Eczema in teens

As if adolescence or teen years weren’t hard enough, eczema makes a tough situation worse. The first course of action is to be open about it: parents and carers should discuss the condition with young people (and vice versa!). Guidance and keeping proper products on hand is important to live with sensitive skin, tackle eczema symptoms and prevent flares.

Stress, both emotional and physical, can trigger flares. It’s important to keep to normal schedules and healthy habits as much as possible. During this time of trying new products and experimenting with cosmetics or hair colours (or motor oils or industrial solvents), external irritants can bring on your eczema. Always do a skin test when using anything new. And if contact with a substance triggers a skin reaction, stop using it or wear protective gear.

Since eczema can occur anywhere on the body, young people can be very self-conscious about how it looks, how it feels (itchy!) and what a nuisance it is. Concentration becomes difficult. Confidence drops. Life can be just miserable, leaving people feeling isolated.

All the more reason to treat eczema seriously and take control! A visit to the doctor will determine which treatments best suits an individual’s type of eczema. Combine that with good Daily Skin Care along with other treatments recommended by your doctor which may break the flare cycle and chances are the condition will be less severe and more manageable.

Try to Avoid…

• Ordinary soaps. Use moisturising aqueous creams for cleansing.
• Long hot baths. 10 minutes will do, lukewarm with bath oil.
• Vigorous towel rubs. Dry yourself by gently patting.
• Perfumes and talcs that could irritate.
• Certain foods. Reduce citrus fruit, refined fats and white sugar.
• Acid sources like coffee, alcohol, red meat, raw garlic.
• Stress. Emotional and physical stress can be triggers.
• Synthetic fibre or wool clothing. Wear 100% cotton.
• Cleaning or vacuuming. Wear a mouth mask.
• Handling solvents, detergents or chemicals. It is recommended to use gloves to handle these agents.
• Handling plants or soils. Use gloves.

What is eczema?

Breaking the cycle