Having eczema is by no means fun.  The itchiness, dryness and redness may seem non-stop and can take a mental toll on any sufferer.  Of course, some days are worse than other, but sometimes it seems as though no matter what you do, it makes it worse.  One of the easiest way to treat eczema is actually in the shower.  That’s right, you can actually help alleviate your eczema during a shower, and make the experience more enjoyable.

The first important thing to note during the shower is the water temperature.  The temperature should never be too hot, no matter how good it may feel.  Hot water can precipitate eczema by opening up the blood vessels, causing more blood to surface on the skin.  It also activates nerves, causing your skin to become even more sensitive.  If you take a long, hot shower you also lose protective oils that is on the skin’s surface.  A better alternative is to take short showers in comfortable warm water.

After the shower, it’s always best to pat yourself dry instead of rubbing.  Rubbing the skin further irritates eczematic skin, and may even cause cracked skin to bleed.  Patting your skin gently may take a little extra time, but your skin will thank you for it.

The last and most important step after showering is moisturizing with a heavy emollient cream or lotion to slightly damp skin.  Applying an emollient after a shower will help seal in the skin’s moisture especially since the pores are wide open.  This helps the skin more readily to absorb the moisturizer.  For best results, use natural, fragrance-free and dye-free lotions.  Any chemical laden moisturizer can actually cause you further harm since they have a tendency to irritate the skin.

No doubt having eczema is one of the most unpleasant experiences anyone can have.  However many eczema remedies you may try, never forget the power of a good shower.