SMTC Taking Back Control Series
Establishing a good skin care routine is essential and using the proper soaps is critical in that routine. BUT flare ups are sometimes unavoidable. As someone with eczema you need to pay attention more so than others to your environment and how that environment interacts with you. You will benefit from identifying and avoiding things (there may be several) that can trigger an eczema flare up. I know that this will be a long process, but eczema is not something you can ignore and hope it just goes away.
Currently there is little clinical evidence to confirm which of the commonly suspected triggers really do produce flares. Unfortunately that is in part due to the fact that eczema is a billion dollar a year industry and why cure something that that needs so much treatment. Think about that. You spend hundreds of dollars a year, suffer countless hours only to make Big Pharma rich. So maybe it’s time you take back control.
Over the next few weeks I will be posting some of the more common triggers that can cause flare ups. I hope this will better inform you and help in some small part in your efforts to taking back control. Our first topic is...
CLOTHING AND ECZEMA
Many people with eczema find that wool and synthetic materials, such as polyester and nylon, cause overheating, sweating and irritation, which set off the dreaded itch. Rough seams, fibers, fastenings and threads can also cause problems for sensitive skin. Your choice of clothing can make a considerable difference to how comfortable you feel.
WHICH CLOTHING MATERIALS ARE THE MOST ECZEMA-FRIENDLY?
Cotton (preferably 100%) tends to be the most commonly recommended textile for people with eczema. Cotton is soft, cool, great at absorbing sweat, easily washable and allows the skin to ‘breathe’. ‘Cotton rich’ blends can contain a significant proportion of polyester, so be sure to read labels carefully to see exactly what proportion of cotton is included before you buy. Because polyester is NOT so friendly to your skin.
Bamboo, you heard me right bamboo, makes another soft, breathable material and is more absorbent than cotton. It is highly effective at regulating temperature (keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter) and has actually ha antibacterial properties. The bamboo ‘viscose’ tends to be teamed with cotton and spandex. Processing and creating the bamboo material is chemically intensive and not environmentally friendly by any means, but the finished material has the properties making bamboo an attractive option to people with eczema.
Worth mentioning is TENCEL. This is a cellulose fiber is also derived from bamboo or wood pulp and is also an eczema-friendly option that is more environmentally friendly. If you like denium blue jeans then this is what you should be checking out.
Silk is another good regulator of body temperature that is also soft and breathable. As well as ordinary silk clothes, it’s possible to buy close-fitting silk garments specifically designed for people with eczema. These garments are usually worn underneath regular clothes. Ordinary silk clothes (as opposed to therapeutic garments) are less practical than cotton or bamboo: silk can’t be washed as easily. But in my opinion it is well worth the cost.
I know there is a lot I have probably missed out on discussing but these are the four I am most intimate with since I use them. I wish you all the best and hope you find a solution to your problems... whatever they are. Until next time, I wish you well and pray that God keeps you and your family safe from harm.
Stay Suddys!
Sugga