How to Reduce Eczema Inflammation: Effective Tips & Treatments
When eczema occurs, “the immune system stays unnecessarily triggered, and it can cause inflammatory conditions," says Angela Ballard, RN, a registered nurse with over 25 years of clinical experience specializing in dermatology and eczema care. She has contributed extensively to the National Eczema Association (NEA), where she has authored numerous articles and research papers on eczema management and treatment. Without proper treatments, these symptoms trigger flare-ups and lead to discomfort on your skin. It’s time to consider how to reduce eczema inflammation from experts.
Our blog will clarify the science of eczema inflammation and show common ways to reduce eczema. Right now, keep scrolling to find out more!
Why is Your Eczema So Inflamed?
Inflammation is not always a bad thing. It can help protect your body from infections thanks to its ability to release antibodies and good bacteria. However, with eczema, your immune system overreacts to harmful substances like irritants and allergens, causing chronic inflammation.
At that time, your skin barrier is prone to be sensitive to everything, potentially leading to redness, swelling, and itching. You might suffer from the intensity of eczema flare-ups and long-term skin damage. That’s why a professional guide on how to reduce eczema inflammation is so essential.
Treatment
It would help if you prioritized balancing your regular moisturizing and self-care routines for long-term eczema improvements. However, topical medications may be necessary if your symptoms are severe. If so, consider our suggestions below for the best results
1. Medications
Topical medications, like corticosteroids, contain calcineurin inhibitors (e.g., tacrolimus, pimecrolimus) that can help control itching and limit inflammation. However, long-term use of corticosteroids potentially causes side effects, including Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). You might suffer from skin thinning, high blood pressure, diabetes, and difficulty sleeping. To reach more promising ways to reduce eczema inflammation, many doctors have started prescribing anti-inflammatory pills, injectable biologics, or CBD formulas (both oral and topical). You can also use these options to heal skin wounds and other typical skin disorders.
2. Therapies
Some dermatologists encourage using skin therapies to prevent eczema flare-ups. Depending on your health and preferences, you can select multiple options, such as wet dressings (fabric wraps soaked in water and applied to the affected skin on the body that is best done after bathing, moisturizing, and applying medication), light therapy, relaxation, and biofeedback (a type of mind-body technique you use to control some of your body's functions, such as your heart rate, breathing patterns, and muscle responses).
Light therapy (phototherapy) is currently an attractive option. This involves exposing the skin to natural or artificial UV light to soften skin inflammation.
3. Skin Care at Home
Learning how to reduce eczema inflammation with healthy home skincare (fabric wraps soaked in water and applied to the affected skin on the body) is best done after bathing, moisturizing, and applying the medication, and the regimen is easy. In your daily routine, you should prefer gentle, fragrance-free products. Don’t forget to use moisturizers to keep your skin hydrated all the time.
Currently, products that contain natural, anti-inflammatory properties attract more patients with eczema. Some tests demonstrate the benefits of applying these products, including no side effects and long-term improvements. That’s why Phoilex released their Active ReLeaf Spot Gel, an herbal gel-cream that soothes and moisturizes irritated skin.
Phoilex’s Active ReLeaf Spot Gel is a unique combination of ceramides, a proprietary, Phyto-Active Blend™, a Triple-Acting Vitamin D3 complex, natural oil and emollients, and CBD. All of these ingredients work well to ensure the best results in improving and enhancing the skin barrier without side effects.
Besides that, you need to maintain a daily bathing and showering habit to reduce the accumulation of pollen and mold on your body. You should only soak your skin in lukewarm water for 5 to 10 minutes.
More Tips to Reduce Inflammation at Home
A healthy lifestyle can benefit your holistic health and well-being and directly help eczema control. For the best modifications, refer to the 11 doctor-approved tips below.
- Prioritize and optimize sleep: To nurture your circadian rhythm, focus on improving your sleep quality. Some measurable solutions include avoiding mobile devices before bed, staying consistent with sleep, and maintaining soothing bedtime rituals.
- Stay active: To reduce eczema inflammation effectively**,** start practicing exercises today. For people with eczema, exercise can dry out the skin through the loss of fluids, and the sodium in sweat can further dehydrate the skin as well as sting and irritate it. Yoga, meditation, or cardio can greatly benefit your skin health. Yoga, meditation, or cardio can greatly benefit your skin health.
