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Need to know what helps severely dry peeling skin from eczema!
(29 Dec 2008)

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Eczema is a term that includes a wide range of skin conditions, with the common factor being chronic inflammation of the skin. The specific symptoms can vary from case to case, but they usually include severe dryness and peeling (as in your case), itching, swelling, and blistering. Since you have not mentioned any symptoms apart from the dry, peeling skin, I assume that these are your only symptoms. In a way, you are quite lucky - of all the possible eczema related troubles, dry skin is probably the most easily managed.

First of all, you need to keep your skin moisturized by regularly using a thick moisturizing cream. Thinner lotions are not as effective at trapping moisture, and are not suitable for you. Aqueous cream is quite effective, but some doctors maintain that it too is not good enough to combat severe dry skin. Still, it is advisable that you try it out. If it doesn't work, you can try any other thick moisturizing cream or bath or body oil. Petroleum jelly is quite effective, although it is rather messy to handle.

You should apply the moisturizer at least twice a day, at least once immediately after bathing. This is when your skin is already moist - applying moisturizer at this time helps your skin to retain maximum moisture. You should avoid bathing too often however, and in particular avoid using soap as far as possible. Too frequent bathing can deplete the skin's natural oils, and soap dries skin out quite severely. Instead, bathe no more than once a day for no more than ten minutes, and use a moisturizing bathing gel or lotion instead of soap. If ever you must use soap, try to make sure that it is unscented soap with an oily, fatty base, and even then, use it sparingly. Ensure that you always bathe with regular or lukewarm water - hot water or even very cold water can also strip your skin of its natural oils. You should also be careful about other body products that you use, such as deodorants and antiperspirants, as they often contain chemicals that could dry or irritate your skin.

You should also pay attention to the air in you environment, and if possible, manage the humidity. Heated air is often dry, and dries out your skin; if possible, avoid such environments. If this is not possible, then you should consider installing a humidifier.

answered by G D on 29 Dec 2008, 4:34:33

 

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