Why Does My Eczema Burn When I Put Cream on It?

Welcome back to our natural skincare blog. This week we are discussing the skin condition known as eczema, however, the medical term is atopic dermatitis. So, what is eczema? Eczema is a condition that makes your skin red and itchy. It’s common in children but can occur at any age. Eczema is chronic and may be accompanied by asthma or hay fever. While there still remains to be no cure for eczema there are quality products on the market to help keep this condition at bay. How do you know if you or someone you know have eczema? This person may be experiencing dry skin, severe itching, red to brownish-gray patches – this can be on the hands, feet, ankles, wrist, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the bend of the elbows and knees and in infants, face and scalp. Small raised bumps, scaly skin or swollen skin from scratching.

Eczema usually begins before the age of 5 and may persist to adulthood. It is highly recommended to see a doctor when your skin is uncomfortable to the point where it is affecting your sleep and daily activities. Individuals with eczema are experiencing this due to a gene variation affecting your skin’s ability to retain moisture and protect you from bacteria. While other complications can arise from having eczema, such as fever, skin infections, sleep problems and more…there are products you can use that can be quite effective in bringing you comfort.

Now that you know what eczema is, let’s talk about what you could be doing that is causing your skin to burn when applying a cream. We are always talking about the importance of knowing what ingredients are in the products you use. Whether you have eczema or not, this is paramount to your overall health. If you are using a crème with fragrance this can be a cause for irritation. Fragrances are a relatively common allergen and having eczema usually means you have sensitive skin. Your skin will have a negative reaction to fragrances. Essential oils – while natural fragrances can post many health benefits, they can, however, be both irritating and cause allergic contact dermatitis. Some others to note are lanolin, retinoids, Cocamidopropyl betaine, propylene glycol and urea.

Here at Clean Beauty by AnaK, we recommend our Soothing Moisturizer (MSRP, $110.00) which contains key ingredients like Defensil-Plus and (Aloe) Leaf Extract used to combat inflammatory processes, replenish the damaged skin barrier and relieves dry, itchy, allergy-prone skin. When using a specific moisturizer, it is good to moisturize at least two times a day and limit your showers to 10 to 15 minutes using warm water. After your shower pat your skin dry gently using a soft towel and apply our soothing moisturizer while your skin is still damp.

For cleansers, you want to go with products that are gel or water-based, cream cleansers, and natural soap bars. Some additional ingredients to be on the lookout for when it comes to your creams and cleaners are glycerin, sorbic acid, milk powders, goat milk, and aloe vera along with the aloe leaf extract previously mentioned.

A good soap worth trying, if you have not done so already is African Black Soap. The benefits of African Black Soap are: reduces inflammations and irritations, removes dead skin, is filled with anti-fungal properties and can heal your skin issues. African Black Soap (the natural soap) continues to get great reviews and praise from its users. If you want a great combination to help get you started today, why not try the black soap and soothing moisturizer? Remember, if you need additional information our founder can help. Schedule a virtual consultation today.

Written by Danielle Wright
Photo by Daria Shevtsova