Epsom salt is actually not salt, which after all consists of sodium chloride, but magnesium sulfate in crystal form. It is used as a natural relief of skin problems and falls into the same category as e.g. Dead Sea salt. Usually it is added to the bath water in a tub, but since I take showers and not tubs, I had to find another way to do the salt bath.

The answer was to dissolve the salt in water and use this the solution as a kind of “bath soap”. By filling a plastic bottle with the Epsom-Salt solution, I can take it into the shower.

When applying the solution, after a while you can see the Epsom salt as a fine white powder on the skin. Now scrub yourself with your hands and get the cleansing effect you normally use soap for. A handful of fine kitchen salt gives an additional scrubbing effect and is very good for e.g. washing the armspits.

Finally, I shower as usual and the “best” part of the bath now comes when the temperature is turned to cold. It is beneficial for your health if you can stay in the cold shower for at least a few minutes, in order to get the maximum positive effect of the cold bath :-).

The result after a few weeks of showering with Epsom salt is really good. My skin is soft and eczema-free, and I no longer use shampoo and soap. The moisturizing creams are now only used sparsely, as the skin is no longer dry.

Using Epsom salt instead of soaps has not had any odor drawbacks and it seems that the body likes this kind of shower better as it feels more natural.

Epsom salt and washing with common table salt do not remove the skin’s natural oils. Therefore, the water beads off and you don’t need so much lotion to re-moisturize the skin after bathing.

When there is an eczema flare-up

It has for me been effective to use Epsom salt followed by regular salt for thorough but gentle scrubbing of the skin during eczema flare-ups.

The method is to cover your body in Epsom salt solution in the bath and while it dries, massage the skin until it is dry and the salt can be seen. The skin is then moistened under the shower and gently scrubbed with common salt.

The skin becomes clean and the eczema areas are often pink, but non-itchy. Prescription creams such as e.g. Locoid is applied to the eczema-spot and after five to ten minutes, the Cerave cream is applied. It seals, moisturizes and protects the skin during the treatment.

Epsom salt and water, shake-shake and after a while all the salt is dissolved and you have a bottle ready to take with you in the bath..

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Eczema is a chronic skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by itchy, inflamed, and dry patches on the skin, and can be a source of discomfort and embarrassment. While there are several treatments available for eczema, some people have found relief in not using soap when bathing.

Bathing without soap may seem counterintuitive, as soap is often associated with cleanliness. However, for people with eczema, traditional soap can actually exacerbate the condition. This is because many soaps contain harsh ingredients that can strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and more prone to irritation. Additionally, some people may be allergic or sensitive to the fragrances and other chemicals in soap, which can trigger eczema flare-ups.

If you can see the water become droplets on your skin, then it is a good sign that your skin barrier is intact and the lipids of the skin repels water. A dry skin will instead soak up the water and you will see little or no droplets.

So bathing without soap can help to soothe and heal eczema-prone skin. By avoiding soap, the skin is allowed to retain its natural oils and moisture, which can help to prevent dryness and irritation. Additionally, bathing in lukewarm water can help to hydrate the skin, promote healing, and relieve itching and inflammation.

If you are considering bathing without soap to help manage your eczema, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it’s important to use lukewarm water, as hot water can further dry out the skin and exacerbate eczema symptoms. You may also want to consider adding colloidal oatmeal or baking soda to your bathwater, as these can help to soothe and calm the skin. Of cause, this will only be beneficial if you are bathing in a bathtub. In the shower I recommend using a washcloth and/or fine salt in a plastic jar.

After bathing, it’s important to pat your skin dry with a soft towel, rather than rubbing vigorously. This can help to prevent further irritation and dryness. You may also want to apply a gentle moisturizer to your skin, such as petroleum jelly or a fragrance-free lotion.

While bathing without soap may not be a cure-all for eczema, it can be a helpful addition to your overall eczema management plan. If you are experiencing persistent or severe eczema symptoms, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. With proper care and management, however, it is possible to find relief from eczema and enjoy healthy, comfortable skin.

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Turn on your favorite music and take your morning coffee into the bathroom. Now is the time to relax and take care of your skin so you are ready to step out into the world.

Eczema and bathing can be difficult to discipline. How to wash when the skin is affected by eczema.

The most important element in my skincare is the daily bath. This is where the skin is cleaned so that any eczema does not become infected with a bacterial or fungal infection. Clean skin is the basis for effective treatment with prescription creams. During the process, it is important to keep the skin barrier as undisturbed as possible.

