How The Air Triggers Eczema Flare-ups
The air around you may be the culprit behind some of your eczema rashes. Yes, you heard us right.
Eczema control goes beyond eating right and applying the right lotions. This is how the air around you is triggering your eczema flare-ups:
Your genes are reacting to airborne elements. Eczema is a genetic skin condition and when you come in contact with bad air, your eczema genes react by triggering flare-ups. This article goes into deeper depth on this topic if you’re curious.
Pollution is in all of our air all of the time. Since these unnatural elements are constantly coming into contact with your body, they start to put oxidative stress on your skin. This stress weakness your skin, allowing toxins through the barrier and in turn causes immune issues. Because people with eczema already have sensitive, weak skin, these air toxins do more damage compared to those without eczema.
Lastly, the climate you are living in also triggers your eczema. The dry, cold seasons stress your skin, the warm and wet ones also stress your skin. Each season brings a new battle, but there are some areas of the country that are more forgiving to those with skin conditions Some cities that are considered friendly to those with eczema are Denver, Atlanta, Raleigh and San Francisco, where we’re based. These areas have less extreme weather and more balance humidity levels, making it the perfect place for sensitive skin. The worst area of the country is the Northeast according to many eczema-suffering Americans.
Understanding why the air and other allergens trigger flare-ups is the first step to regaining complete control over your condition. Think of eczema control as a 3-way process: Skin, Food and Air. Monitoring each step is key to healthy skin.
So what are some ways to cope with eczema?
- Use a daily lotion that doesn’t contain petroleum, lanolin, scents and other chemical you think your skin is sensitive to.
- The same thing goes for makeup, chapstick and soaps. Read the label of everything you’re rubbing onto your skin to check for triggers.
- Eat a healthy diet and take note of which foods trigger flare-ups so you can avoid them.
- Drink the recommended amount of water each day to keep your skin hydrated. If your office or home air system keeps the room dry, make sure to moisturize as needed.
- If it is the winter and having the heat on makes your air really dry, try sleeping with a humidifier to keep your skin hydrated throughout the night.
- Take a daily dose of flaxseed which helps reduce flare-ups.
- Ensure your home and office air is clean and rid of toxins that trigger rashes.
- Try using talcum powder on the areas you get rashes during the summer and other humid months. The powder will absorb moisture to decrease flare-ups.
- If your eczema is really bad and can’t be controlled with other methods, as a last resort consider moving to a climate that is much more forgiving to your skin.
There is no cure for eczema since it’s a genetic condition, but understanding how and why your flare-ups happen is a good start to being able to manage your sensitive skin. The air around you plays a much bigger role in skin health than people realize.
