1. Moisturize every day with a rich cream ( or lotion in summer) to hydrate the skin. Gold Bond Ultimate has a lotion specially formulated for eczema relief.
2. Take short (less than 10 minutes) lukewarm baths and showers, using mild, hypoallergenic soap and cleansers like Dove.
3. Learn your eczema triggers and avoid them.
4. Purchase a cold mist humidifier in dry or cold weather to avoid drying out your skin indoors.
5. Treat seasonal allergies with a good antihistamine.
Furthermore, just because you’re African American and you have more melanin in your skin does not mean that you don’t need to wear sunscreen. “Although it’s most often found in patients with fair skin and light eyes, I have many African-American patients who have been diagnosed with skin cancer,” Dr. Henry says.
“I often remind my patients that Bob Marley died from melanoma.”
To help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 all year round.