Winter tips and things you can do in your home to help keep eczema-prone skin at bay

WINTER TALK 🙂 Firstly, I’d like to say I have been using AVEENO® products for 2+ years but specifically using the Dermexa range since April/May – so for nearly 5 months. I no longer struggle with uncontrollable itching, my skin is no longer as dry and irritated and I haven’t had to rely on steroid creams to calm down my eczema. I truly did not think the day would come where I no longer suffer as I used to, and thankfully I no longer have a skin condition that is incredibly life limiting  – although I don’t think you can ever be fully rid of it. I can’t say for sure what has calmed it down – I think it is a mixture of good mental and physical health, having the right mindset, exercising daily, keeping stress levels low, having a good diet to ensure gut health is good, staying away from inflammatory food and drink, good sleep, using products for sensitive skin, moisturising regularly, smiling more 🙂

I commute around London and see sooo many people with skin issues, it makes me so sad, but also makes me realise how common it is and how many people probably suffer in silence, without thinking there are any options for recovery.

I really recommend this range for helping with dry itchy skin. It is also suitable for people who may be prone to eczema. Emollient creams are so important and you should find one that works for you – you have to be comfortable putting it on numerous times a day and choose something that suits your skin. For me – this is definitely my go to. The amount of people I see with eczema and it looks so cracked and dry and sore – using emollient creams will really help with this and I definitely recommend finding one that suits you and sticking to using it vigorously!

A few people have written to me saying they couldn’t find the cream – it is near the medicated skin section of Boots and you should find it there. Also – the AVEENO® Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream is available in Boots and also online, please see here. As for the AVEENO® Dermexa Fast and Long Lasting Balm, this is available in Tesco. Please see here. You can also order it on Amazon!

Aside from regular usage of emollient cream – it is important to have a routine at home that works for you. I also think its really important to try and determine the cause of your eczema.

I exhausted all options – I took every test possible, blood tests (food, drink, metals, chemicals etc), patch tests, food intolerance tests, you name it. The tests came back saying I wasn’t allergic to anything but then one final test said I was allergic to dust mites. It was so nice to finally discover what could be causing it. Also quite annoying because dust mites are everywhere, and in the Winter months when the heating is on it can be 10 times worse.

As we approach Winter – below are some top tips to consider on emollient creams, showering, washing and sleeping:

1. Put Aveeno® Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream (or your preferred emollient) on at least 3 times a day – or definitely more than you would in the summer.

2. When you get out the (lukewarm) shower, pat dry and put emollient cream on within 20 seconds. Don’t rub yourself dry, allow some water droplets to remain on your skin, then coat yourself in emollient cream and it will trap the water and add the moisture back to your skin. If I come out the shower and don’t moisturise within a few minutes, I feel dry and irritated straight away.

3. Another tip is to pinch your skin instead of scratching, and if you have acrylic nails you won’t cut your skin when scratching – which definitely helps. I took mine off for one week and I kept cutting my arms when scratching, so yesterday I put them back on again.

4. Wash your bedsheets and towels once a week. I wash on 90 degrees so that it really boils them and kills the dust mites, I also do an extra rinse to wash away detergent and then tumble dry as again it helps kill dust mites. I also vacuum my mattress, pillows, duvet, headboard etc etc every few weeks. It is hilariously weird but I truly think it works – we spend 1/3 of our lives in bed and so eczema sufferers might not get better if they are sleeping in dust or sleeping on sheets with detergent that irritates their skin.

5. Use washing detergent that is suitable for sensitive skin. I use Fairy Liquid. If your clothes come out the wash smelling strongly of detergent, they may be clean but also may have chemical residue on that will irritate your skin. Don’t opt for perfumed detergents and make sure you ‘rinse and spin’ after washing to ensure the detergent has washed away. Anything with a strong scent: perfumes, air freshener, soaps, shampoos, detergents etc can all irritate your skin and these can be all around you.

6. As you start to get your Winter wardrobe out – wash everything before you wear it (even if it is “clean”). If something has been in your wardrobe for 6 months, it will likely be filled with dust mites and can irritate your skin the first time you wear it. I did a full wardrobe clean out last weekend and re-washed all my Winter clothes. It is so important to ensure these small things in your home don’t exacerbate your eczema!

7. Wipe surfaces regularly – dust collects everywhere, so make sure you wipe skirting boards and surfaces you may not normally clean weekly. When the heating is on – dust collects and spreads more. Heating is not great for skin – so when you have it on make sure you’re washing/cleaning much more.

8. Carpets are not good for dust mites – so make sure you vacuum regularly. Sounds obvious but you’d be surprised.

9. Use a breathable duvet and don’t have the heating on at night – we should be sleeping in 18 degrees – any hotter can irritate our skin. Waking up sweating is the worst for eczema. Also buy 100% real cotton sheets/PJs. Don’t use polyester and use hypoallergenic duvets/pillows if you are allergic/irritated by feathers. I personally do have feather duvets/pillows and it works for me.

10. I now sleep throughout the night and I never wake up every hour– this is new for me. I used to wake up so many times and itch so badly. Not being able to sleep is torturous. Try meditating before sleeping, drink a chamomile tea and put some essential oil (lavender oil) on your pillow or your temples so help relax you. Read a book rather than using your phone/tv to help you dose off. Clean/fresh sheets are wonderful!

11. Turn your phone to night shift which changes the screen’s display so it doesn’t keep you as alert and uses a warmer, less blue light. For iPhone users, go on settings > display & brightness > night shift (I set mine 8pm to 8am).

12. If you can’t sleep – get up and go to another room, read a book, don’t just lie there. Then try again in 20 minutes. Works much better than sending yourself crazy.
I hope these tips work for you. They definitely worked for me!

Lots of love,

Lydia. x