After bathing and showering skin becomes dry, tight and sore causing itchy skin to flake The skin has a layer of natural oil, which helps retain moisture in the skin, but use of soaps, detergents and shower gels strip the skin of this essential layer.

Replace washes, shower gels and bubble baths with exederm cleansing wash. Avoid irritants such as parabens

Water itself can be drying to the skin and when the skin is warm it becomes more absorbent, therefore it is essential to moisturize immediately after washing with a moisturizer such as exederm intensive moisture cream.

Regular washes and shower gels may also contain colorings, lanolin, soap and fragrances which may irritate you skin causing it to break out in a rash. Replace these products with the exederm cleansing wash or exederm intensive moisture cream.

Dust mites

Dust mites, household pets, and grass pollen can aggravate eczema or dry sensitive skin. These allergens may cause skin rash which can become itchy and irritated and when untreated can result in flare-ups. Flare-ups are when the skin becomes very irritated, dry, itchy, and red and painful. In extreme cases the skin may break and weep.

• Replace carpets where possible with hard tiling or wooden floors

• Clean floors and surfaces completely of dust regularly

• Vacuum carpets regularly to minimize dust mites

• Check for pet allergies as contact animal hairs or feathers may aggravate symptoms

Home improvements

Flooring

Dust mites can aggravate eczema so, to combat this, replace carpets and synthetic floor coverings which breed and home dust mites with tile or wooden floors. This type of floor covering allows dust mites to be more easily removed through regular cleaning and dusting.

Vacuum carpets regularly as this will minimize the presence of dust mites in the home. Consider using a vacuum with a hepa-filter to minimize allergens.

Fabrics and Bedding

Choose 100% cotton bedclothes and bed covers as opposed to synthetic fabrics or cotton and synthetic fabric mixes. 100% cotton allows the skin to breathe. Avoid putting synthetic or woolen fabric next to the skin as these materials can irritate or itch the skin aggravating dry sensitive skin or eczema . Bedclothes and bed covers should be washed weekly at a temperature of 60 c or above as this will help control dust mites in the bedroom which may aggravate eczema.

Laundry

Replace biological washing powders and fabric conditioner with non-biological washing detergents, as these are kinder to sensitive skins. Keep house temperatures cool to warm rather than warm to hot, as this is most comfortable temperature for dry sensitive skin or eczema

Air conditioning

In homes with air conditioning, consider using a humidifier to return moisture to the air.