Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema that not only gives you irritating sensations but also impairs the quality of your life. Scientific studies reveal that people dealing with chronic inflammatory skin conditions go through anxiety, social withdrawal, and poor self-image. There is no denying it, how tough it becomes to embrace your life when your skin is itching and burning constantly.
We understand your struggle to deal with dry and parched skin. We are here to ease your discomfort by providing important self-care measures to control your atopic dermatitis. According to numerous research studies, certain ingredients present in your cosmetic and skin care products trigger your symptoms of atopic dermatitis.
Harmful ingredients
- Fragrances
- Sulphates
- Parabens
- Oxybenzone
- Phthalates
1. Fragrances
Many epidemiological research studies have found that the use of fragrance-based skin care products leads to severe allergic reactions on your atopic skin. This makes your sensitive skin more irritated and itchy. Skin care experts recommend using fragrance-free skin products to control atopic dermatitis. Usually, fragrance-free products do not contain any artificial fragrance to neutralize the odd odor of certain medicinal ingredients present in the products.
2. Sulphates (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)
Sulphates are the most common cleansing agents used in a wide array of personal and household products like shampoo, floor cleaner, face wash, and body washes. It has been figured out that the strong cleansing action of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) also sweeps away natural skin oils while removing the impurities. Frequent use of sulphates based can make your skin dry, dehydrated, and scaly. Therefore, if you are already dealing with a compromised skin barrier due to atopic dermatitis, use should consider looking for sulfate-free and emollient based skin care products.
3. Parabens
Parabens are the preservative ingredients, which help to increase the shelf life of skin care products by preventing the growth of bacteria and fungus. However, numerous research studies have pointed out that high exposure to parabens increases the risk of skin allergies and reproductive complications. External application of parabens may lead to skin irritations and allergies on the skin, especially with chronic inflammatory skin conditions.
4. Oxybenzone
Dermatologists explain that certain ingredients present in your sunscreen can trigger burning, irritation, redness, and itching in atopic dermatitis. Dr. Sandy Skotnicki, founder of Toronto's Bay Dermatology Centre opines that the use of chemical sunscreens may leave your atopic skin more itchy and irritated. Oxybenzone is a chemical ingredient commonly used in sunscreens, which is found to cause skin irritations and allergies. Hence, the use of physical sunscreens containing Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide is considered safe for people dealing with eczema and atopic dermatitis
5. Phthalates
Phthalates are another ingredient, which is not well tolerated by itchy and irritated skin. Many pieces of research studies have elucidated that exposure to phthalates may aggravate dry skin conditions. According to a US based research study, prenatal exposure to a phthalate increases the risk of developing skin diseases in newborns.
Good ingredients
- Colloidal Oatmeal
- Ceramide I, III, VI
- Phytosterols
- Madecassoside
- Gamma Linoleic Acid
1. Colloidal Oatmeal
According to a research study published in The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology colloidal oatmeal acts as an excellent and anti-inflammatory agent for atopic dermatitis. It also helps to balance out the altered skin pH levels, which assist in the healing of damaged skin barrier. This natural atopic agent works effectively to provide relief from inflamed and itchy skin in both adults and infants.
2. Ceramide I, III, VI
The impaired skin barrier has been acknowledged as a leading factor in causing atopic dermatitis. Your healthy skin barrier contains a high concentration of ceramides, which help to keep your skin hydrated and nourished. If you are suffering from atopic dermatitis, it is quite beneficial to opt for the barrier creams comprising the Ceramide I, III, VI. Ceramides help to reduce Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) which ultimately helps to improve the barrier functions. Numerous clinical research studies have claimed the efficacy of ceramide-based creams in managing mild to moderate cases of atopic dermatitis successfully.
3. Phytosterols
Phytosterols are photochemical compounds derived from plant-based sources. Owing to their emollient properties, they are used in the formulation of many skin care products. Many research studies have found that phytosterols exhibit strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which make them an ideal ingredient to treat dry skin conditions like eczema and atopic dermatitis. Its external application helps to relieve the irritable sensations in eczema meanwhile speeding up the skin healing.
4. Madecassoside
Madecassoside is obtained from the herb Centella asiatica, which is packed with incredible skin healing properties. Medicinal properties of this bioactive ingredient are found to calm the irritated atopic skin. A 2016 research study elaborates that the use of this herb helps to boost skin hydration as well.
5. Gamma Linoleic Acid
A double-blind study has mentioned that the application of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) has significantly helped to improve atopic eczema. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is usually found in vegetable oils such as borage seed oil, hemp seed oil, evening primrose oil, etc. It is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, which plays a crucial role to manage dry skin disorders by increasing the cell number and preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
Keeping your skin hydrated is the primary step to take care of atopic dermatitis. Skin care experts say that daily use of gentle skin barrier creams and lotions helps to relieve the symptoms of eczema like flakiness, rashes, dryness, peeling, and redness. Aside from daily skin care, following relaxation therapies and staying away from things that trigger your existing skin conditions are also important parts of atopic skin treatment. Last but not least, healing is not an overnight process but is a daily practice.
Give a smile to yourself and do not let negative thoughts impact your healing process.
