Asian Skin Care: Help for Eczema Sufferers

I had always hoped I would inherit the trademark Asian skin from my mother. Her face remained unlined without any cosmetic surgery. I did inherit one traditional Asian skin characteristic: eczema.

Growing up, I took my Asian skin for granted. I didn't get sunburned as often as my friends and didn't have problems with pimples. All that changed during a stressful time in my life. It started with a rash on my legs. I found myself scratching constantly, mindlessly. The rash got worse and soon I was having trouble sleeping.

By the time I went to the doctor I was covered in little scabs from scratching so much with scars showing white against my darker Asian skin. I was diagnosed with eczema. I was also told that Asian skin care meant more than just washing your face in the morning and night and putting on some Oil of Olay.

Asian skin is more susceptible to being dry. Dry skin makes you itch. Itchy skin leads to scratching and it forms this vicious cycle. The number one Asian skin care technique is to moisturize.

You must follow the three minute rule. As soon as you step out of the shower, you should put lotion on within 3 minutes. Just following this simple step helped relieve a majority of my eczema. Do not put on lotions with fragrance in them. It can irritate your skin and if you have any open cuts it burns like crazy.

When people think of Asians many people think of long hot baths. This is one of the worst things an Asian can do to their skin. Baths are drying to the skin as is hot water. When you are taking a shower lukewarm is best. Skip the fancy shower gels and use an unscented one. My doctor recommended Cetaphil because it is very gentle on the skin. It won't dry out the skin as some other shower gels will because of fragrances and alcohol. It also won't burn any open cuts left from scratching.

The second Asian skin care technique I recommend is getting allergy tested. Many people have unknown allergies. I was no exception. My allergist recommended a diet free of wheat, eggs and soy for a few weeks. As an Asian I eat soy constantly. I hated the idea but agreed.

After the first week my skin started clearing up. I slowly added back in wheat, eggs and soy without the eczema coming back. I used to drink a lot of soy milk but have given it up because too much brings back the itch.

The third Asian skin care technique is uncomfortable to do. It does helps clear up bad cases of eczema. The technique is more popular in European countries but is gaining popularity in America. This technique uses wet wraps to help moisturize the skin and help it heal.

After taking a shower, you put on any prescription medication. Next put a fragrance free lotion on your skin. Then you wet a pair of pajamas and wring them out so they are damp but not dripping. Throughout the night you must keep the pajamas damp. Many people will have relief by morning.

I tried this using a wet towel on my arm during the day. After 12 hours, my skin didn't have the tight dry feeling and the rash started to clear up.

The fourth technique is the worst one, drugs. There were times when my face would swell from bad outbreaks of eczema. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night because the constant itch would wake me up. When it gets to the point that I consider taking a knife and peeling off the skin to stop the maddening itch, I know it is time for drugs.

I take an allergy pill regularly which has helped somewhat. For bad outbreaks I have to take antibiotics and steroids. These are my last resort as they make me sick. The steroids usually have me wired for days. I want to eat anything in sight, except the antibiotics upset my stomach so I can't eat. The longest I have endured the steroids was one month before I couldn't handle it anymore.

Drugs are a good option because they clear up the skin fast. If you can break the itch/scratch cycle then your flare up might go away and your skin can heal.

There are other ways to help deal with eczema. Wear clothes that breathe like cotton. Keep your house as dust free as possible. Avoid perfumes on your body or in your clothes from detergents. Avoid scrubbing your skin vigorously, this can irritate it and cause the itch.

There are organizations out there that offer support and advice. I have received a lot of information from the National Eczema Association . Sometimes just knowing others are out there that understand your suffering can help.

The eczema battle is one that many Asians fight all their lives. These Asian skin care techniques will arm you for that war. Some say beauty is only skin deep. For eczema sufferers beauty is when that skin stops itching.