The top layer of the skin is a combination of skin cells and natural fats (lipids). Therefore, the skin barrier can be easily damaged by soap. For that reason, I have stopped using soap, unless it is for local washing of eczema spots before I disinfect them. Instead of soap, I use fine table salt or a washing cloth. Soap is a collective term for shower gel, shampoo, and whatever else you normally wash with in the bath.

Salt may be a new thing in your bathroom, but it is very effective in keeping the skin clean. It is inexpensive and contains no problematic chemicals. It will even gently tell you if the skin is damaged by burning a little bit. Pay special attention to these areas when applying your prescription creams after the bath.

There are two types of baths, depending on whether you have active eczema or not. I will describe the bathing procedure in two different ways. The first is used when the eczema is active and must be treated with prescription creams. The second is a normal bath when the skin is healed and in a healthy state. Here, however, it still needs care and attention to keep the skin barrier intact.

The water should be lukewarm during the bath and the final rinse can be cold if you dare.

Before you begin, take the time to inspect your body to assess where you have spots that need to be treated with the creams prescribed by your doctor after bathing. This makes it easier to focus on these places during the bath and when applying different creams afterward.

Take out the various creams, deodorants, and other medications and place them in “order of application” on the table in the bathroom, so they are ready when you get out of the bath.

Active eczema bath

• Fine table salt
• Mild hypoallergenic soap
• 0.2% chlorhexidine
• Towel

• Start by rinsing with lukewarm water.

• Apply mild soap to the areas where the eczema is present and massage it gently.

• Rinse off the soap.

• Take a handful of fine salt and gently rub the whole body.

• Rinse the body with lukewarm water.

• Gently dry the body parts where eczema is present or usually occurs. Apply 0.2% chlorhexidine to these areas. Wait for approximately two minutes for the next step.

• Rinse in lukewarm or cold water until you feel refreshed.

• Pat yourself dry.

• Apply the cream prescribed by your doctor to the eczema spots. Do not apply other creams to these areas for at least ten minutes, so that the active substances can be effectively absorbed by the now clean and disinfected skin.

• Apply moisturizer to the parts of the body that have not been treated with the prescription cream.

• Apply moisturizer to the eczema spots after approx. ten minutes.

Normal bath

• Fine table salt
• Towel

• Start by rinsing yourself with lukewarm water.
• Take a handful of fine salt and gently rub the whole body.
• Rinse with lukewarm water.
• Rinse with cold water until you feel refreshed.
• Dry the skin gently.
• Apply moisturizer all over your body.

For practical reasons, I use a plastic jar with a screw-on lid for the salt. If I drop the jar in the shower, it doesn’t splinter and you often have small empty plastic containers of food supplements, vitamins, etc. in your home.

When using prescription steroid creams, it is important to continue using them even when there is no visible eczema. If you suddenly stop using them, you risk the so-called rebound effect, where the eczema comes back again and a new cycle of treatment has to be started. In the long run, you will use less prescription cream than if you use a stop-and-go strategy.

Experiences with this bath have shown me that I smell significantly less sweat than when I used soap products. I don’t know the specific reason, but I suspect that a body in balance returns to a more natural state. When we lived out in nature, we didn’t wash with soap, so maybe the smell is an expression of the body’s natural balance being disturbed.

Have a nice Bath :-).

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The nasal cavities act as a filter for the air you breathe in and are filled with cilia. Their job is to catch pollen and impurities before they reach the lungs.  This “air filter” is important for keeping the body healthy, but can also be a place where allergenic pollen and dust can accumulate over time.

In many Asian countries, it is just as normal to wash the nose in this way as it is to wash the rest of the body.

I’ve been using the nasal horn several times a week and have fallen in love with it. The first time you rinse your nose you have that great feeling of the free airway – a bit like if you take a strong menthol candy. There is just so much more “throughput” that you become addicted to using your nasal rinser.

Since the rinsing of your nose can cause some splashing of water I use it as part of my bathing routine.

How to use the nasal rinser

The way I use the nasal rinser is:

• Fill the nasal rinser jug 3/4 with cold water.
• Pour in salt with the included spoon. 
• Pour to the brim with hot water from an electric kettle.  Thus you get approx. 37 degrees.
• Stir with the back of the spoon until all the salt is dissolved.
• Go into the shower and put the horn’s spout against one nostril.
• Turn your head slowly and the water will run through your nasal cavities and out of the free nostril.
• When approximately half of the water is used, you put your finger on the nostril where the nasal rinse’s spout is and blow water, etc.!  out of the free nostril.
• After a few calm breaths, the procedure is the same on the other nostril.
• Take a deep breath and enjoy the wonderful feeling of clean and free airways

Do not use lukewarm tap water, which could contain bacteria and other small insects that live in lukewarm water. That is most likely to occur in countries with primitive water distribution systems.

