Proper Method for Scrubbing Eczema Skin Effectively
When your eczema-plagued skin is driving you up the wall with dry, itchy patches, it's tempting to rush into an exfoliation frenzy. But remember, gentle is the way to go when it comes to sensitive skin!
Here's our no-nonsense guide on exfoliating with eczema in a way that cares for your skin and helps you look fantastic:
How to safely exfoliate eczema
Use a mix of friction for mechanical exfoliation or gentle acids for chemical exfoliation. Gently rub skin cells off with a soft tool, product, or washcloth, or opt for chemical exfoliants like lactic acid or glycolic acid — just be sure to choose low-concentration, gentle options for your skin.
Remember these tips for safe exfoliating:
- Exfoliate no more than once a week.
- After bathing or showering, moisturize continually, both then and throughout the day.
- Always employ a soft touch and use delicate products for exfoliation.
- Never exfoliate broken or irritated skin.
Eczema exfoliation 101
There's scarce research on whether exfoliators can help eczema. However, exfoliating does remove dead skin cells, which can improve the appearance of dry eczema patches and help moisturizers absorb better – a major win for eczema care!
To safely exfoliate eczema:
- Opt for gentle washcloths or chemical exfoliants made for sensitive skin.
- Try products with mandelic acid, a gentle acid that won't hurt sensitive skin.
- Use tiny circular motions for 30 seconds maximum.
- Rinse with warm water.
- Moisturize right after bathing or showering, while skin is still damp.
Take care to avoid:
- Strong physical or chemical exfoliants, especially if you have dark skin, as they can cause dark spots.
- Exfoliating broken skin or skin that's bleeding or weeping fluid.
- Exfoliating if redness and irritation are worse afterward.
- Exfoliating if you regularly use topical corticosteroids, as these can thin the skin.
- Turning your scrub into an intense scratching session (keep your touch light!).
- Exfoliating if you have a skin infection.
Is your skin infected or broken? STOP exfoliating!
Scratching broken skin with eczema can lead to infections. Be on the lookout for the following signs of skin infections:
- Your rash worsens.
- Skin weeps or looks oozy.
- Yellow crust develops on rash.
- Skin swells and feels painful.
- You have a fever.
Exfoliating with eczema
Ready to put on your exfoliating gloves and get to it? Here's how to exfoliate with eczema:
- Fill the bathtub or shower with lukewarm water.
- Use a gentle body wash, soft washcloth or gloves, or a mild chemical exfoliant with beta hydroxy acids.
- Wet skin and apply cleanser.
- Rub gently in super short circular motions for around 30 seconds.
- Rinse gently with warm water.
- Limit baths and showers to 5-10 minutes.
- Dry yourself delicately with a soft towel.
- Apply ointment or a thick moisturizer while your skin is damp.
- See if your skin feels fantastic and soft (great job!) or angry and irritated (not so great). If it's the latter, lighten up next time or consider skipping exfoliation altogether.
Getting rid of eczema scars
Eczema typically doesn't cause scars. However, whenever skin breaks and heals up, the possibility for scarring and discoloration arises.
If you already have scars from scratching your eczema, exfoliating might help improve scarred skin's appearance and texture. But keep in mind it might further irritate your skin.
Some at-home skincare ingredients that could help soothe eczema and reduce scarring include:
- Honey
- Chamomile
- Aloe Vera
But the best method to prevent scars is to resist scratching! And the good news is scarring, hypopigmentation, and hyperpigmentation due to eczema fades over time.
What are the best gloves for eczema?
Got eczema? A pair of exfoliating gloves could prove invaluable for managing your skin care routine. Some popular options include:
- Songwol Exfoliating Bath Mitt – Say goodbye to rough washcloths and use this in the shower for a gentle exfoliating experience on your body.
- EvridWear Cotton Moisturizing Gloves – Put on these pretty pink gloves after applying your thickest hand cream to help the moisture penetrate.
- Gaxcoo White Cotton Gloves – Wear these plain cotton gloves at night to help limit the damage of eczema itching during the night.
- Leafy Boo Bamboo Gloves – If you want something eco-friendly, these bamboo gloves could help retain moisture and soothe irritation of hand eczema.
Handling eczema flare-ups
If your eczema is under control, light exfoliation could be a regular part of your grooming routine.
However, if you're currently experiencing a flare-up, hold off on the scrub, especially with open sores, oozing skin, or an established infection.
Here are some tips for managing an eczema flare-up:
- Try to stop scratching (easier said than done, but think about gloves as an ally).
- Use topical steroids as recommended by your doctor.
- Take antihistamine pills if suggested by your doctor or dermatologist.
- Moisturize two to three times a day.
- Opt for products free of alcohol, scents, and dyes. These can be drying and irritating.
- Use wool and lanolin, strong soaps, and detergents with care — or avoid them altogether.
- Lower stress, sudden temperature changes, and heavy sweating.
- Experiment with wet wrap therapy, a technique involving three warm baths per day, ointment application, and wrapping with wet bandages.
Wrap up
Eczema is a skin condition that's itchy and dry. The secret to managing eczema is to avoid the itch and keep your skin hydrated.
Light exfoliation with a soft cloth or chemical exfoliant made for sensitive skin may help smooth skin and prepare it to soak up additional moisture. Simply skip the scrub if your skin is inflamed.
- Exfoliating, even with gentle washcloths or chemical exfoliants, should be avoided if the skin is inflamed to prevent further irritation, as moisturizers might not absorb well into inflamed skin.
- Hypopigmentation, a condition where patches of skin become lighter in color, could potentially occur if strong physical or chemical exfoliants are used on dark skin, so it's essential to opt for low-concentration, gentle options instead.
- When handling eczema flare-ups, it's crucial to hold off on light exfoliation, especially with open sores, oozing skin, or an established infection, as exfoliating during a flare-up may exacerbate the condition.
