Relief for atopic skin: Can a skincare routine help my eczema?

Approximately 1 in 12 adults suffers from Atopic Dermatitis¹ and this article explains how to care for adult atopic skin. If you are interested in how to care for your baby’s or child’s skin read How to care for young atopic skin. We examine how the right daily routine helps to keep skin moisturised, prolonging the periods between flare-ups. And we explain how to adjust your routine to soothe and calm skin during a flare-up.  To find out about the symptoms, causes and triggers of the disease read Adult Atopic Dermatitis. 

Atopic Dermatitis (also known as Atopic Eczema) is typified by two phases:

• The acute phase when skin flares-up and is at its most irritable
• The non-acute period between flare-ups when skin is calmer

You can read more about these two phases in Understanding Atopic Dermatitis and Identifying and managing flare-ups.

Your skin has slightly different needs at each of these stages so we recommend that you adapt your routine accordingly:

• Daily care: Gentle cleansing and regular, effective and generous moisturisation to strengthen skin’s protective barrier and prolong the periods between flare-ups.
• Acute care: The use of anti-inflammatory medication (or other treatments prescribed by your doctor such as wet wraps) and body and face care lotions and creams to soothe and calm skin during a flare-up.

While there is no known cure for Atopic Dermatitis, research has shown that medical interference can improve quality of life measures² and that regular and appropriate skincare can improve skin condition, support sleep and improve quality of life.³

The focus of daily skincare should be on supporting skin’s protective barrier. Giving skin the moisture and lipids it needs helps to prevent further dryness and prolong the period between flare-ups.

Even pure water can increase moisture loss⁴ so choose quick showers over long baths and, if you do enjoy bathing, try to limit it to ten minutes maximum. Hot water causes further moisture loss, so we recommend that you keep your water temperature below 32°C (90°F).

Harsh cleansers and exfoliators can strip away essential lipids and damage the delicate protective barrier and moisture balance of your skin. Avoid rough sponges and massage brushes, bubble baths, bath salts, exfoliating scrubs, alkaline soaps and harsh surfactants such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. Choose mild, soap-free cleansers such as Eucerin AtoControl Bath & Shower Oil for your body and Eucerin UltraSENSITIVE Cleansing Lotion for your face.

Pat rather than rub skin dry with a clean, soft towel. Apply moisturiser immediately after cleansing to avoid further evaporation of water⁴ and to make it easier for your skin to absorb the active ingredients.

Regular moisturising

The effective management of atopic skin rests on the regular and continuous application of moisturisers (also known as emollients).⁵ It’s important to apply moisturisers to your face and body at least twice daily, even during periods when the disease seems under control⁵, to avoid or delay relapses. We recommend you apply hand cream more frequently − at least every time you wash your hands.

Look for products that are fragrance-free and that contain proven but gentle actives such as:

• Licochalcone A: an extract of liquorice that soothes skin
• Ceramides: to strengthen skin’s natural protective barrier
• Natural oils rich in Omega fatty acids to soothe, nourish and protect delicate and dry skin

These ingredients are at the heart of the Eucerin AtoControl range which includes products and textures suitable for different parts of the body:

• Eucerin AtoControl Body Care Lotion: easy to apply all over your body
• Eucerin AtoControl Face Care Cream: an ideal make-up base

You can find out more about how the disease affects skin differently across the body in Facial Atopic Dermatitis, Atopic Dermatitis on the eyelids, Atopic Dermatitis on the head and scalp and Atopic Dermatitis on the hands and Atopic Dermatitis on different parts of the body.

Already dry, the sun causes atopic skin to dry out further. Limit your exposure, avoid peak hours when sun is at its most intense, use protective clothing and apply an appropriate sun protection factor. Try Eucerin Sensitive Protect Sun Cream SPF 50+ for your face and Eucerin Sensitive Protect Sun Lotion Extra Light SPF 50+ or SPF 30 for your body. These products offer reliable, high-quality protection and are clinically and dermatologically proven to be suitable for atopic skin.

Read more in the effects of UVA and UVB light on sensitive skin.

Make-up

Just because your skin is atopic doesn’t mean you can’t use make-up, but be sure to choose base products that have been specially formulated for dry, irritated skin⁵. And don’t forget to remove your make-up thoroughly before going to bed.

The focus of skincare during the acute phase of Atopic Dermatitis is to calm skin, soothe irritation and itchiness and relieve discomfort. Thankfully, there are a number of measures that can help:

Ointments and creams such as corticosteroids (e.g. a 1% hydrocortisone cream) offer fast-acting and effective relief during a flare-up. However, hydrocortisone is not a long-term option. 

For severe symptoms your doctor may prescribe or recommend:

• A more potent cream or ointment
• Phototherapy (ultraviolet light treatment to reduce inflammation)
• Wet wraps
• Oral corticosteroids and, sometimes, antibiotics to prevent skin from becoming infected
• Antihistamines to reduce severe itching

There are a number of active ingredients proven to soothe and calm skin during a flare-up:

• Licochalcone A: an extract of liquorice that reduces inflammation and soothes irritation
• Decanediol: a powerful anti-oxidant that works against bacteria to prevent infection
• Menthoxypropandiol: a menthol-derivative that cools skin and reduces itchiness at a sensory level. You child won`t feel the need to scratch so much and so won’t damage their skin any further. 

Licochalcone A, Decanediol and Menthoxypropandiol are all part of the Eucerin AtoControl Acute Care Cream formula which has been created to give skin the intense care it needs during a flare-up. Apply your medicated product first and allow it to absorb fully before applying Eucerin AtoControl Acute Care Cream. Follow with Eucerin AtoControl Body Care Lotion.

While Eucerin AtoControl Acute Care Cream is not a pharmaceutical product, and is not intended to replace one, clinical and dermatological tests have shown that it improves skin condition, relieves itching and supports a good night’s sleep and improves overall quality of life.⁶

Flare-up tips:

• Keep face and body moisturisers in the fridge to enhance their cooling effect
• Pat rather than scratch itchy skin: this can alleviate some of the feelings of itchiness without damaging skin
• Make sure there’s a hand cream next to every sink in your home and/or workplace to remind you to apply it after washing your hands

Find out more about potential triggers and how to treat eczema flare-ups.