How Reducing Indoor Allergens Can Ease Your Eczema Symptoms

More than 30 million people in the United States have eczema — a long-term condition that causes symptoms like dry, itchy skin which, when scratched, results in a red rash, according to the National Eczema Association (NEA). Although there is no cure for the condition, there are ways you can prevent a flare-up.

The most common type of eczema, atopic dermatitis, is caused by an allergic- like reaction to allergens or other irritants in the environment, including dust mites, pet dander, and mold.

"The most common indoor allergens that trigger eczema are dust mites and pets,” says Elizabeth Page, MD, a dermatologist at the Lahey Clinic, in Burlington, Massachusetts, and an instructor in dermatology at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, who notes that it’s especially important to keep your bedroom as allergen-free as possible.

Here are a few ways you can manage indoor allergens:

Indoor Irritants and Eczema Control

"Because people with eczema don't hold enough moisture in their skin, their skin can be more easily irritated than other people's,” Page says. One of the worst irritants for eczema is dry air, she explains.

Here are a few other ways to limit indoor irritants:

One of the best ways to manage eczema is to learn which irritants and allergens trigger an attack — and avoid them.

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