Staying Optimistic with Eczema

Eczema can affect your quality of life, which leads to stress and causes flare-ups. Finding ways to manage your emotional health can reduce stress and symptoms. In turn, having fewer flare-ups can help improve your mental health.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is an inflammatory skin condition that affects 10% to 30% of childrenand 2% to 10% of adults in the United States. It causes a number of difficult physical symptoms, including itchiness, rashes, and scaly patches of dry skin. Aside from physical symptoms, it can also affect your emotional health.

That’s why treatment and lifestyle changes for eczema should include managing the physical symptoms and the psychological effects. Here are seven strategies that can help you stay optimistic while managing eczema.

Emotions and psychosocial factors like stress are known for causing flare-ups in eczema symptoms. In fact, the relationship goes both ways. Stress can make eczema worse, and eczema can exacerbate your stress levels. Research also suggests that people with eczema are more likely to experience depression and anxiety.  

In fact, one large cohort study suggests that people with eczema have a 14% greater incidence of new cases of depression and a 17% higher incidence of anxiety. The cause is thought to be:

• itching and discomfort
• a lack of sleep
• perceived social stigma of having a disease that affects appearance

Although positive thinking alone won’t reduce your symptoms, a popular model of positive psychology may offer helpful techniques. The PERMA model can give you a framework for managing your eczema and your mental health. It’s an acronym that serves as a guide to managing emotional health. Here are some examples:

• Positive emotion: Focus on how it feels good to be at home or in spaces where you’re more comfortable.
• Engagement: Choose to participate in your favorite activities and not worry about what other people will think of your appearance.
• Relationships: Communicate your needs to your friends so they will understand how you need to care for yourself.
• Meaning: Look at challenges as opportunities for growth or positive changes.
• Accomplishment: Set and celebrate realistic goals for caring for your skin and your mental health.

If you’re a parent of a child with eczema, you may find it especially challenging to help your child manage symptoms. Depending on their age, children may not fully understand why their skin itches, why they shouldn’t scratch, or why they need to sit still for moisturizer application.

Age-specific interventions can help. For example, some children might respond to praise from a parent for helping with their bathtime routine, while others may need distractions from scratching.

Parents may need to pay extra attention to their children’s sleep habits. According to the National Eczema Association, nearly 30% of all children experience disrupted sleep as many as 5 nights per week. As a result, children may be irritable and sleepy during the daytime.

Studies have shown that eczema can affect a child’s development and growth, such as having a low body weight, short height, or even developing a food allergy. It can affect them intellectually, such as having to miss school as a result of symptoms. If your child’s eczema is affecting their daily life, you can talk with your doctor, as well as their teacher at school, for extra support.

You may feel much better about yourself if you have a solid daily routine that you can count on. The following evidence-based steps can help you manage your eczema effectively:

• Bathe or shower in lukewarm water for no more than 5 to 10 minutes, using a gentle fragrance-free cleanser.
• Apply a thick fragrance-free moisturizer immediately afterward to seal in the moisture.
• Apply prescription topical medication to the appropriate areas of skin.
• Take any other medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor as well.
• Keep an eye out for potential triggers so you can avoid them.
• Use wet-wrap therapy when you’re having an eczema flare.

Most of the time, you may be able to manage your condition with these strategies. However, you may want to seek medical care if you ever feel overwhelmed or your medication doesn’t seem to work to control your symptoms.

Research suggests that a strong social network is key to managing a chronic disease. Investing time and energy in educating your friends and family about your eczema can help them better understand your condition. It can also give them the tools to offer the support you need from them.

Advocating for yourself may also help you build self-confidence. You might also find a boost from connecting with others with eczema through support groups and advocacy organizations.

Parents may want to talk with their child’s teacher about any necessary accommodations at school and how to handle any social issues that might arise. For example, together you can make a plan for what to do if another child teases your child about their eczema.

It’s important to carefully follow your doctor’s recommendations for treating your eczema, including the most appropriate medications. Current treatment methodsinclude:

• topical steroids
• calcineurin inhibitors
• JAK inhibitors
• biologic medications
• topical PDE4 inhibitors
• topical aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists

Some people also find symptom relief from phototherapy, bleach baths, or wet wrap therapy.

Before you try a new medication or therapy, speak with your doctor and learn whether it’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The treatment might not work or could make your eczema flare up.

If you’re interested in a specific complementary or alternative therapy, talk with your doctor first about whether it might be right for you.

Many people with eczema and other health conditions have successfully used mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). MBSR includes several techniques designed to encourage relaxation, including controlled breathing exercises and meditation to help you focus on the present moment. Research suggests that a regular mindfulness practice may improve stress levels and itch perception.

You can find a variety of online resources to help you learn ways to reduce your stress levels, including:

• guided meditations
• journaling prompts
• calming music playlists
• mindfulness apps

Living with eczema can significantly affect both your physical and emotional health. However, there are options available that can boost your mental health. This can help reduce stress, which will lead to fewer flare-ups.

If your current treatment isn’t working on its own to treat eczema, you can speak with your doctor about additional options that can help.