How to Dress While Dealing with Eczema
When you’re living with eczema, deciding what to wear during a flare-up can be a challenge, to say the least. If you’re curious about how to dress while you’re dealing with eczema, here are a few tips to help you out.
Clothing Advice for Eczema
Don’t Bundle Up Too Heavily
When it’s cold outside, it feels natural to want to throw on as many layers as possible. Unfortunately, bundling up too heavily could actually make your eczema symptoms worse. When you’re bundled up to guard against the cold, there’s a possibility that you’ll get sweaty. And when sweat stays on your skin for too long, there’s a good chance that it could irritate your eczema. If you plan on going outside while it’s cold, make sure you dress in layers so you can remove an article of clothing if necessary. It’s also a good idea to make sure your base layer is light and breathable. A cotton t-shirt is a good option for this.
Invest in Breathable Fabrics
One of the best ways to mitigate eczema symptoms with your clothing is to wear breathable fabrics. While cotton is the most recommended fabric for people with eczema and other dry skin rashes, silk and bamboo are also viable options to consider. Bamboo is just as soft as cotton, but it’s a little bit more absorbent and has some antibacterial properties. If you’re worried about getting sweaty, bamboo is the way to go. With silk, on the other hand, it’s possible to invest in tight-fitting silk garments designed specifically with eczema sufferers in mind. Keep in mind that silk is a bit harder to wash, though.
Wear Loose-Fitting Clothing
As nice as it might look, tight clothing doesn’t necessarily play well with eczema. In fact, it may require you to use eczema cream more often if you wear it on a regular basis. Instead, wear loose-fitting clothing. Looser garments don’t rub up against your skin as much, and they’re much more breathable. In addition, make sure any scratchy or stiff tags are cut away from your clothing. Even if you’re wearing something that’s loose and flowy, a scratchy tag can mean a nasty eczema flare-up if you’re not careful.
Wash Before You Wear
Washing new clothes before you wear them can be a life-saving strategy for at-home eczema treatment. If you wear something straight from the store, it’s possible that there are chemicals on the fabric that could irritate your skin and cause an eczema flare-up. Instead, make sure you wash every new item of clothing before you wear it. Once you’ve washed it with detergent that’s free of fragrance and dye, you can rest easy knowing your new clothes will look fabulous and help keep your eczema symptoms at bay.
Learning how to dress if you’re suffering from eczema can be a challenge. If you’re unsure whether your clothing is contributing to your eczema or you have questions about the best eczema treatment for you, set up your consultation with SE Dermatology Specialists today.