When you have flare-ups caused by eczema, all you want to do is get rid of them. In fact, one of the most common go-to medications for people with eczema is an antihistamine like Benadryl. But does Benadryl for eczema really work?
Before we even talk about how effective Benadryl for eczema is, let us first talk about what eczema is all about.
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis is a condition that makes the skin red and itchy. This skin condition commonly appears on children, but could also occur in any stage of life, at any age. Although not life-threatening, some cases of eczema could last a lifetime. Although when a person has it during infancy, most often than not, he or she will outgrow it.
Speaking of children, in a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, 10 percent of kids in the United States have eczema. While another study says that over 30 million people in the US have this skin condition.
Eczema is indeed a very common medical condition, but here’s the thing, it does not have a cure. As mentioned earlier you could either outgrow it or deal with it for the rest of your life. No wonder why a lot of people are doing their best to find a cure or at least find ways to help ease out or manage its symptoms.
Eczema is sometimes mistaken for rashes because of the redness and itchiness. In fact, some people have mistaken it for other skin conditions like heat rash, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis. However, eczema actually has unique characteristics. Rashes caused by eczema looks like patches of red, rough, and itchy skin on cheeks, forehead, legs, and arms of babies, and it also shows up inside the elbows, ankles, and knees in older children.
Causes of Eczema Flare-ups
Later on, we will talk more about Benadryl for eczema. But first, what trigger an eczema flare?
Here are some of the everyday things that could result in eczema flare-up or even make it worse:
– Dry Skin
When your skin is too dry, it could get brittle, rough, scaly, or tight. When that happens, expect that there is a huge tendency of an eczema flare-up. You do not want that to happen, right? That is why it is important for people with eczema to keep their skin hydrated and moisturized.
– Weather and Perspiration
On one hand, one of the main culprits of eczema flare-ups is the weather – especially when it’s hot. Hot temperature causes perspiration or sweating among people. In the case of those with eczema condition though, it means, they are more likely to experience a “prickly heat” sensation when they perspire. Apart from the direct heat of the sun, the heat and sweat caused by exercising or wearing layers of clothes can also lead to flare-ups.
On the other hand, cold winter months can also trigger eczema flare-ups. During this season, there’s a tendency for our skin to get too dry – which may lead to irritation and eczema flare-up. You are also likely to experience inconvenience brought by this skin condition when the air is too dry or too humid. Also avoid taking long, hot showers or baths as they may also trigger flare-ups.
So, yeah, basically, no matter what the weather is, you have to take extra precautions when you are diagnosed with eczema. Otherwise, you might just have to deal with the flare-ups.
– Irritants
There are a lot of irritants out there. They could be in the form of everyday products or natural substances. When these irritants reach your ski, most likely, it will cause burning sensation and itchiness on the skin, or could lead to dry and red skin.
To give you an idea, man-made irritants include:
– hand and dishwashing soap
– laundry detergent
– bubble bath
– shampoo
– body wash
– surface cleaners and disinfectants
– metals particularly nickel
– fragrances
– fabrics like wool and polyester
– cigarette smoke
– antibacterial ointment
– formaldehyde, which is commonly found in some vaccines, household disinfectants, glues and adhesives
– Isothiazolinones, which is an antibacterial that is present in personal care products such as baby wipes
– Paraphenylenediamine, which is commonly used in leather dyes and temporary tattoos
– Cocamidopropyl betaine that is used to thicken products like lotions and shampoos
Meanwhile, some natural irritants include natural liquids like juices from fresh fruits, meats or vegetables.
– Stress
Yes, stress can cause eczema flare-ups, especially among adults. There is actually no definite reason why stress triggers eczema, but some people noticed that eczema symptoms get worse when they feel stressed – particularly emotional stress. We thought maybe it has something to do with the chemical imbalance in the body caused by stress. Well, we could only assume. We better find out if there really is a basis for this theory.
– Hormones
Yes, body hormones have something to do with eczema flare-ups, too! Hormones, as you may know, are substances produced by our bodies that may cause a wide variety of symptoms. Based on studies, they found out that when the levels of some specific hormone in your body increases or decreases, there’s a tendency that people with eczema, particularly women, may have flare-ups.
