When you have a flare of atopic dermatitis or eczema, it’s hard to think of anything else due to the constant itching. Your doctor may prescribe medications, but they are not always enough to provide relief. Here are some things you can try at home to improve this condition.
The right moisturizers. If you have moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, moisturizer is your skin’s best friend. The best options are thick creams or ointments such as petroleum jelly. Apply them at least twice a day, including right after you take a bath or shower. Avoid lotions, which contain more water and aren't as good at keeping skin hydrated. Check online for a list of moisturizers approved by the National Eczema Association.
Short showers. Keep them less than 10 to 15 minutes. Longer ones can dry out your skin. Water should be lukewarm. Use unscented, mild soaps or non-soap cleansers.
Bleach baths. It may sound strange, but bleach can kill bacteria linked to skin infections in atopic dermatitis. Add a quarter-cup to a half-cup of bleach to a full bath. Soak in it for 5 to 10 minutes, then follow with your favorite moisturizer.
Fragrance-free skin care products. If they contain fragrance, they can cause your atopic dermatitis to flare up. Only use products that say on their label that they are fragrance-free. Avoid products that claim to be unscented because they may contain a masked fragrance that can worsen your symptoms. You should also test all fragrance-free products before you use them. Apply a small amount to an area of your skin that doesn’t have atopic dermatitis. Leave it on for 24 hours. If it remains clear, it’s most likely safe to use.
Cotton clothing. It’s less irritating than other fabrics and lets your skin breathe. It’s a good idea to also use 100% cotton towels and sheets. Avoid tight clothing, and don’t wear wool next to your skin. When you buy new clothing, remove all the tags, and wash it before you wear it with a fragrance-free, dye-free detergent.
Oatmeal. You can add colloidal oatmeal to your bath or apply it to your skin directly as a paste to help relieve itching. You can also buy a moisturizer that contains oatmeal. (Look for one that has the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association on its label.)
Wet wraps. If you have a bad flare of atopic dermatitis, wet wrap therapy can help relieve itching and make topical medications work better. Use them after you take a bath or shower and apply your topical medication. Moisten clean white gauze in warm water, then wrap the moist dressing around the affected areas. Gently wrap a dry layer such as pajamas or a sweatsuit over the wet one. (If your atopic dermatitis is on your feet or hands, use cotton gloves or socks as the wet layer, and vinyl gloves or plastic wrap as the dry layer.) Leave the wet wraps on for several hours or overnight.
Stress management. When you’re anxious, your body responds by making more stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. But if you make too much, it can cause an inflammatory response in your skin that worsens your atopic dermatitis. Research has found a link between perceived stress and atopic dermatitis. One thing that might help is deep breathing. Research has found that when people with atopic dermatitis took an 8-week meditation course that met once a week for 2 hours, they reported improvements in their itching.
Vitamin D supplement. It’s thought that vitamin D helps your body’s immune response, suppresses inflammation, and promotes a stronger skin barrier, which in turn improves atopic dermatitis symptoms. But more research is needed to figure out the exact amounts to take. Talk to your doctor about whether you should take a supplement and at what dose.
Consistent temperatures. Sudden changes in temperature – entering a toasty warm house in the winter, or an icy air-conditioned one in the summer – can worsen itching. Try to avoid the hot-cold-hot-cold cycle as much as possible. At home, keep rooms at a consistent temperature, and not too hot or too cold. This will also prevent air from becoming too dry, which can trigger an eczema flare. (If your home is very dry, rather than invest in a humidifier, which can encourage a rise in allergens like dust mites, place a bowl of water in each room to increase humidity.)
Gloves. Since water can worsen atopic dermatitis, wear them whenever you do chores like washing dishes. In warmer months, wear cotton gloves under plastic gloves to absorb sweat, and wear gloves outside in the winter to protect your hands.
A healthy diet. There’s some evidence that eating fruit helps protect against atopic dermatitis. Research shows that eating at least three servings a week can help make symptoms less severe. But fast food worsened atopic dermatitis.
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SOURCES:
UpToDate: “Patient Education: Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis): Beyond the Basics,” “Atopic Dermatitis: Treatment.”
American Academy of Dermatology: “Atopic Dermatitis.”
Practical Dermatology: “D as for Delta: The Changing Views of Vitamin D in Dermatology.”
National Eczema Association: “Bathing and Eczema; Bathing, Moisturizer, and Wet Wraps,” “Get the Facts: Vitamin D,” “Eczema in Winter,” “The Efficacy of Meditation for the Treatment of Chronic Pruritus.”
International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health: “Association of Perceived Stress with Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Population-Based Study in Korea.”
Cleveland Clinic: “Eczema: Atopic Dermatitis.”
Thorax: “Do Fast Foods Cause Asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis, and Eczema? Global Findings from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase Three.”
