In atopic dermatitis, the skin is particularly sensitive to drying out. Believe it or not, water is the most common cause of dry skin. The process of water evaporating off of your skin removes moisture from your skin’s surface. The best way to prevent this loss is to seal in the moisture. This will do more to improve your skin problem then you can imagine!

The following is a list of guidelines that you should try to incorporate into you everyday life. Atopic dermatitis may be with you for a long time, and the best way to prevent future outbreaks is to turn these guidelines into lifelong habits.

1. Use a mild cleanser or soap such a Dove, Eucerin, Purpose, Basis, Oil of Olay or Neutrogena.

   Avoid drying soaps such as Ivory, Zest, Irish Spring, and most deodorant soaps.

2. Try to keep baths and showers down to a minimum. One per day should be your limit. Don’t stay in for an extraordinary length of time and don’t make the water exceedingly hot. Pat yourself dry, don’t rub.
   
3. Moisturizing your skin is the best thing you can ever do for it. The moisturizer must be heavier or stronger than a standard moisturizing lotion in order to adequately protect you particularly sensitive skin. If it pours, it’s usually not adequate.

   Here is a list of preferred moisturizers (ointments and creams work better than lotions):

   Eucerin plus cream or plus lotion Replenaderm

   Neutrogena Emulsion DML Forte cream

   Theraplex emolllant Dermasil

   Vaseline (petroleum jelly) Aquaphor ointment

   (My favorite is Eucerin plus cream)

   Remember that you don’t have to put a lot on, just apply enough to remove the dryness and make your skin feel soft, smooth, and slightly shiney. Of course, in areas that you don’t care about how shiney they look, or when you’re not going out, the more moisturizer the better!

   Always apply the moisturizer right after you bath or shower, while your skin still has a little water on it. This will seal the moisture in. Apply the moisturizer as often as possible in addition to this (2 times a day or more), and before bedtime.

4. When your rash is present, apply the steroid ointment twice a day. Apply this before the moisturizer, if used together.

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