Eczema and mental health: What's the connection?
Is the red, rash-like appearance of eczema skin bothering you? The relentless itch and sleepless nights can make it even more difficult for you. Living with eczema can be challenging on your emotional well-being too. Did you know that anxiety and stress are common triggers that cause eczema to flare up? This then creates more anxiety and stress. This, in turn, leads to more eczema flare-ups. How do you break this vicious cycle?
It’s significant to comprehend the connection between eczema and stress. When you experience a traumatic situation, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode. It increases the production of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. But when the body produces too much cortisol, it can overpower the immune system and cause an inflammatory response in the skin. If you’ve eczema then you are predominantly vulnerable to this inflammatory response.
Strategies to cut down stress
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Take care of your mental health:
More than 30% of people with atopic dermatitis are diagnosed with depression and anxiety. (Source: National Eczema Association) People with inflammatory skin diseases like eczema are more vulnerable to mental health issues like anxiety or depression. It is because of the way their bodies communicate with their brains during an inflammatory response.
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Using relaxation to manage eczema stress:
Practice deep breathing while listening to calming music or nature sounds. Download a guided meditation app. Enroll in a yoga or tai chi class. Allocate a certain amount of time each day to read a book or cuddle with your pet. Make it a routine. Divert your mind from negative thinking. Try doing creative activities like writing, painting, knitting, baking, or playing video games or chess.
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Importance of sleep when you have eczema:
If you’ve eczema then you probably know how difficult it is to sleep when your skin is itchy. Enjoy warm, relaxing showers and lather on the moisturizer before bed. This can induce sleepiness and stave off the itch. It also helps if you convert your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary. Keep the room dark, cool and clean. Limit the use of electronic devices an hour or two before it’s time to hit the sack.
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Exercise and eczema:
Exercise is one of the most effective ways to battle stress, anxiety, depression and other negative feelings. Whether you prefer walking, running, swimming, boxing, or playing tennis, exercise triggers certain neurotransmitters and hormones that can dramatically improve your mood. It’s recommended to get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, in addition to muscle-strengthening activities. Nevertheless, if sweat is a trigger for your eczema, take a cool or lukewarm shower soon after your workout and change your clothes.
You might also want to know if a rash is a sign of food allergies or eczema.
What are the treatment options?
The treatment of acute eczema requires repeated application of dilute solutions of vinegar or tap water. This is often in the form of a compress followed by evaporation. Once the acute weeping has reduced, topical steroid applications can be one of the treatment options. In extensive skin disease, steroids are used orally or by an injection or shot. But there can be side-effects to these treatment options. These include chemical dermatitis, thinning of the skin, skin discolouration, burns, and liver toxicity.
Are you looking for an eczema treatment that works best for you? Homeopathy can help! The advantages of homeopathy treatment comprise improved dermatitis, internal healing, no side-effects, and no toxicity.
Dr Batra's® has successfully treated thousands of eczema patients over the past 35 years. Our homeopathic treatment for eczema corrects the deviated immune response i.e., it corrects the root cause of eczema. Homeopathic medicine for eczema works to bring back the faulty immune response.
Book an online appointment with our skin doctors for an effective eczema treatment plan. He/she will evaluate your case history before prescribing homeopathic medicines.
