If you consistently notice dry, irritated, flaky, itchy, or red skin, you could be suffering from a skin condition known as eczema. Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions, so don’t panic if you think you have it. Its exact cause is unknown, but it’s believed that genetics and the environment play a big role in causing eczema.
What are the symptoms of eczema?
Symptoms can look different for everyone, but typically, you’ll see really itchy skin, sometimes so severe that it causes inflammation or bleeding. Your skin will also feel generally dry, sensitive, flaky, and you may have some discoloration and swelling.
Another thing to remember is that eczema can appear in flare-ups and may not be a constant thing for your skin, or it may develop later in life.
What ingredients should I avoid if I have eczema?
-Fragrances: Your favorite fragrance can actually cause your skin to become irritated, especially if you already have sensitive skin. It’s best to avoid fragrance in your skincare routine if you have eczema.
-Retinoids: The ability of retinoids to exfoliate the skin and increase the rate of cell turnover can be great for anti-aging and acne, but for sensitive skin or eczema, it can cause increased dehydration and irritation.
-AHAs/BHAs: Similar to retinol, these chemical exfoliants can cause skin to become irritated and dry. It’s best to avoid using these in excess or at all if you have severe eczema.
What ingredients should I use if I have eczema?
Ceramides: As the skin becomes dry and itchy, it loses much needed moisture in the skin, which causes your skin’s moisture barrier to become damaged or irritated, leaving it vulnerable to irritants that can lead to eczema flare ups. Ceramides help to repair the moisture barrier and hold in moisture, helping to lock in hydration and decrease inflammation.
Product Recommendations:
-Replenix Restorative Nighttime Bio-Therapy uses ceramides, peptides, stem cells, antioxidants and more to restore and renew irritated and inflamed skin for softer and healthier skin.
-Elta MD Barrier Renewal Complex is formulated with ceramides, squalane, and biotin to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated and eczema-free.
Shea Butter: Shea Butter is rich in Vitamins A & E, along with fatty acids to keep the skin hydrated and protected from irritation.
Product Recommendations:
-Syndaghi Repair & Renew Sensitive Skin and Recovery Cream is formulated with shea butter and peptides to nourish and moisturize skin to reduce eczema flare-ups and create healthier and softer skin.
-La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra is formulated with shea butter, glycerin, dimethicone and squalane to soothe irritated skin and heal damage.
Niacinamide: Also known as Vitamin B3, niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties to soothe inflammation and works to repair and nourish irritated skin. It also can stimulate the production of ceramides, which help to soothe eczema flare-ups.
Product Recommendations:
-Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains niacinamide, probiotics, prebiotics, and multiple natural extracts to provide the skin with a boost of reparative nutrients and repair the barrier of the skin.
-Sente Ultralight Defense Moisturizer has niacinamide, dimethicone and other natural extracts to keep the skin moisturized while providing antioxidant benefits.
Glycerin: Derived from vegetable oil, glycerin is known to attract and trap water in the skin. This helps to keep the skin hydrated and supple and decrease the amount of itchy, dry patches caused by eczema.
Product Recommendations:
-Neova Daily Moisture Rescue has amino acids and peptides in addition to glycerin to help enhance moisture retention in the skin and help to encourage a stronger skin barrier and help to relieve dry and inflamed skin.
-DCL Ultra Comfort Cream has glycerin and is specifically formulated for those suffering from conditions like eczema and psoriasis to relieve redness and soothe irritation.
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