Eczema is not just a problem in children that goes away with treatment. Some adults – somewhere between 1% and 3% of the world’s adult population in fact – suffer from the symptoms of eczema.
While some people who suffered from eczema as a child can sometimes see it flare up again in middle age or in retirement, others can develop eczema for the first time in later life too. This is referred to as adult-onset atopic dermatitis.
The reasons for seeing eczema in adults aren’t yet fully understood, but there are a few factors that increase your risk of developing eczema later in life, such as:
Smoking (or even being exposed to smoke in childhood)
Stress
Nutrition levels
Hereditary susceptibility
Other illnesses
Change in climate
Exposure to new allergens
Reactions to topical steroids
Hormonal changes
New medications
A common theory in the medical sciences is that adult-onset eczema appears in people with tendencies towards atopic diseases all their life and are triggered by external factors. Anyone with skin prone to eczema can tell you how hard it is to identify the main triggers, and every person is triggered differently. There are however some common themes to managing this skin condition.
STAYING HYDRATED
It may sound like you’re listening to a broken record but keeping yourself hydrated definitely helps against dry skin. Drinking water and finding the right moisturiser for you are the best things you can do for your skin.
DIET AND NUTRITION
Taking note of what foods you’ve been eating when eczema flares up will help you identify potential triggers. It’s a good idea to keep a food diary to track what you eat and your skin’s reaction. It may be the case that you are allergic to certain types of foods that cause eczema to appear. Some common foods that have been linked to inflammatory reactions include dairy foods, sugar, alcohol, and tomatoes.
Getting the right amount of nutrients will also help keep your skin healthy. Believe it or not, essential fatty acids – or EFA’s – play a crucial role in maintaining robust skin. Full of omega-3’s, EFA’s help strengthens your skin barrier and are commonly found in fish, nuts, and seeds. You can also boost your omega-3 intake with a variety of supplements.
CLOTHING AND COSMETICS
The quality of your clothes’ fabric can make a world of difference if you suffer from eczema. Fabrics that have been treated with chemicals and those of low quality can irritate your skin and cause flare-ups. The same goes for bleached and dyed fabrics. Wool clothing is also known to trigger flare-ups, so make sure you check the labels when buying your clothes.
Cosmetics are one of the most commonly found triggers for eczema flare-ups in adults. Take extra care when purchasing and using make-up, creams and shower products, as they have a lot of synthetic ingredients that can irritate. Perfumes and other spray-ons can also trigger flares. As with clothing, try using organic cosmetic products as they are more likely to be gentle on your skin.
Discover more natural eczema relief here.
SUPPLEMENTS
Watching what you wear, eat and your overall health to contain eczema flare-ups can also be supplemented with products like fish oil (which contain omega-3’s) and natural herbal remedies such as those found in Traditional Chinese Medicine. That’s why ThisHerb has created its Eczema Free capsules which contain 100% natural ingredients that focus on your skin’s improvement and battle eczema breakouts from the inside out.
Read the information on Eczema Free capsules.
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