My preferred type of salt is sea salt. It does normally not contain an anti-caking agent, but there can be small impurities that you have to look out for.

To keep the nasal rinsing jug clean, I regularly give it a go in the microwave at 100% power with a little water in the bottom for about a minute. Be careful when you take it out, it is very hot.  Let it cool and it is fresh and ready to use again. 

I use the nasal rinse from Rhinohorn.dk, as the quality is top-notch. It is sold in danish pharmacies and I give it my best regards.

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Skincare and treatment

To avoid a worsening of the eczema on your hands, it is essential to rebuild the skin barrier and at the same time treat inflammation.

After each hand-wash all soap should be rinsed well off and while hands are still moist, plenty of skin cream should be applied. You need a skin cream that is made for eczema skin and can replenish the skin with the compounds that are a natural part of our skin. It should be a cream that contains the same fats the skin now lacks and has lost due to the frequent washing. These are ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids. They are binding agents between the individual skin cells and create a skin that does not allow allergens to enter, but keeps in the body’s moisture.

I have sensitive skin and have for more than ten years been investigating what works in my personal skincare. Countless products have been tested, but so far the most effective skincare cream is the one from CeraVe. It contains the right combination of ceramides, lipids and fatty acids naturally used by the body in production and maintenance of healthy skin.

By using CeraVe cream or creams with similar ingredients you can help your skin to cope with the hardships it is now beeing exposed to.

Use cream in the morning after your morning-bath, after each wash and before bed. Since the cream absorbs quickly into the skin you can use it frequently, especially during the first “reconstruction phase”.

To reduce inflammation, the eczema you may have should be treated with a topical steroid cream. I would choose Locoid, which you need a prescribtion for. It is a class 2 cream and is quite effective, but the risk of side effects is very small.

It is important not to be nervous about using topical steroids. It should be remembered that skin with eczema and inflammation itself is a dangerous condition that poses a risk of worse things in the future. Therefore, it is important to treat your eczema and follow up with effective skincare.

It is only when using class 3/4 creams for a very long time in the same area that you can experience side effects in the long run.

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On Amazon I saw thousands of positive reviews of the CeraVe-cream. After reading a lot of these reviews I had to try this cream and learn what this CERAMIDE was all about.

I bought two jugs of CeraVe moisturizing cream 340 grams from lookfantastic.dk. It was reasonably priced compared to a lot of other moisturizing creams made for eczema. These often tend to be quite expensive and thereby being unattractive in the long run. 

Before we go my experiences with the cream we need to learn more about the main active compound in CeraVe creams, the ceramides.

Ceramides

Us with atopic dermatitis has dry skin and our skin barrier is compromised because we lack fats called lipids in the top layer of the skin. Ceramides are skin-identical compounds that are a normal part of our skin. In normal skin these fatty lipids represent approximately 50 percent of the top layer. They keep the skin resistant against allergens and inhibit water from escaping the body. Normal people can produce these lipids including ceramides to keep the skin barrier tight and sturdy. Eczema patients do not produce enough to fill the spaces between the skin cells and therefore the skin barrier becomes leaky.

By applying lipids and ceramides to the skin in the form of cream you can help the skin to hold cells together by adding these essential fats to the skin barrier.

As we age the skin becomes drier as the level of lipids in the skin diminishes. For that reason the importance of adding creams containing ceramides becomes more important as time goes on.

Ceramides can is made synthetically or from natural sources, but chemically they are the same. Together with other fatty lipids like glycerin, fatty acids, and cholesterol, ceramides can work wonders for eczema skin.

CeraVe cream is recommended by the National Eczema Association in the U.S. 

My verdict

This is the best cream I have ever used. The cream is silky smooth to apply and absorbs quickly into the skin. My skin is now soft, moist and feels more robust than ever before. The use of steroid creams have gone down and for now I am in a period where I do not use them anymore. If this holds up in the long run we will have to see, but for now I am very pleased.

When I shower and use mild soap and salt my skin is now still oily and feel not as exposed as before. It seems like this cream in a way fills up the skin with oils, so the barrier is intact even after the shower.

I have been using the cream daily for a week after the shower, at high noon and before bedtime. In that short amount of time I can literally say that my skin has changed.

All in all I am very impressed and my skin just loves this cream. Hopefully it will keep doing its job at keeping the steroid creams at bay. 

Read more about diet, skin care and much more in my book.

References:

Wikipedia/Ceramide

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