin, causing dry skin symptoms and might cause Eczema flare ups.
" Wear cotton or soft fabrics. Avoid scratchy fibers as irritation of the skin might occur, causing Eczema flare ups.

Choosing the suitable moisturizer
If you haven't already noticed, maintaining the moisture level on the skin surface of an Eczema sufferer is important. Moisturizers are available in lotion, cream and ointment forms and nowadays, many emollient creams have moisturizing properties similar to ointments. Usage of creams which are non-greasy is recommended because these creams are absorbed by the skin rapidly and will not stain clothings.
Try to choose moisturizers which do not contain irritating substances such as preservatives, fragrances, vitamins, alpha hydroxy and urea. In short, try to look out for the ingredient labels and avoid substances you may be allergic to. You will not want to suffer from flares in an effort to control flares (ironically). A good moisturizer to choose may be one which contains a> aloe vera

Chloe Kor is interested in natural skin care for skin conditions like Eczema, Rosacea, Psoriasis and Acne Vulgaris. She believes that skin care products should not contain too much chemical ingredients. Her website is http://skincarepolice.com