I take showers that are definitely warm, but not super hot. And when I get out, my condition is redder. But here's the thing - within a half hour or so it fades again to how it looked prior to the shower. So is it really a problem to take a warm/hot shower? I'm not sure that it is, at least for me. What happens when you take a hot shower? If you're not noticing any long term effects, maybe it's not that important to avoid them.

If you do need to avoid them, it sounds like the major benefit you derive is relaxation, so you might find something else that relaxes you. Deep breathing maybe, or meditation, or perhaps yoga. Sex is good, too, and also helps to warm you up. ;-)

And if you are chronically cold, you might have an iron deficiency. I've got that, and I've found an iron pill a day makes a BIG difference.

Good luck to you!!

If they seem to be drying I would avoid "hot" showers but you should still be able to go fairly warm. For my one year old (bath) and I (shower) I use pretty warm water but we use coconut oil as part of our bathing process (you could use olive oil or any non irritating oil or choice instead...) we clean up and oil up and being in the warm water helps our skin just drink it right in. Then we oil and moisturize right after stepping out and drying off ( while skin is slightly damp) helps us to keep from drying all out. water at any temp can do that to you. Hope you find what works for you!

I continue to take very hot showers and baths, I will admit. I just counteract the reaction with soothing body washes and lotions. I actually found Nivea to be the best for my skin. I use Nivea Body Wash in Lemongrass, and man, it works better than the Dove for Sensitive Skin. It cleans better, yet doesn't irritate my skin, and leaves it feeling super soft and smooth, even without lotion!

Nivea is pricier, but for me, it's worth it for all the darn lotions and washes I've wasted money on. Plus, I found a good coupon in the Sunday paper, and then one day popped in CVS and they had JUST the lemongrass body wash for half off! Talk about luck! So, I got it for much cheaper.

I am bad about putting lotion on. I should be using it a lot more, but I get complacent. However, the times I think to put some on, I'll either use an oatmeal-based one (to reduce any itching) or even straight petroleum jelly. This forms a barrier to block out allergens (which actually is a big part of eczema and its flaring), and locks in moisture.

I'll use this before going to bed, since it is a "film" and "greasy," and just go to bed in crappy pajamas--lol. Half my shirts get messed up, anyway, cuz my eczema breaks open and bleeds onto my shirts.

Anyway, that's the stuff which helps me...

hey zadiebell23,

the problem with taking long hot showers is that it dries up your skin. and the problem with dry skin is that it's more sensitive to irritation - which means you are more prone to having another eczema flare up. i haven't tried this but since you can't give up your hot showers, try making up to the loss of skin moisture by moisturizing it afterwards with a lotion :)

For the most part I have managed to give up my hot showers, which was a big deal for me because I could spend 15 minutes plus in my hot shower on cold winter mornings.

Sometimes I slip up though and put the hot water on a little bit too much. To try and make up for this when that happens though I will turn off the hot top when my shower is finished. I will then stand under the cold water for a minute washing over the most affected areas.

My skin seems to benefit from the cold water at the end of the shower. I'm not sure if this will work for everyone skins but maybe's it's worth a shot.

Hope it all works out.

I know I should give up hot showers, but I am having trouble with this too. I have hand eczema, and I should wear gloves when I have my hands in water (ie washing dishes), but I don't like how they feel.

Guess we all have stuff to work on...

Good Luck to you!

Moisturization is everything when you have eczema. Like the one guy said, if you choose to continue to take very hot showers (and I am guilty of that, so I can relate), conditioning your skin afterwards is essential.

I think the cold water thing works because it shrinks up the pores. Allergens get in eczema-based skin much easier, because the cross-sectioning of skin cells/fibers aren't as strong, so the skin is more porous for eczema people. So, it makes sense that cool water calms it down some. However, COLD water can be just as irritating to the skin as hot. Any extreme will flare skin, but especially eczema skin.

Like I said earlier, using petroleum jelly really helps me, cuz it acts as an actual barrier to lock in moisture and block out allergens. My brother has eczema on his hands really bad, and he's a chef, of all things.

He uses lotion all the time, and perhaps investing in the Oil of Olay dishwashing soap would be a good idea. It's supposed to make your skin softer, rather than damaged and rougher, when washing dishes. That's what I use. It's creamy and gentle, but still effective. Oh, and pure aloe vera really helps soothe my skin, too. I have an aloe vera plant and break off the leaf and actually ooze it onto my eczema areas!

i do not take hot shower. i take awarm shower or a warm bath. i do not stay in too long because water dry my skin out. then i feel itch and then i put lotion on.

I know it must be hard, but think about the positive benefits on your skin if you lower the shower temperature! Perhaps you should indulge in a bath once in a while to help as a kind of compensation? Oilatum bath oil is quite good because it allows you to sit in the water for as long as you want but because it has oats etc in it benefits your skin rather than drying it out like a normal bath/ shower.

When I'm taking showers I consider 3 things
1) Temperature
2) The hardness of the water
3) Length of time I the shower

All three can affect your eczema, but the worst is hot showers. Your skin does not like them.
Great article!