A good skincare routine may sound like an obvious or overrated beauty tip, but for eczema in particular, it could not be more important! Given that there are so many random triggers with this skin condition, controlling eczema symptoms require a lifestyle change, and one big (yet often overlooked) factor is skincare.
In this article, we share 5 easy tips that you can incorporate into your daily beauty routine.
Now, if you’ve been dealing with eczema for years, then chances are you’ve already scoured the web for hours on end reading, learning, and – let’s be honest – wishing you couldn’t relate to what those articles were talking about. In that case, you can skip to the next section and go straight to what you’ve been looking for – the best skincare routine for eczema.
But for those of you who aren’t so familiar with the symptoms, causes, and myths surrounding eczema (or you just simply want to go through all the painful details again), allow us to give you a quick lowdown on all the important things you need to know.
5 Quick Facts About Eczema: What You Need To Know
1. Eczema can appear anywhere on the body. In cases where it is specifically found on the face, it is categorised as facial eczema.
Eczema symptoms vary per person, but these are the most common ones to look out for:
- Dry, flakey, cracked skin
- Itching
- Swelling
- Rashes
- Small, raised bumps, typically on brow or black skin
- Thickened skin
- Sensitive skin surrounding the affected area
2. Eczema is triggered by certain factors.
Unfortunately for people with eczema, there is no exact explanation why some have it and others don’t. What we do know, though, is that it is caused by a variety of factors – genetics, an overactive immune system, and a specific list of triggers.
However, keep in mind: Eczema triggers look different per person, which is why it is important to keep track of things you’ve once had a negative experience with, especially ones that cause dry skin and itching. That way, you can adjust accordingly to avoid them in the future. Because more often than not, continuous scratching leads to flare ups, which is something you’ll want to avoid.
That said, below is a list of common triggers for eczema-prone skin:
- Heat and sweat
- Stress
- Dust mites
- Cleaning products
- Rough fabric
- Dry skin
- Skin infection
- Mould
- Pollen
- Tobacco smoke
- Dry air or cold weather
- Fragrances
- Irritating chemicals
- Certain foods, usually dairy products like cow’s milk and eggs (more common among infants and children)
3. Eczema is NOT contagious.
Contrary to what many may think, eczema is not a contagious skin disease. You cannot pick it up or pass it on through skin-to-skin contact, droplets of mucus, or any of those common forms of spreading viruses.
4. Eczema is a chronic condition.
This means it is a long-term skin condition that can affect people for years, or in some cases, for life. It typically appears as early as infancy and may continue into adulthood with no definitive date or assurance that the condition will ever disappear.
For some people, flare ups may suddenly stop and the skin may stay clear for several years, before coming back again down the road. Point is, the circumstances surrounding eczema may vary per person – the symptoms, the triggers, and how long they last. However, what remains true to all is this next fact:
5. Eczema cannot be cured, BUT it can be managed.
Like most chronic conditions, there is no permanent cure for eczema, nor is there a proven way to completely prevent flare ups. However, the good news is, there are tried-and-tested ways to manage eczema and its symptoms!
For one, avoiding triggers is a no-brainer. Don’t want your skin to act up? Then stay away from things that do!
A close second on the list of practical (and truthfully, obvious) tip to treat eczema is good, old-fashioned, TLC (for the skin, to be exact!), which is why we wrote this article in the first place. That said, let’s get to the burning question on everyone’s mind:
What is the Best Eczema Skin Care Routine?
For eczema-prone skin, there are 3 crucial things to take note of when crafting the best skincare routine. Everything you do should have the goal of:
- Retaining moisture (against dryness)
- Soothing the skin (against itching)
- Avoiding known irritations and using only safe, gentle skincare products and ingredients (against irritation)
Step 1: Shower with Lukewarm Water
Water is the easiest way to insert moisture back into the skin, which means daily showers are a must for eczema-prone skin. Use only lukewarm water (never hot water!), which helps the skin absorb moisture and consequent products.
Other important shower tips include:
- Staying away from anti-bacterial soaps and other harsh soaps as they may strip the skin’s natural oils.
- The shorter the bath time, the better! Preferably, not any longer than 10 minutes. We know this is hard to do after a long, stressful day, but do it for your skin, it’ll thank you later!
- Wash gently, which means saying goodbye to washcloths and loofahs.
- After showering, gently pat your body with a soft towel.
Step 2: Cleanse the Face
Use a gentle cleanser for eczema, preferably one that is soap-free, alcohol-free, and fragrance-free. Safe alternatives you may want to try are oil-based cleansers and pH balancing cleansers. Like showering (and all skincare steps for that matter), remember to PAT (not wipe!) the skin.
