Eczema is a skin problem characterized by inflammation, itching and red patches with blisters on the surface of the skin. Eczema often appears in many different forms, the most common one being the atopic dermatitis.

This type of dermatitis strikes infants and children and its symptoms carry on well into their adult years. What makes many people dread this skin condition is the intense itching that comes along. Scratching the affected area repeatedly to soothe the itch may lead to injury and infections.

Eczema Flare Up Causes

What foods cause Eczema to flare up?

Those suffering from eczema often find their condition to worsen when they eat certain kind of foods. This happens because some foods are known to trigger an immune response within the body and cause symptoms like those of eczema.

The foods one should stay away from when eczema strikes you are gluten rich grains such as wheat, barley, rye, refined and processed foods, fish, milk, eggs, soy, nuts, sugar and canned food items. These foods do not cause eczema but are known to trigger an inflammatory response in the body of people suffering from this condition and cause the symptoms to flare up.

What allergens cause Eczema flare ups?

Environmental factors are also known to increase the chances of eczema flaring up. If a person with eczema remains surrounded by allergens like mold, dander, dust and pollen, it may cause an allergic reaction and bring on symptoms of eczema.

These allergens invade the body through cracks in the skin and cause inflammation on skin surface. Hence, it’s crucial to keep your skin moisturized to protect it from harmful allergens present in the surroundings.

One should also practice caution while using cosmetics and skin care products as some ingredients found in these products can exacerbate the symptoms. Use mild skin care products free from harsh chemicals and fragrance to prevent the symptoms from worsening.

Does stress cause Eczema to flare up?

Our physical health is tied to our emotional well being. When we are stressed, there is surge in the cortisol levels in the body which results in an immune response that appears in the form of inflammation and there by causing your eczema to flare up.

Having nutritious meals and exercising helps in altering one’s state of mind and hence play an important role in controlling eczema flare ups brought on by stress. Sometimes, lack of sleep also causes eczema flare ups by influencing the natural processes that take place within the body. This impacts body’s immunity against external irritants and gives rise to eczema flare ups on the skin. If you suffer from sleep disturbances, it’s important to fix them in the beginning to prevent the eczema from flaring up.

What other lifestyle choices cause eczema to flare up?

Some types of eczema bouts are governed by the lifestyle choices we make which put us at a higher risk of suffering from this condition. These include:

Long hot baths
Soaking yourself in the bathtub for prolong periods strips the moisture from the skin, makes it dry and prone to infections. To prevent this, one should take short baths especialy in winters. The wayer should not be too hot as hot water saps the moisture from the skin and results in eczema like flare ups.

Improper Skin Care
Moisturizing is an important step in maintaining the health of the skin. If this step is skipped it makes the skin dry and more at risk of contracting skin infections.

Sedentary Life
If you lead an inactive lifestyle, your skin has to bear the consequences. Not following an active lifestyle has a negative impact on the body’s defense mechanism and makes the skin itchy.

CONCLUSION

Eczema is a troubling condition but by following some preventive measures and methods that control the symptoms, one can get relief from this condition. In case of allergy, the eczema is cured by taking anti-histamines. Steroidal ointments are prescribed by the doctors to minimize the itching on the location while anti-biotic ointments are used if there are blisters on the skin. Staying away from the allergens is also crucial for fast recovery and to prevent the possibility of eczema in future.