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Eczema is often caused by exposure to an allergen. Avoiding your personal triggers is the number one strategy for controlling flare-ups. If you know you are sensitive to certain substances, do your best to avoid them. Remember that the allergen does not need to come into contact with the affected skin. Your body can detect the allergen in one location and react with a flare up in a different place. Stress can increase flare-ups, so try to keep stress levels down. Learn techniques to keep you or your child more even throughout the day. Identify stressors. When your stress levels are running high, think about what's affecting them. Write about what makes you worried or excited, and think about what you can do to reduce the stress of that event. For instance, if you find your job stressful, maybe you can reduce stress by asking your boss if you can telecommute once a week. Try conscious breathing to calm yourself. Take a moment to close your eyes. Let your breathing fill up your mind. Focus on slow, deep breaths, and think only about your breathing. Keep focusing until you feel yourself calming down. Try animal sounds with your kids to meditate. Have them breathe in deeply while raising their arms. As they lower them, have them make extended sounds such as hissing or buzzing. This exercise helps them slow down their breathing and takes their mind off of what is stressing them out. Scratching will only make the rash worse. In fact, when eczema appears near the eyes, scratching can cause swelling, as well as make the skin red and puffy. Scratching can also cause you to lose part of your eyebrows and eyelashes. If you or your child scratches at night, try wearing gloves or trimming your fingernails to help reduce the problem. Over-the-counter antihistamines, such as loratadine and fexofenadine, can help control the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. Because this disease is related to other types of allergic reactions such as hay fever, antihistamines can provide relief, especially for the itching. Follow the directions for the antihistamine you chose. With most non-drowsy antihistamines, you take them once day. Begin a regimen when you have a flare-up. However, if you're having trouble sleeping because of your eczema, an antihistamine that caused drowsiness can be helpful to take at night. Allergens and irritants can contribute to flare-ups. Sometimes changing a product such as laundry detergent or soap may help in treatment of eczema. Attempt to isolate what causes you issues by slowly switching out products to help determine what bothers you. While you are having a flare-up, it's best to skip make-up altogether. It may help to keep a diary recording the food, perfume, scents, and other substances you come into contact with, along with the eczema flare-ups you experience. Look for patterns in the substances you contact in the days before a flare-up. You can visit an allergy specialist to help identify your allergies. The face and eye area can be especially problematic because so many products are applied in this area, particularly on women. Sunscreen, make-up, soaps, and fragrances can all cause flare-ups. While food allergies have a specific definition (they cause an immediate reaction), foods can contribute to flare-ups. Most common allergens are found in peanuts, egg, milk, fish, rice, soy and wheat. If you're breastfeeding a child with eczema, you should avoid tree nuts, as you can pass them to your child. When washing your face, choose a soap that has a high fat content, rather than one that dries out your face. Also, pick one that is unscented. Skip soaps that are antibacterial, as they can dry out your skin. Also, avoid soaps that have alpha-hydroxy acid, as it can also remove moisture from your skin. Look for cleansers that say "gentle" and "fragrance-free." Too much hot water and soap can make eczema worse, especially in the delicate skin around the eyes. Lower the temperature of the water and wash less frequently, or take baths without soaking the affected skin. Hot, dry air can irritate your skin and make itching and flaking worse. If necessary, run a humidifier to add moisture to the air. This goes from anything from hot showers to direct sunlight, to hot climates. Use lukewarm water when you shower or wash your face. Avoid hot water, which can irritate your sensitive skin. Don't spent too much time in hot weather; the heat can easily irritate your skin and cause more inflammation.
Avoid known allergens. Keep stress levels at a minimum. Don't scratch. Take an antihistamine. Identify allergens and irritants. Avoid certain foods. Pick a soap that is extra moisturizing. Avoid frequent baths and showers. Use a humidifier. Keep your skin away from sunlight and extreme heat.