Living with Eczema
Living with eczema varies from person to person. Eczema can significantly impact a person’s daily life, whether as the patient, or the parent/carer of a child with eczema.
Lack of sleep
For most people suffering with dry skin conditions, itching is the worst symptom. It is extremely uncomfortable and can keep you awake at night, impacting not only your sleep, but others around you too. Getting enough sleep is vital and we know that itching tends to come when you get warm in bed. The skin can start to tingle and get itchy. This, in turn, leads to scratching and disturbed sleep. Tiredness, irritability, and stress can impact the next day at school, college, university or work.
Look & feel of the skin
Scratching can break the skin causing it to become red, bleed, ooze or crack and to feel very sore, making day-to-day activities uncomfortable. It can also influence the choice of clothing worn in case they stick to sore areas of the skin. The feeling of itchiness occurs with dry skin when inflammation causes the nerve endings in the top layer of the skin to be stimulated. This can be due to a number of factors including external irritants, such as fragrance, soaps, detergents, and allergens, which can trigger a flare.
Emotional impact
In addition to discomfort, dry skin conditions can affect the way you feel about yourself. It can impact your emotional, social and personal wellbeing, and disrupt personal and social relationships, stress and anxiety are common triggers for eczema flare ups, in particular itching which can be psychogenic, meaning it is stimulated by psychological factors such as a conditioned habit, or in response to stress.

Breaking the itch/scratch cycle

When the skin itches, it is often an unconscious response to scratch the skin, and so it is often easy to get into the cycle of itching, scratching and breaking the skin, leading to more stress and anxiety. Although having a good scratch can be satisfying and bring short term relief, it damages the skin further (which will ultimately make the itching worse) and the damage it causes to the skin is extremely unpleasant.
It can be hard to break this cycle, but it is important to try. Here are a few useful tips.

Sleep

Sleep may be enhanced by creating and adhering to:

  • a sleep schedule
  • creating a restful sleep environment
  • limiting nicotine, caffeine, alcohol
  • limiting the use of electronic equipment, especially in the evening.

Scratching alternatives

A gentler alternative to scratching, is patting the itchy area.

It is tempting to scratch your skin when it feels irritated, however scratching your skin will cause further damage, leading to further irritation.

Emotional Impact

Utilising strategies to try and reduce the stress and anxiety in your life may begin to help manage eczema flare-ups. While it may not eliminate your eczema, it may help to alleviate some of the common symptoms like itching and scratching.

Some useful techniques to help you relax may be*:

  • Practising yoga
  • Practising mindfulness
  • Walking
  • Reading
  • Painting
  • Baking

Exercise

Regular exercise can be an extremely effective way to combat stress and anxiety. Something as simple as a short walk can trigger the release of hormones that make you feel good.

Diet

Although there is little scientific evidence connecting diet and eczema, it is important to stick to a healthy well-balanced diet and always consult your doctor before making any changes to your child’s diet**.

It is also very important to keep well hydrated. Your skin cells need to be full of water to help make a super strong skin barrier. This helps keep bacteria out and water in. In eczema or other dry skin conditions there is not enough water in these cells to do this, so try to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

The NHS Eatwell Guide says we should drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day.

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Eczema App

The Living with Eczema App

Available on iPhone and Android, Living with Eczema is designed to help patients and their parents or carers with managing eczema, all within your pocket!

+ Track and monitor changes in your condition through the Skin Diary and Photo Journal.

+ Explore helpful tips and lifestyle advice from a Dermatology Nurse Consultant.

+ Set reminders for your appointments, prescriptions and treatments.

+ Learn more about the different available treatment options for eczema.

+ Discover interactive treatment guides.
Eczema App
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*These are some examples of activities that can reduce stress and bring a sense of contentment. As everyone is different, these may not be for you and you may find that other activities suit you best.

**One person’s eczema trigger may not be the same as another and it may be a combination of the above. Your symptoms may be worse at different times of the year or affect different areas of your body each time a flare-up happens.  Keeping a journal of your flare-ups and lifestyle may help you identify causes and triggers.