Everything I did to Manage My Eczema: Daily Routine & Product Recommendations
I have lived with eczema my entire life
Here is my step by step routine when I have flareups.
Step one- Oatmeal Soak:
My eczema care routine begins with a bath. Depending on your skin type you may opt for a shower, but I have grown to tremendously love my oatmeal baths.
For some ambiance I try to transform my apartment bathroom into a tranquil spa. I like a candle, I set up my laptop to watch my favourite show, and dim the lights.
I make an oatmeal bath by putting the loose oatmeal in pantyhose. This makes for an easy clean up when I'm finished.
I spend no more than half an hour in the tub, this has proven to be the sweet spot for my skin, any longer can cause more irritation.
Step two- Cleaning:
While in the tub, dove products are my holy grail. I opt for the dove sensitive skin bar, sensitive skin body wash, or dove dryness relief wash. I love these products because they do not strip my skin or feel harsh, but I still leave the tub feeling squeaky clean.
For days when I have more time, and want an even more luxurious experience, I’ll add coconut milk to my bath.
Step three- Body care:
For my routine body care is the most crucial step. This step has its own order and routine. While I’m applying these products I like to incorporate mindfulness and positive affirmations, as I sometimes struggle to love my eczema-prone skin.
After bathing I rarely use a towel, I let the oatmeal or coconut milk infused water linger on my skin, and layer products on top to trap the moisture.
I start with baby oil gel. A lot of people will use this product last, but I find it absorbs the water most effectively, so on bath or shower days, I use the gel first. I lather the gel all over my body, then I let myself air dry a little before leaving the bathroom. To keep myself busy and avoid boredom, I’ll use this time to wash the gel off my hands, brush my teeth and do my skincare routine.
The next product I layer on is Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Creme. Out of the many, many, eczema products I have used Eucerin is easily my most treasured brand. Packed with oatmeal and ceramides, this lotion is magic on my skin.
On area’s of my body with especially bad flare ups, I’ll add Eucerin Relief Hydrogel. It cures my itchiness.
To finalize my body care, I’ll lather on Aquaphor or Vaseline or any petroleum jelly to seal in everything I have just applied. Then I’ll put on a clean pair of comfortable sweatpants and a long sleeve tee, so none of the products transfer to my bed or furniture.
Step Four- Prevent Itching in My Sleep
I can’t count the times I have woken up feeling utterly defeated because I have realized I have been scratching at my skin all night. The hydro-gel is certainly helpful, but I am not willing to part with my long nails, so I needed to come up with a different solution.
In addition to my body care routine, I’ll also complete a hand care routine. This helps especially in the winter when my hands get particularly cracked and dry.
I like to do this step in bed, right before I sleep so I know I won’t have to use my hands for the rest of the night and can lather on my products.
I start with clean hands, and an ultra-hydrating hand cream. I use La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Hand Cream for Dry and Cracked Hands. Eczema friendly!
Next I use a cuticle and nail oil to wake up with a salon quality manicure. I like OPI or Sally Hansen.
The final product I use is Aquaphor, to seal all the goodness in.
The final measure I take is sleeping with cotton gloves. It locks in all of the products I’ve used for better absorption, and protects my bed-sheets. Most importantly, I cannot scratch my body in my sleep. No more waking up with worse flare ups and scabbed skin!
Step Five- Treating From the Inside Out
If topical aren’t enough then I’ll add some supplements to help support treating my eczema.
Antihistamines, or over the counter allergy pills can help with the itchiness.
Fish oil supplements have been a part of my long term treatment plan, to help combat inflammation. Less inflammation equals less flare ups.
My go to fish oil supplement:
Step Six- Use a Humidifier
I absolutely love my humidifier. Living in Canada, facing harsh winters, with skin that was designed to thrive in hot sticky weather, my humidifier has been my savior. Your skin will thank you for adding extra moisture to dry air.
You can also make your home smell amazing by adding a few drops of essential oil into your humidifier.
Step Seven- Hypoclorous Acid Spray
My secret weapon and biggest game change has been Hypochlorous acid spray. The solution removes bacteria without stripping away your skin the way soap would. It reduces inflammation and itchiness. I use the spray several times throughout the day. Anytime I desperately need to itch my skin, I’ll use this spray instead and wait just five minutes. By the time five minutes is up, I am no longer in despair, no longer needing to scratch.
Step Eight- Clean clothes with scent free detergent
As a lover of scent beads and the smell of laundry detergent, parting with my amazing smelling fresh laundry, I was initially sad to part with my detergent. That was until I noticed the fantastic effects, the scented products I was using was irritating my skin, and I was so thankful after the fact that I made the swap.
