Advice for learning to live better with eczema.

Eczema is a skin inflammation that manifests itself through the formation of red patches on the skin, accompanied by an intense itching sensation. There is not one but several types of eczema. The most common is atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis. This is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. This dermatosis develops in individuals with a genetic predisposition to atopy. Atopic eczema primarily affects young children. It can disappear during puberty or, less commonly, in adulthood.

Please note : the termatopy refers to an individual's tendency to develop an allergic reaction to environmental elements (animal hair, dust, pollen, etc.), which do not cause problems for the rest of the population.

Individuals affected suffer from red patches that itch intensely and sometimes ooze, along with extremely dry skin (xerosis). Due to the chronic itching that these individuals endure, their skin thickens, a condition known as lichenification . The skin no longer performs its role as a barrier against infections, leading to an increased risk of bacterial and viral infections.

Eczema is a challenging condition to manage on a daily basis due to the symptoms it causes (itching and skin dryness). Beyond the physical and sleep disturbances, eczema is a disease with a significant psychological impact. Certain advice can help to better cope with this condition on a daily basis:

• Use emollients daily.

  Eczema arises from a malfunction of the skin barrier caused by a lack of sebum, lipid, and cell adhesion molecule production. Indeed, when this barrier is no longer waterproof, it allows water to evaporate and external elements to penetrate the epidermis.

  To improve the condition of atopic skin, emollients are key elements. These are emulsions with a predominantly oily phase (oil in water emulsion). The addition of fatty substances helps to compensate for the lack of lipid production in atopic skin.

  Dermatologist Dr. LEVY GAREL explains the importance of emollients: "In the management of atopic eczema, the role of emollients is very significant. By restoring the skin barrier, they limit the occurrence of flare-ups. The application of emollient on atopic skin should be done at least once a day."

  Thus, the use of an emollient is essential for atopic skin. This is applied once to several times a day depending on the patient's needs.

• Use suitable hygiene products.

  The shower can be a challenging experience for individuals suffering from eczema. Indeed, prolonged contact with water can weaken the epidermis. Therefore, it is essential to adopt a gentle routine to provide comfort to the skin.

  Firstly, we recommend taking lukewarm showers over baths to reduce the amount of time water is in contact with the skin. The water temperature should not be hot, as this can dry out the skin and increase inflammation. Regarding your hygiene care, turn to gentle superfatted soaps, free of irritating surfactants, soap-free, and with a neutral pH.

  For atopic skin, the ideal is a shower oil. This type of product gently cleanses the skin while soothing irritations and restoring the skin barrier. Thanks to the lipid-replenishing and moisturizing agents, the skin is nourished and protected. After showering, remember to apply your emollient to provide your skin with maximum comfort and restore its hydrolipidic film.

• Avoid exposure to irritating agents.

  As a reminder, atopic skin is skin that exhibits allergic reactions to environmental elements. Therefore, irritants should be avoided as much as possible.

  Regarding cosmetics, choose products with the simplest formulation that are suitable for atopic skin. The irritating cosmetics and those containing potentially allergenic substances (essential oils, certain preservatives...) should be avoided.

  The choice of clothing is also very important! Certain fabrics such as synthetic wool can irritate the skin. Therefore, prioritize cotton clothing.

  Please note : it is also advisable to wear loose clothing to avoid friction on the skin, which can cause irritation.

• Avoid scratching as much as possible.

  Scratching is an automatic and natural response. It's a normal reaction to itchiness. However, scratching and scraping the skin exacerbate eczema lesions. Moreover, the sensations of itchiness impair quality of life by disrupting sleep and causing irritability. There are anti-scratch solutions available.

Eczema often rhymes with difficult nights. Indeed, at night, the sensation of itching intensifies and the risk of scratching is greater. Keep a soothing cream or thermal water close to you. You can also wear cotton gloves to prevent scratching yourself. Keep your nails short and maintain good hand hygiene to limit the risk of infections.

• Enjoy the benefits of the sun.

  Just as in psoriasis, the sun has shown numerous benefits for atopic skin. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of phototherapy using UVB in children suffering from moderate to severe eczema. This allows for a significant reduction in their lesions, up to about 60%. If you suffer from atopic eczema, sun exposure can improve your skin lesions. However, it is necessary to adhere to sun protection rules to avoid the harmful effects of UV rays.