Skin care is the first step in a treatment plan for atopic dermatitis. Many of the issue with itching that leads to the inflamed rashes can be skipped simply by taking better care of the skin. To avoid the terrible cycle of itching, scathing and rash that is atopic dermatitis skin must be kept moisturizes and free of irritants.

People with atopic dermatitis must keep their skin hydrated. While researchers may not know the direct cause of atopic dermatitis they do know that keeping skin from becoming dry cuts down on breakouts considerably. Keeping the skin properly hydrate makes it less susceptible to irritants and sets the foundation for other topical treatments such as creams and emollients.

To prevent skin from drying out during the bathing process it is best to take showers but if a bath is unavoidable keep it to 3-5 minutes and make sure the water is not hot. Even when you do shower you need to still not take to long, 10 minutes top, and still keep the water temperature moderate. Soap should be used as sparingly as possible and only in areas that really needed. When using soap it is best to use ones that are specially made for sensitive skin. They will be free of dyes, fragrances and preservatives which are all irritants to atopic dermatitis skin. Avoid the use of bath oils, bubble baths, wash clothes and loofahs because they keep the skin from properly absorbing moister.

When you are done with your shower or bath do not rub your skin dry, instead gently pat dry it to retain as much moister as possible. Once you have sufficiently dried yourself you will want to apply a moisturizing cream that is also hypoallergenic, such as Eucerin or Cetaphil, with in 3 minutes to lock in that moisture. You also want to apply this moisturizer several times throughout the day.

Perfume soaps and lotions should never be used because they can cause severe allergic reactions. Also be careful what blends of material you allow in contact with your skin. Wool and other scratchy materials should be avoided. Instead stick with cotton and other breathable materials. Keep the skin free of perspiration with help cut down on reactions. This also means avoiding the heat of the day. The weather can have a drastic effect on the skin especially the cold winters. Cold weather itself and the heaters we use to warm up dry skin out very quickly. It is recommended that a humidified be set on low and continuously used during months that the heater is used to keep the moister levels in your homes air up.

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