Step 3: Apply Topical Treatments (if needed)
Topical treatments like prescription creams are one of the most instant solutions for relieving symptoms and managing flare ups.
In case you’re experiencing an active flare up, dermatologists recommend applying a topical treatment BEFORE your daily moisturiser.
According to the National Eczema Association, common medications for eczema (most of which require a prescription) include anti-itch creams, topical steroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and topical PDE4 inhibitors.
Step 4: Moisturise
After showering the body and cleansing the face, apply moisturiser on damp skin, typically within 3 minutes as this helps lock in moisture in the skin barrier.
Do this at least twice a day to keep skin hydrated, especially during eczema flare ups when dryness and cracking are more prominent.
When choosing the right moisturiser for eczema, stick to only gentle ingredients, although still rich in moisturising properties. Good options are ointments, lotions, or creams containing:
- Aloe
- Glycerin
- Humectants
- Hyaluronic acid
- Niacinamide
- Oat
- Shea butter
- Vitamin E
Products with high oil content like petroleum jelly, mineral oil, and Vaseline are helpful as well.
Again, remember: If you’re using topical treatments simultaneously, make sure to apply your moisturiser AFTER your prescribed medication.
Step 5: Get Regular Facials
Alongside your daily skin care routine, squeezing in regular facials are great help in treating eczema and managing symptoms, especially dry, itchy, irritated skin. There are different kinds of facials that specifically target moisturisation, hydration, and holistic healing for overall healthy skin.
That said, here are the best facial treatments that you can try for eczema-prone skin, all of which we offer here at Lovoir Skin Body & Beauty.
Safe Facial Treatments for Eczema
Infusion Facials
Infusion Facials are a form of skin therapy using electroporation – an innovative technique that involves gentle electrical pulses to feed skin-friendly ingredients into deep skin layers. The goal is to trigger collagen production, revitalise the skin, and improve overall tone, texture, and complexion.
Eczema-prone skin can benefit from this type of facial as it helps reduce itching, dryness, and inflammation, while revitalising the skin with vitamin-infused skincare to prevent flare ups.
- Our Infusion Facials at Lovoir: Vitamin Infusion Facial
- How Often Should You Get an Infusion Facial for Eczema-Prone Skin: Once every four weeks.
Book a Vitamin Infusion facial here
Hydrating Facials
Hydrating Facials offer exactly what it suggests – hydration! Through a mixture of gentle ingredients, skincare steps, and massage techniques, their goal is to retain moisture in the skin and consequently, combat overly dry or overly oily skin, which are common signs of stressed skin. Also, just like any basic facial, they cleanse and unclog pores from dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and other acne-cause gunk.
- Our Hydrating Facial at Lovoir: Janesce Holistic Facials
- How Often Should You Get a Hydrating Facial for Eczema-Prone Skin: Once every two to four weeks.
Book a Janesce Holistic Facial here
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are a good option if you want all the skincare essentials of a classic facial, plus the added benefit of target specific skin conditions related to tone, texture, and complexion. They range from light, medium, and deep peels, each offering a different mix of ingredients and concentration of acids. Salicylic acid, in particular, is good for all skin types dealing with breakouts from stress and anxiety.
Whatever the case may be, for stress related skin conditions, make sure to let your skin therapist know the specific skin problem you want to address (dry skin, dull complexion, fine lines, wrinkles, etc) so they can suggest the best peel for you!
- Our Chemical Peels at Lovoir: O Cosmedics Peel
- How Often Should You Get a Chemical Peel for Eczema-Prone Skin: For light peels, once every one to two months. For medium peels, once every four to six months.
Book an O Cosmedics Peel here
Long Story Short: What is the Best Skin Treatment for Eczema?
Now, before anything, keep this important note in mind: No two eczema cases are exactly alike. Hence, no two skincare routines are alike as well – what works for others, may not work for you, and vice versa!
So while you incorporate these 5 easy steps into your skincare routine, continue keeping an eye out for things that suit you well, and what doesn’t. Experiment on different steps on routine, safe skincare ingredients, healthy meal plans, and the like.
Finding the best treatment plan for your eczema will require some trial and error, and that’s totally fine! Give yourself some grace, patience, and love – you’ll eventually settle into an eczema-friendly lifestyle that works best FOR YOU.
And with that, we end this article. We hope these skincare tips prove to work wonders for you!
If you’re ready to add regular facials to your skincare routine, feel free to check out our complete list of beauty treatments at Lovoir. You can also drop by the salon, and we’ll be happy to conduct a one-on-one consultation to discuss a treatment plan you’re comfortable with. Sounds good? See you soon!
Visit our Beauty Salon & Day Spa at Lovoir The Crossing:
