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Tips for allergic patients

 The best way to be symptom free – stay away from the allergens

  • Try to completely avoid the allergen causing your symptoms.
  • You should check the pollen calendar for your part of the world and, as much as possible, avoid being outdoors during the pollen season of plants to which you are allergic.
  •  Keep your windows closed in the early morning if you live in a green area or the country side and in the evening if you live in an urban area
  • Sleep with your bedroom windows shut
  • Stay indoors as much as possible during hot, dry, windy days
  • Take your treatment before the season starts and use it regularly throughout, even on days when you have no symptoms - it works better that way
  •  When walking in the garden, fields or forests wear gloves, long sleeves and long trousers to prevent coming in contact with plants. You cannot always identify the plant you are allergic to so it’s better to avoid contact with them altogether.
  •  If you are allergic to products that need to be handled always, wear gloves when working with them.
  • If you are allergic to preservatives in cosmetics, read the label carefully when buying a new product to make sure that it does not contain the substance to which you are allergic.

Tips for eczema

Moisturize your skin several times daily. Use a moisturizer specially developed for allergic skin or a non-perfumed moisturizer.

Avoid scratching your skin when itchy; tapping it is better. Also, wet dressings or a lukewarm shower may help. 

Bathing

A 10 minute bath daily helps to hydrate your skin. Don’t make it longer or it will have the opposite effect!

You can add bath oil to the water.
Take lukewarm baths (hot water makes the eczema worse).

Avoid soap, use an alternative such as a water- based cream.

Dry the skins by pressing the towel gently against it, do not rub your skin.

Apply a moisturiser as soon as your skin is dry (ideally in the first 5 minutes after getting out of the bath).

Clothing

Don’t use clothes that make you sweat as perspiration irritates the skin.

Don’t wear woollen clothing directly on the skin as it is rough and irritates the skin.

Wear cotton underclothing (if possible with long sleeve and legs).

Wash new clothing before wearing it for the first time. It removes the irritant chemical substances which are used for treating the textile fibres (such as formaldehyde).

Use mild detergents, preferably in a liquid formulation without enzymes to wash your clothes.

Always give an extra rinse when you wash your clothes. Avoid fabric softeners.

Pyjamas containing silver can help to prevent skin infection which exacerbates eczema. These pyjamas are interwoven with threads of real silver, a substance which has been used since Egyptian times to fight infections.

Keep children’s nails short and consider using cotton mittens for babies who scratch at night.

Leisure and eczema

Swimming is a good sport (providing that you don’t stay in the water too long). Remember that chlorine in the water can irritate your skin. Therefore, wash thoroughly with mild soap and apply a moisturizer immediately after getting out of the swimming pool.

Sunbathing can be helpful. However, use high protection factor sunscreens to prevent sunburn. And don’t stay in the sun too long – it can accentuate the dryness of your skin and make you sweat.

Protect your skin from cold weather.

Try to reduce your stress. It can have miraculous effects!