What to Do About Severe Eczema
Skin problems are no minor matter; ask anyone that suffers from acne, dry skin, shingles, and things like this and they’ll no doubt agree that they’re more than just uncomfortable. These problems, along with severe eczema, can be painful, embarrassing, and even dangerous to one’s health.
Any time the skin cracks and bleeds, this means it’s vulnerable to infections, germs, bacteria, and other harmful elements affecting not just the skin but one’s internal system as well. So what can you do about severe eczema?
The first thing you need to consider if you have severe eczema is whether or not your skin is exposed to anything that might irritate it and cause this type of reaction. Common elements that cause dermatitis include dust, dirt, pollutants, pet dander, and cigarette smoke.
Chemicals such as in styling products and cleansers are also common culprits. Do you work in a salon or as a janitor? Do you work in an environment that is full of cigarette smoke? Is it very dirty and dusty, such as at a construction site or manufacturing environment?
These things all typically result in severe eczema for some people. You may have easily dismissed these causes because you may be the only person that suffers from this condition, but remember that everyone’s body chemistry is different.
Another person may have more oils on their skin that help to protect from these elements and you may have a tendency toward dry skin in the first place. Just because you’re the only person at work with severe eczema doesn’t mean that it’s not your place of employment that’s causing it!
If you believe that any of these irritants are causing your severe eczema then you can of course take steps to protect yourself. Wearing gloves while at work helps tremendously. You can also use thick lotion or petroleum jelly since this forms a barrier between your skin and those outside elements. When it comes to cigarette smoke and pet dander, you may need to consider these things if you’re the one smoking and they’re your pets.
Stopping smoking and getting rid of pets may be a worthy trade if it means no longer suffering from severe eczema. If you’re not willing to go that far, think about changes you can make – buy some smokeless ashtrays or go outside to smoke so you’re not cooped up with the smoke settling around you. Wash your furniture regularly to get rid of pet dander and give your pets regular baths. A central vacuum system might also be good if it means no longer dealing with severe eczema.
And if these changes don’t fix the problem, it’s time to talk to your doctor. He or she can prescribe lotions and creams that are meant specifically for cases of severe eczema. For allergic reactions, you may also need to consider some allergy medication that will help to control the flare-ups of dermatitis and lessen your cases when it does return.