- Eat more whole foods: If you seek how to reduce eczema inflammation on face, entire foods are the best options. With their anti-inflammatory properties, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits can effectively soothe your face’s red patches.
- Consume more flavonoid antioxidants: Flavonoids rich in foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, and red peppers contain many antioxidant properties. These partly reduce eczema inflammation and buildup within skin cells. Additionally, flavonoids have wound-healing abilities that can contribute to healing eczema symptoms.
- Incorporate more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet: You should add omega-3 sources such as salmon, flaxseed oil, walnuts, or tuna to your daily diet. Many studies found their significant roles in strengthening your skin texture. Fish oil helps reduce leukotriene B4, an inflammatory substance that plays a role in eczema.
- Use spices: These options are called “anti-inflammatory antioxidant seasonings,” mainly derived from cinnamon, turmeric, coriander, ginger, and cloves.
- Take probiotics: Incorporating probiotic-rich foods such as kimchi, yogurt, kombucha, and tempeh into your diet may help improve overall gut health, which is believed to play a role in skin conditions like eczema. You can also consider probiotic supplements to support skin hydration and balance.
- Limit alcohol: Research shows that alcohol can exacerbate eczema symptoms by increasing inflammation and itchiness. Reducing alcohol intake is crucial for maintaining healthier skin and preventing flare-ups.
- Avoid smoking and tobacco use: Smoking can increase the risks of developing eczema and other skin disorders in both children and adults. If you find it difficult to quit, reach out to your doctor for the best advice.
- Enjoy the morning sunlight: Moderate doses of UV-B in sunlight can help enhance the skin barrier and the ability to protect against antimicrobials. Also, this experience can improve the quality of sleep.
- Manage stress: Manage stress: Combat eczema-inducing stress through proven techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and gentle yoga. Or consider using Phoilex’s Liverty Dynamic Drops, a tincture that targets internal inflammation in the skin with vitamins and antioxidants, bringing stress relief.
When to See The Doctor?
Once you follow how to reduce eczema inflammation without significant skin improvements at home, it’s time to see the doctor. You should actively note all treatments you have tried and mention any existing symptoms on your skin. This will help the doctor comprehensively understand your medical condition.
Healthcare providers usually prescribe stronger medications, such as steroids, biologics, or oral drugs, to manage severe cases. In addition, they encourage following healthy habits that focus on sleep quality and skin comfort.
Reduce Eczema Inflammation in Your Everyday Life with Phoilex!
Our blog has just instructed you on how to reduce eczema inflammation with several tips and tricks from experts. You can apply medications flexibly, use skin therapies, or even a skincare regimen to improve your eczema symptoms and skin health. However, seeking medical help is best to reach more personalized and safer treatments.
To learn more about skincare and eczema-controlling tips, explore the rest of Phoilex’s website!
FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions and short answers to clarify concerns about eczema inflammation.
1. Can Eczema Be Caused By Inflammation?
Definitely. Inflammation might put your skin at risk of eczema flare-ups, potentially contributing to severe symptoms like itching, redness, and irritations.
2. How Do Doctors Reduce Inflammation In Eczema?
Doctors usually prescribe steroid ointments or antihistamines to soothe inflamed skin. They also encourage you to practice exercises to prevent stress, a common flare-up trigger.
3. How Long Does It Take for Eczema Inflammation To Go Away?
Your eczema inflammation might disappear in several weeks, depending on your specific medical condition and types of treatments you're using. However, healing times vary, and there's no universal timeline for complete resolution.
References:
- National Eczema Association. (2013). Eczema Causes & Triggers | National Eczema Association. National Eczema Association. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/causes-and-triggers-of-eczema/
- Moncayo-Hida, J. (2023, June 20). 11 Ways to Avoid Inflammation in Your Everyday Life If You Have Eczema. National Eczema Association. https://nationaleczema.org/blog/ways-to-avoid-inflammation-if-have-eczema/
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2017, May 24). Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) Treatment | NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Www.niaid.nih.gov. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/eczema-treatment