- Avoid excessive bathing or showering. Limit time in the bath or shower to 10-15 minutes. Avoid harsh soaps and cleansers. Use soap-free cleansers or Oilatum Soap followed by liberal application of an emollient. Gently pat skin dry with a soft towel – do not rub vigorously. Apply an emollient, such as Oilatum Emollient, as soon as possible after bathing. This will help to ‘lock in’ as much moisture as possible. If you suffer from broken skin the you may want to try the Dermol range.
Keep fingernails short to prevent damage while scratching. Young children can wear cotton mittens to stop them scratching in their sleep.
- Wear gloves – they keep hands protected from cold in winter and reduce exposure to irritating chemicals, such as when cleaning.
- Try to wear cotton or other soft fabrics. Avoid rough, scratchy fibres such as wool and tight clothing that can rub the skin. Wash clothes in detergents without perfumes or colours.
- Protect the skin from the sun – UV light damages it, causing: wrinkles; dry, rough skin; liver spots; and even skin cancer. For children you can try the Sunsense Toddler Milk.
- Learn to identify eczema triggers and try to avoid them.
- Keep room humidity as high as possible. Avoid hot, dry atmospheres and extremes of temperature and humidity.
- Drink plenty of water – hydrating from the inside helps stop skin drying out.
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet – vitamins A and C are particularly important for healthy skin or other specialist skin supplements.
- Quit smoking – smoking accelerates skin ageing and increases wrinkles.