A Health Lab

Anyone that has ever had an eczema rash and especially those who get them on a regular basis can tell you that they’re nothing to dismiss. While some rashes are very mild and may come and go with the changes in the weather or may be somewhat forgettable, many are downright painful. It’s also true that when you scratch an eczema rash and cause the skin to bleed, you are now more vulnerable to germs, bacteria, and other irritants getting in the system as the skin is meant to protect from those things. Open sores such as those from scratching patches of dermatitis, as eczema is often called, can mean a weakened immune system and the potential for further injury.

So how can you deal with an eczema rash? Since for many the desire to just scratch and scratch can be overwhelming, but doing this can and will make the problem worse, it’s good to have some things in mind when it comes to more effective ways of handling such a problem. Here are some things to consider when it comes to taking care of an eczema rash.

For one thing, using creams and lotions that are meant specifically for an eczema rash is going to be important. Many people make the mistake of using regular hand lotion but these products are typically not strong enough to actually address an eczema rash and may also contain ingredients that are damaging to open skin. They may actually be somewhat painful if used on broken skin! If you can’t find such a product at your local pharmacy, talk to your doctor about a prescription. They often can prescribe creams and lotions that are meant specifically for an eczema rash and these products go a long way toward addressing the discomfort as well as actually healing the skin.

If you still feel the urge to scratch your eczema rash, remember that there are other ways of addressing the discomfort. A cool wet cloth can reduce the dry feeling and the itchiness. Applying ice to the skin can numb those nerve endings so you don’t feel the discomfort. Sometimes just putting your hand down flat on an eczema rash and pushing gently can do the same thing – this overwhelms the nerves so that they go numb and you don’t feel the need to scratch.

It’s also good to make sure that you’re not doing anything to irritate your eczema rash and make it worse. Be mindful of the materials of the clothes you wear as some can be scratchy and irritating. If you work around dust, dirt, sawdust, construction debris, or anything else that gets on the skin and bothers it, make sure you wear gloves and long sleeves. If you tend to get an eczema rash on your legs, consider tucking your pant legs into your socks or top of your boots to keep dust from traveling up your pants. These things can all help to lessen those flare-ups.