Apply your chosen emollient to the affected patch of skin. Don’t rub it too roughly as this could cause further irritation.

Use plenty – the current recommendation is that an adult should use at least 500g of emollient every week, while children should use 250g. Don’t worry, as you cannot use too much. The itching sensation caused by eczema can be hard to resist, but you should try to avoid scratching as much as possible. This could end up damaging the skin further, making the condition worse and increasing your risk of infection and scarring.There’s no single cause of eczema. Instead, most people find there are multiple causes of eczema that lead to flare-ups. However, there are certain things that are more likely to trigger specific types of eczema. Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis)

People with atopic eczema often have very dry skin that is unable to retain much moisture. When it dries out, skin is typically more sensitive to triggers such as certain materials, hormonal changes, allergens, and irritants like soaps or detergents. This can then make your skin itchy or sore. The exact cause of dyshidrotic eczema is unclear. However, it’s common in people who regularly have wet hands (such as hairdressers). It has also been linked to:Like atopic eczema, discoid eczema is caused by extremely dry skin that is prone to react to irritants, such as soaps. However, unlike atopic eczema, it isn’t known to run in families. Use the correct utensils – avoid putting your hands into pots of emollient cream. Instead, use a utensil to take out the right amount and replace the lid of the tub after use. Alternatively, use a pump dispenser. History of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – blood clots caused by DVT can damage the veins in your lower legs. Believing nature holds the secret to human health, two American brothers, Sidney and Albert Musher began studying the benefits of oat in 1945. Oat was an ingredient used in skincare since ancient times for its ability to soothe and nourish the skin. The brothers discovered the powers of finely milled colloidal oatmeal to manage dry skin conditions. The famous Mayo Clinic dermatologists recognised their pioneering work and the AVEENO® brand was born.

The Aveeno Daily Range of moisturisers and cleansers significantly improve the condition of dry skin in as little as just 2 weeks. These include Daily Moisturising Lotion (with lavender), Hand Cream, Body Wash and Moisturising Creamy Oil. Emollients (moisturisers) are a mixture of two liquids - a plant, fruit or mineral oil mixed with water to make a lotion, cream or ointment. Using an emollient will not prevent your soap or hand sanitiser being effective. If your eczema is caused by an irritant, such as the chemicals in soaps, detergents, bubble baths, and shower gels, avoiding those triggers can help reduce the risk of flare ups. Even if your current soaps or toiletries aren’t obviously the cause of your eczema, you might benefit from switching to a fragrance-free, and more moisturising emollient-based soap. Don’t scratch If your symptoms are severe, your GP may prescribe corticosteroid tablets. However, these are generally avoided as a form of chronic eczema treatment, as they carry potentially harmful side effects. Eczema skin care tipsHand washing is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of infection. But for people with skin conditions, frequent washing can trigger skin damage and exacerbate symptoms. Even those of us with healthy skin may find that alcohol-based hand sanitisers and harsh soaps can dry out the hands, causing irritation.