In our professional or personal lives, managing our stress levels can be extremely challenging, whether you’ve just welcomed a new bundle of joy into your home or have several deadlines looming over you at work. Stress and other negative emotions can soon build up, and if you’re not careful, so can the accompanying complications.
With 74% of the UK population admitting to feeling some sort of stress in either their personal or professional lives, a whopping 67% of this number being men, it is not surprising that more and more men are coming forward about their experience with eczema. That’s because stress is one of the primary triggers for the skin condition.
Unlike other bodily issues, problems with our skin can be much harder to turn a blind eye to, as they can cause problems far beyond the aesthetic. For most men, it can be challenging to open up regarding everyday situations, especially when the issue you’re facing is on your skin. In hopes of making it a more straightforward matter to discuss, we’ve listed several lifestyle and health hacks for men suffering from eczema below – keep reading to find out more.
Change Your Diet
Although no miracle food or diet can cure eczema, you can attempt to manage the severity of it by making changes to your diet. Some of the most common diet changes for alleviating the symptoms of eczema are as follows:
- Eliminating allergens.
- Taking probiotics to aid gut health and good digestion.
- Following an anti-inflammatory diet.
- Using natural skin care products like manuka honey.
- Balancing your vitamin intake, and many more.
Although, before you make any rash decisions about your diet, it is vital that you discuss any potential changes with a health professional, as only they will be able to give you advice tailored to your needs that are best for your eczema. As well as consulting with health professionals, you could also read medical leaflets about eczema to understand better your condition and what could aggravate flare-ups.
Look After Your Skin
As we’re sure, many eczema suffers can attest that living with this skin condition can be a miserable affair for you and your skin. Therefore, it is within your best interests to look after your skin to the best of your abilities by creating a skin routine suitable for the severity of your eczema. Ultimately, you want your routine to address three things: locking in moisture, soothing the skin, and avoiding triggers.
You can do this by moisturising after getting out of the bath or shower, avoiding hot water when you wash, understanding and avoiding what triggers your skin, and experimenting with your skincare routine. All eczema sufferers are different, and what might work for one person might not work for another, so be prepared to trail a range of products before you find one that suits your skin and don’t expect to fall in love with the first product you buy.
You can do this by asking for recommendations from your health provider, using the internet to search for the top-rated products for eczema-prone skin, or if you have friends or family members that also suffer from eczema, you could consider asking what works for them and if they have any recommendations.
Keep Yourself Cool (But Not Too Cool!)
The climate can significantly affect eczema, with the winter months being the most challenging to keep the symptoms away. However, it’s not just the cold that you must be wary of; extreme heat or getting too sweaty can also have a profound effect on the severity of eczema – so it’s essential that you can keep yourself cool (but not too cool!).
Keep yourself cool during the summer by keeping a wet flannel or cloth inside your fridge when the heat makes your itching spiral out of control. Putting a cold compress on your irritated skin can help soothe it almost instantly and can also help to reduce any redness or swelling that you might be experiencing. As well as using a cool washcloth, you could also consider putting any medicated creams, oils, or lotions in the fridge, which will make using them even more pleasurable.
Wear Loose Fitting Clothes
Another way that you can keep your eczema under control is by wearing lightweight, breathable clothes, which will reduce the amount the fabric will pinch, rub, or irritate your skin. Ensuring that you wear comfortable clothing will also make you sweat less, which can further irritate eczema-prone skin, especially if you sweat a lot.
We understand that wearing comfortable clothing in a professional setting can be difficult. Still, you can get around this by opting for less constricting fabrics, or if you wear a tie, you could consider leaving the top button of your shirt undone so that air can circulate and make your skin less irritated.