Adult Eczema Made Easier: Starting with One Step

Now a year-plus into a pandemic that has only just started to reveal a light at the end of the tunnel, our skin has been through the proverbial gauntlet. Staying inside all the time took some getting used to, from having to build safe, new daily routines to discovering entirely virtual ways to nurture our relationships. Our complexions had to acclimate, too, presenting us with an influx of skin concerns, like dryness, hyperpigmentation, and even a little phenomenon we now call "maskne," all essentially overnight.

But there's something else you may have been experiencing, and it could be one you've never encountered before: eczema.

Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a condition where the skin barrier is not working as well as it should be. The outer skin layer develops microscopic cracks, leading to loss of hydration and inflammation.

If you're one of the roughly 31.6 million Americans who have some form of eczema, you understand that off paper, this clinical definition really translates to dry and sensitive skin that can become itchy, red, and scaly. While patients will often develop patches on the insides of the elbows and knees, eczema can crop up almost anywhere on the body.

Diagnosing Your Adult Eczema

For as relatively widespread as eczema is (one in 10 individuals will develop it at some point during their lifetime, according to the National Eczema Association), it can still be challenging to treat — especially, and frustratingly, if you first get it as an adult. That's because the condition usually develops in early childhood, with up to 50% of cases continuing past puberty into adulthood.

It is much less likely to present for an initial diagnosis of eczema in adulthood. Just because eczema is still a relatively puzzling condition overall, though, doesn't mean there aren't proven routes down which you can go to get relief. In people who solely present later in life without any prior skin issues, a further medical work-up should be done to rule out underlying causes, such as an allergy or a new medication.

If eczema is the result of a faulty skin barrier, adulthood itself may also be a contributing factor. We age, our skin's barrier is less effective at retaining moisture and repairing itself. In fact, there's even a whole form of eczema, asteatotic eczema, that often develops from dry skin in adults. And right now, for those of us non-essential workers still under varying degrees of stay-at-home orders, dry skin may be impossible to avoid.

The air inside our homes may not just be drier than what our skin needs, but it can also be dirtier. Even with the use of humidifiers and/or air purifiers, uncirculated air can contain dust and other indoor pollutants that can disrupt skin — and can make existing eczema worse.

Remember, Treatment Is Possible

If you're suffering from red, flaky skin as an adult, there's both good news and bad news. We can't cure eczema, but we can keep it under control. It all starts with getting the skin barrier in good shape while reducing inflammation. Your skin care routine and a natural eczema cream is the best way to accomplish this!

For all ages, moisturizing and supporting the skin barrier is the mainstay of maintenance. That means using moisturizers that contain humectants to hydrate, emollients to support the skin barrier, and occlusives to lock in the moisture, several times daily, and Wild Naturals fits the bill there too.

The Bottom Line

Part of the adult eczema journey is accepting that there's no silver-bullet fix, and the steps sufferers can take to mitigate the condition are also things non-sufferers should be doing, too. (Just think: Cutting down your shower time, which can help keep skin from drying out, also cuts down your energy-use and water waste.)

There are several commercially available topical probiotics focused on improving the skin’s microbiome that show promise, so the future will hopefully lead to more standardized production of products focused on this. Until then, maintain hydrated skin as best you can with Wild Naturals Eczema & Psoriasis Cream and our whole line of products to help you!