Like many eczema patients, I endured eczema as a child and teenager, but it peaked in my adulthood and resulted in avery low point in my life. Fortunately dark turned to light, and my skin began to cool off and avoiding common eczema triggers was a large reason for this switch.
For many people like myself who suffer from eczema, there seems to be no apparent reason for a flare-up other than random bad luck, however there several factors that are known to aggravate eczema and some of the possible triggers and irritants are listed below with tips on how to avoid them. They include:
House Dust Mites
House dust mites thrive in moist and damp environments and feed on flakes of shed human skin. Dust mites are so small that you can't see them with the naked eye. They love to live in places such as your bed, furniture, soft toys, and carpets. There are various steps you can tke in order to get rid of dust mites:
- Use a dust mite cover for your mattress
- Buy a latex mattress which is mold and dust mite resistant
- Get rid of carpets and and have wooden floors
- Keep your house well ventilated
- Use Melaleuca products such as Melabrite, and Melapower detergent as well as Tub& Tile in the bathroom
Pets
Many people have an allergy to animals, causing problems such as asthma, wheezing, and runny nose just to name a few. It has been found that contact with animals can increase the risk of developing eczema. If this is the case then you should:
- Avoid having contact with animals, especially of the furry kind such as long-haired dogs and cats
- If you must have a dog, make sure that you shampoo him regularly
- Keep your house free from fur and dust
Toiletries and Detergents
Toiletries and detergents use thousands of different chemicals that include chlorine, phosphates, and deadly fillers; these harsh irritants can cause an allergic response. The best thing you can do is to avoid exposing yourself to these chemicals by avoiding over-the-counter consumer products. The mere fact that a company like Tide spends 8 billion dollars marketing one product is proof enough that something has to give, and that something is in the product ingredients. You can play defense by:
- Using Mela bars of soap which are milled and Melaleuca herbal shamppos which contain dimethicol and fruit extract
- Using products which are 100% fee of synthetic chemicals like Nicole Miller makeup instead of Max Factor or Mary Kay
- Washing clothes with Melapower which is a non-biological laundry product that is chlorine free and environmentally friendly as opposed to Biz
- Wear rubber gloves with a cotton lining when using brands other than Melaleuca when working in the kitchen or around the house
Other possible factors which may trigger symptoms include tobacco smoke, pollens, fungi, and extreme changes in temperatures.
P.S. Remember that although eczema cannot be cured as it is a genetic immune disorder, by avoiding tiggers, you can get back to living good life despite being afflicted with eczema.
