Skincare Regimen for Eczema: Daily Routine & Tips to Follow
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that leaves the skin dry, red, and itchy. It can lead to long-term inflammation and affect the skin’s protective function. The basic treatment, as mentioned in the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) includes a “daily skincare regimen for eczema with moisturizing and lipid-replenishing products."
If so, what are the best skincare products for eczema? The answer depends on your eczema type and symptoms, as each requires a tailored routine. This blog will guide you through key considerations to help you confidently start your eczema skincare journey.
Daily Routine Example
Each patient has a distinctive skin condition with unique sensitivities and needs. Thus, it’s essential to personalize your daily eczema skincare routine. Despite that, whatever regimen you try, consider three basic steps: cleaning, treatment, and moisturizing. Let’s explore some examples below to see what experienced dermatologists recommend:
1. Morning routine
Your skincare regimen for eczema should include a non-irritating cleanser to soften itchy patches and protect against drying out your skin. After that, use water to remove all the foam and a soft towel to pat your skin dry. However, avoid hot water on your eczema - potentially stripping the skin’s natural oils.
Next, nourish your skin with eczema skincare products (creams, lotions, or gel products rich in emollients and natural moisturizing factors). Finally, apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to protect your skin from UV light.
2. Throughout the day
During the day, bring gentle soaps to help protect your skin effectively. If your skin feels dry, apply an additional layer of lotion or moisturizing cream. Also, remember to reapply sunscreen wherever you stay every 4 to 6 hours.
3. Nighttime routine
At night, you need to implement a skincare eczema routine that can soothe and nurture your skin after a hard working day. Similarly, you can use a cleanser to remove the dirt, makeup, and impurities from the skin. Then, ensure your skin is moisturized enough with proper products.
Things You Should Do to Take Care of Eczema-Prone Skin
Your skincare regimen for eczema should include several healthy habits. Let’s review our suggestions to set you up for the best results.
- Washing and bathing with eczema: You can wash your skin daily, but keep it ideally for 10 to 15 minutes. The water temperature should also be lukewarm, as exposure to hot water might worsen eczema-prone skin.
- Moisturize immediately: After showering and bathing, use moisturizers right away. You can consider multiple skincare products for eczema, with the addition of emollients, humectants, and occlusives that can help nourish your skin.
- Consider a bleach bath: Adding bleach to the tub can reduce inflammation by killing harmful bacteria on your skin. The National Eczema Association recommends a half cup of bleach to a full-water bathtub. However, it’s important to consult with a dermatologist for personalized advice.
- Try out gloves: If you have dry and itchy hands, apply your favorite emollient or moisturizer to your hands, then slip on gloves to hold the moisture in all night. This helps keep the moisturizer from coming off and benefits patients who usually scratch in their sleep.
- Always use sunscreen: Layering sunscreen daily is necessary not only for your skincare eczema routine but also for any exposed skin. This product contains essential ingredients to prevent UV light and the risk of expanding eczema symptoms.
- Treat eczema: Topical steroids are highly recommended to control eczema symptoms. However, many prefer CBD skincare products for eczema or natural therapy as safer alternatives, such as the Phoilex Active ReLeaf Spot Gel.
- Protect skin with clothing: Besides sunscreen, you can protect your skin by choosing clothes made from natural fibers such as cotton and linen, and avoid materials like polyester that might trigger eczema flare-ups.
Tips for Building Your Eczema Skincare Routine
It is not easy to develop a healthy and effective skincare regimen for eczema. Below are our tips to help you make it easy.
What to Include
First and foremost, consider moisturizers. In fact, not all moisturizers benefit your skin and even lead to more severe damage. That’s when you need to know what can irritate you and your skin's sensitivity level.
In your skincare regimen for eczema, you can start with gentle and fragrance-free products. Creams and ointments should be your first choices, thanks to their higher oil and emollient content than lotions. Be sure to consult your dermatologist to determine the most suitable topical treatments for your skin's specific needs.
What to Avoid
it's important to know what to avoid in your eczema skincare routine. Specifically, steer clear of the following:
- Don’t shower or bathe for more than 10 minutes;
- Keep away from both natural (including essential oils) and synthetic fragrances;
- Avoid products with allergic triggers (e.g., urea, lanolin, retinoids, ethanol, and essential oils) and a high pH.
How to choose the right eczema skincare product?
When choosing the best skincare products for eczema, consider a few things. Pay attention to the following:
- Cleansers: Gentle cleansers tend to come with words like sensitive skin, fragrance-free, soap-free, and moisturizing on their packaging and claims. Look for ingredients that contain the word “glucoside” since they are the most mild and non-irritating. Check their ingredient profiles for further information.
- Moisturizers: To soften your eczema-prone skin, consider moisturizers with higher oil and emollients such as jojoba oil, tamanu oil, oat oil, squalene, etc. Additionally, look for words like “itch relief,” “healing,” and “eczema relief”.
- Cosmetic skincare: Be cautious of using cosmetics and facial acids due to their potential side effects. These products might cause redness and irritation, which could be related to eczema flare-ups.
- Fragrances: Some individuals are prone to being allergic to fragrances, which can lead to severe skin conditions, including eczema. It is recommended to start with fragrance-free skincare products to err on the safe side.
- Natural skincare products: Some herbal or natural-origin ingredients, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties, can help control eczema. For best results, choose diligently tested products from experts.
Which Products Are Most Suitable in Different Situations?
No precise study supports certain products that work better than others in managing eczema. Skincare products for eczema will vary depending on your symptoms, personal preferences, and your skin’s level of sensitivity.
Phoilex has released two products with herbal, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties to help reduce eczema symptoms. In particular:
- Active ReLeaf Spot Gel: Combining ceramides, a Triple-Acting Vitamin D3 Complex, and a unique Phyto-Active Blend™, this spot gel can instantly soothe irritation and remove rough patches.
- Liverty Dynamic Drops: This tincture includes MCT oil, lemon peel oil, tocopherols, and anti-inflammatory antioxidant herbal extracts—all of which deliver healthy compounds to your skin. To help nourish healthy skin and prevent eczema flare-ups effectively, you should orally ingest 1mL of the drops daily in the morning or evening.
Choose Natural and Organic Options at Phoilex!
Our latest blog shares valuable tips for building an effective skincare regimen for eczema. Always remember to consult with your doctor first when embarking on a new skincare routine. When selecting skincare products, choose fragrance-free and hypoallergenic options to help prevent unexpected reactions and keep your skin comfortable.
Whether you’re dealing with severe flare-ups, Phoilex has the solutions you need. Discover everything you need to know about treating eczema effectively with our expert tips and products right here at our Phoilex website.
References:
- National Library of Medicine. (2024). National center for biotechnology information. Nih.gov; National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
- Atopic dermatitis: Bleach bath therapy. (2024). Aad.org. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/childhood/itch-relief/bleach-bath
- Information, N. C. for B., Pike, U. S. N. L. of M. 8600 R., MD, B., & Usa, 20894. (2017). Skincare for eczema. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424900/
- How to use baths to manage your eczema. (n.d.). National Eczema Association. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/treatment/bathing/