Top Eczema Triggers To Avoid

Clothing And Jewelry

Patients with eczema often find that their symptoms worsen when they wear hot, scratchy, or non-breathable clothing such as wool and polyester. Patients should not wear too many layers and should avoid clothing that makes them sweat since sweat can irritate the skin and worsen eczema symptoms. Exposure to metals in jewelry or clothing buttons and snaps can also be a problem; nickel is the most common metal sensitivity that causes eczema outbreaks.

Chemical Irritants

For eczema patients, common household cleaning supplies can cause outbreaks or worsen existing ones. Bleach, latex, cleaning sprays, and air fresheners are all common culprits. When using harsh products, eczema patients should use a cotton-lined cleaning glove while being careful not to work barefoot when using these irritating products, since they can cause eczema on the feet just as easily as on the hands and arms. Cigarette smoke can also be a trigger, so eczema patients should not smoke and reduce their exposure to secondhand smoke whenever possible. Other skin irritants can also include certain types of metals, particularly nickel, fragrances, and antibacterial ointments such as neomycin and bacitracin. Other chemicals include formaldehyde, which is often found in household cleaners, isothiazolinones, which is an antibacterial chemical found in baby wipes, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, which is used to thicken shampoos and lotions, and paraphenylenediamine, which is used in leather dyes and temporary tattoos.