– Infection
When you have eczema flare-ups, you should be wary of having it infected by viruses or bacteria that are present in the environment. Some common triggers for infection are molluscum virus, herpes virus, and some specific kinds of fungus.
It is vital to be informed of these different infections, as well as to what causes them. That way, you get to know how to handle if you have such a case so as not to worsen your eczema.
– Allergens
Unfortunately, there are natural materials that cause you allergic reaction and could help trigger an eczema flare-up. Among the most common allergens present in the everyday environment are dust mites, seasonal pollen, mold, and dandruff, as well as pet dander from cats and dogs. Some fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, are also considered as allergens.
Unfortunately, there are some allergens that cause eczema symptoms to stay longer or triggers to come back that are harder to figure out. That is why it is highly recommended that you know what allergens to avoid. That way, you can help keep your eczema symptoms in control.
We suggest you get yourself checked for allergies. By doing so, you get to have full knowledge of what and what not to avoid.
Having said all of these, we think it all boils down to one thing – you have to know your body, and you have to learn to adjust to your environment if you want to stay away from experiencing eczema symptoms or flare-ups.
How to help reduce the effect of eczema flare-ups?
Eczema outbreaks can really become irritating, and at times, painful when not attended right away.
Imagine, your skin is inflamed and itchy. The worst feeling you could feel, right? Well, that exactly what people with eczema have to deal with when they are having flare-ups. Precisely why a lot of people diagnosed with eczema try whatever medication or precautions available for them just to keep them away from experiencing outbreaks.
With that said, we have gathered a few ways that help reduce the itchy feels and helps soothe inflamed skin. Here are some of the self-care measures that people with eczema may try on:
- Make it a habit, take a bleach bath regularly.
When we say bleach, we do not mean like putting bleach directly into your body. What we mean is a diluted-bleach bath. A diluted-bleach bath helps decrease the number of bacteria on the skin. To do this, you have to add a ½ cup of household bleach (please, not concentrated bleach) to a 40-gallon bathtub filled with warm water. Please note that we based the measurement on a US standard-sized tub.
Once done, soak your body from the neck down, or you may opt to just soak the affected areas of the skin only. Do this for about 10 minutes only. Please note to NOT submerge your head into the tub. Rinse, pat dry, and moisturize your skin after. Do the diluted-bleach bath for two to three times a week only.
- Always moisturize your skin – at least twice daily.
One of the culprits of eczema flare-ups is having dry skin. When you have dry skin, you are prone to outbreaks. That is why people diagnosed with eczema are highly advised to moisturize daily – in fact, at least twice a day.
The best time to put on your moisturizer is right after taking a bath, while your body is still damp. Make sure to pay attention to your arms, legs, sides, and back of your body. If you notice your skin is too dry, you may consider using oil or lubricating cream instead of moisturizer.
- Take a warm bath daily.
It may be very basic, but it does help a lot. Take a “special” warm bath by putting on some baking soda, uncooked oatmeal or colloidal oatmeal, which is a finely ground oatmeal that is specially made for bathtub use. Then, soak your body for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off and pat dry after, and then, put on some medicated lotions, moisturizers, or a combination of both – just make sure you put on the medicated one first.
It may sound like there’s too much that needs to be done – well, you just have to be patient and deal with it. After all, your skin is special. Thus, it needs special treatment, too.
- Put on an anti-itch cream or calamine lotion to the eczema-affected area of the skin.
For your information, this formulation is nonprescription hydrocortisone cream. It contains at least 1 percent of hydrocortisone, which helps to temporarily relieve the itch. Put it on to the affected area before applying moisturizer.
Make sure to check your progress. If you think your skin’s reaction has improved, then take it as your cue to use it less often.
- Use mild soaps only.
Your skin is very sensitive, and harsh soaps may have substances that can trigger eczema flare-ups. Thus, it is highly suggested that people with eczema use mild soaps only. Avoid using soaps with dyes and/or perfumes. When taking a bath, ensure that you have fully rinsed off the soap from your body.
- Wear clothing that uses cool, smooth-textured cotton fabric.
