Shampoo Secrets: Mastering Eczema Care for Your Beautiful Hair
Shiny, radiant hair is every woman’s dream. But it’s also one of the most elusive pursuits, especially for those struggling with skin diseases like eczema.
Fortunately, there are numerous effective eczema treatments that you can rely upon to improve your hair’s luster and vitality. This article shall highlight those remedies, with a special focus on shampoos.
But first, let’s familiarize ourselves with eczema and its potential impact on your skin and hair health.
Photo Credit: AdobeStock.com
About Eczema
Eczema is a common illness characterized by skin dryness, itchiness, redness, and irritation. The disease is also known as atopic dermatitis, although the term “atopic dermatitis” also happens to be a specific type of eczema.
Eczema is one of the most prevalent skin diseases in the United States. Statistics suggest that about 10.1% of the U.S. population have had some form of eczema during their lifetime.
The disease typically begins in infancy or early childhood and, without timely interventions, may occur into adulthood. There’s also a significant percentage of eczema cases that only begin in adulthood.
The good news is that eczema is manageable. One way to treat the condition is by applying a high-quality, dermatologically-approved eczema shampoo. More on this later on.
Causes of Eczema
Medical researchers have yet to uncover the specific cause of eczema. Many attribute the disease to an overactive immune system.
However, numerous factors can trigger or exacerbate eczema flare-ups. These include exposure to certain external irritants, including;
- Chemicals found in some household products, such as detergents and cleansers
- Scented or fragranced products
- Food allergies
- External allergens like mold, pollen, and dust mites
- Certain upper respiratory infections
- Synthetic fabrics
- Rough fabrics like wool
- Excessive sweating
- Drastic temperature fluctuations
- Stress
Some researchers have also established a relationship between eczema and reduced production of the filament aggregating protein filaggrin. Filaggrin plays an essential role in moisturizing the skin and improving its elasticity.
Photo Credit: AdobeStock.com
Types of Eczema
Eczema comes in many shapes and forms. Common types include;
- Atopic Dermatitis – Considered the most common eczema type, atopic dermatitis is marked by dry, itchy, and often reddish skin.
- Contact Dermatitis – Eczema resulting from exposure to skin irritants or allergens.
- Dyshidrotic Dermatitis – Common on the fingers, palms, and soles of the feet, this type of eczema causes the skin to become itchy, scaly, and flaky.
- Nummular Dermatitis – Characterized by round, red, and itchy patches, particularly around the lower legs.
- Stasis Dermatitis – Typically results from poor blood circulation to the lower legs.
Symptoms of Eczema
Dry, itchy skin is the primary symptom of eczema. Some people may also observe flakiness, fluid-filled raised bumps, reddish/brownish-gray patches, and irritation on their skin.
Eczema symptoms can be quite erratic and unpredictable. In some people, the signs may appear and disappear alternately. Yet, in others, the symptoms may constantly flare up until they reach worrying levels.
Eczema can appear anywhere on the skin. However, the commonly affected areas tend to be the arms, inner elbows, cheeks, scalp, and knee backs.
The symptoms also typically worsen at night and may adversely affect sleep.
The Role of Shampoo in Treating Eczema
Eczema isn’t contagious. However, the disease can cause excruciating pain and discomfort while it lasts. That underscores the significance of seeking early treatment.
Fortunately, you can manage eczema effectively using certain skin-friendly shampoos. Examples of such products include;
1. Altheys Laboratoire Eczema Shampoo
Altheys Laboratoire is a household name in the manufacture of dermatological-approved products, and their eczema shampoo is definitely worth a try.
Although inherently a shampoo, this product is effective against all eczema types, including contact dermatitis. It relieves skin irritation and dryness while also revitalizing hair.
Altheys Laboratoire uses skin-friendly ingredients in its shampoos, including plantago lanceolata leaf extract that gently cleanses your skin and hair of potential eczema triggers without damaging tender skin tissues. Other core ingredients in the product include acacia concinna fruit powder, Simmondsia chinensis, and sodium cocoyl isethionate.
The shampoo is fragrance- and sulfates-free, making it ideal for sensitive skin.
Photo Credit: AdobeStock.com
2. Aveeno Farm-Fresh Oat Milk Sulfate-Free Shampoo
This is yet another eczema shampoo formulated specifically for people with sensitive skin.
As the name suggests, Aveeno’s eczema shampoo contains incredibly soothing oat milk carefully mixed with almond milk. The product works by soothing and moisturizing the hair from its root tip while softening every strand. It’s free of sulfates, parabens, dyes, and any other irritant you can think of.
It might also interest you that Aveeno’s eczema shampoo is clinically proven to deliver quick results.
3. Nizoral AD Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Nizoral AD Anti-Dandruff is one of the only eczema shampoos containing the powerful dandruff-fighting ingredient – ketoconazole. It’s a top recommendation if you’re looking for a multi-purpose hair shampoo.
Like Aveeno’s eczema shampoo, Nizoral AD relieves eczema by penetrating the root of each hair strand.
The product has been clinically proven effective against skin flaking, scaling, and irritation resulting from fungal infections.
Other Eczema Treatments
Besides shampoos, there are many other eczema treatment options to explore. These include oral over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines for soothing skin irritation. Examples are cetirizine (Zyrtec) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Steroid creams may also relieve severe eczema symptoms, particularly scaling and itching. However, beware of potential adverse effects like skin thinning and discoloration.
Other potential eczema treatments include phototherapy, relaxation techniques, and aromatherapy.
Photo Credit: AdobeStock.com
Wrap Up
Eczema can be a nuisance while it lasts. However, it’s great to know that you can manage most of its symptoms using certain dermatologically-certified shampoos, among other interventions.