Your clothes can also trigger or worsen your eczema flare-ups. We do not want that. So, as much as possible wear clothing that is cotton-based. Avoid clothing that is rough-textured, tight, scratchy or clothing that is made using wool.
Also, make sure to wear weather-appropriate clothing only. When exercising, make sure to use exercising clothes that help prevent you from excessive sweating.
- Even if it’s tempting, do NOT scratch.
Avoid scratching the affected area. Instead, cover it to keep you from scratching it. At night, we suggest wearing gloves just in case. If you find it uncomfortable using gloves, at least make sure your nails are properly trimmed. After all, you do not want your eczema to worsen, right?
- Apply cool or wet compress.
In relation to the previous one, you may also apply a cool or wet compress to help protect your skin and prevent you from scratching it.
- If possible, use a humidifier.
There is a lot of humidifiers out there. You just have to find your right match. Remember, hot, dry indoor air can also trigger or worsen skin flare-ups. A handy home humidifier will make a big difference. Humidifiers help add moisture to the air inside your home. Please remember though to always keep your humidifiers clean to prevent it from the growth of fungi and/or bacteria.
- As much as possible, be stress and anxiety-free.
Remember that emotional stress is one of the causes of eczema flare-ups to worsen. So, as much as possible, do yourself a favor by staying away from stressors and things that may cause you anxiety. If you are having a hard time, you may consult experts to help you improve your emotional health.
- Consider taking an oral allergy or anti-itch medication.
Before getting into this do, you may ask your doctor’s recommendation first.
There are a few options to choose from. There’s nonprescription allergy medicines or antihistamines like cetirizine or fexofenadine. But one of the most commonly used is diphenhydramine, particularly Benadryl for eczema flare-ups. These medications help in managing the itchy feels.
However, these medicines have a drowsy effect, so it’s highly advisable to take it during bed or nap time.
Speaking of antihistamine, we will now dig deeper on how effective Benadryl for eczema is. This is to help us check if it’s really worth it. With that said, let’s proceed to the real deal.
Benadryl for Eczema
What is Benadryl?
Benadryl’s generic name is diphenhydramine, which is an antihistamine that is commonly used to help relieve symptoms of allergy, hay fever, and the common cold. Symptoms include rash, itching, itchy eyes/nose/throat, watery eyes, sneezing, and runny nose.
No wonder why some people use Benadryl for eczema since one of the commonly known causes of eczema is an allergy.
Apart from that, Benadryl or diphenhydramine is also used to help prevent or treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness due to motion sickness. In some cases, diphenhydramine is also used to help relax and fall asleep.
What this medication does in one hand is – it blocks a certain natural substance called histamine that your body is allergic to. On the other hand, it also has drying effects for treating runny nose and watery eyes.
Benadryl Formulation
Obviously, Benadryl’s active ingredient is diphenhydramine.
Meanwhile, its inactive ingredients include candelilla wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, hypromellose, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, providone, pregelatinized starch, starch, stearic acid, titanium dioxide, and talc.
Is Benadryl for eczema really Effective?
While some people taking Benadryl for eczema flare-ups say that it is effective, well, to reduce or treat itchiness, definitely it is. Itchiness is one of the common reactions of the skin when having eczema flare-ups.
However, if we are talking about eczema per se, it’s not. Because to be honest, there really is no treatment for this medical condition – at least not yet.
As far as medical experts are a concern, taking Benadryl for eczema flare-ups is not bad at all – especially since it helps ease out the symptom of eczema. All the more if these people with eczema are also diagnosed to have allergic rhinitis, which ultimately is the main purpose of antihistamines.
Summary
To sum it all up, eczema is definitely not an easy skin condition to deal with especially because it does not have a cure, and all you can do is manage its symptoms.
But people with eczema need not feel frustrated or feel bad about having the condition because there are ways to at least help them manage the symptoms. But of course, before even getting into that, they have to first, be knowledgeable of what causes eczema flare-ups and avoid them.
But when things are not going your way, there are always some remedies like taking an antihistamine, Benadryl for eczema. While it does not really address or treat eczema, it does help you manage the itchiness caused by possible allergens.
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