Issue #041 - Keeping Your Home Warm
Welcome to December's edition of the Eczema Bulletin e-zine, and thank you for subscribing.
This is the 41st edition of the Eczema Bulletin. It will bring you articles and news about eczema, and also any updates to what-is-eczema.com. If you would like to add any suggestions for articles or news, or even add your own then I would love to hear from you
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This month's Eczema Bulletin includes
- December's Featured Article – Keeping Your Home Warm
- My favourite eczema news article
- Tip of the Month
- 5 Ways To.....eczema friendly Christmas gifts
Keeping Your Home Warm
Depending on where you are in the world, at this of the year it can start to get a little cold. Here in the UK the temperatures have dropped a little, so homes all over the country have switched their heating on.
If you or a family member has eczema, how can you heat your home without adversely affecting your eczema?
Alot of homes use central heating. Central heating takes the moisture out of the air. This causes the air to dry out, which can irritate eczema and make it feel itchy.
There are a couple of things you can do to add moisture back into the air. You could buy a humidifier. It can be put in the main living area of your home, or if the eczema symptoms are worse at night it can be placed in the bedroom of the sufferer.
One recommendation I would make is that if dust mites are an irritant to the sufferer, it would be better to not put a humidifier in their bedroom. The house dust mite thrives in a moist environment, so you would find
that their number would increase with the use of a humidifier.
Another way to add some moisture in the air is to place bowls of water above or below your radiators.
It's very tempting when it becomes cold to turn the temperature right up. This extreme change in temperature can also make the symptoms of eczema worse. It's a good idea to gradually increase the temperature in your home.
At night keep the temperature at a minimum. On milder days and nights keep the window slightly open, as this will let some fresh air into the room.
You may find that keeping your heating on all the time, just changing the temperature by 1 or 2 degrees, helps with managing your eczema. This is because it can be easier to manage when there aren't constant changes in temperature, from when the heating is turned on and off throughout the day and night. Although you may find that setting your heating to come on and go off at certain times helps you to manage
eczema better.
The best thing to do is to make a decision which benefits the eczema sufferer in your home, and also the rest of your family.
Eczema News Article
The Allergy and Asthma Network have written an article about eating out if you have a food or latex allergy.
They are a non-profit organisation providing information and educating people about asthma, allergies and anaphylaxis.
They share the three things that you should do when you're planning to eat out, and how to implement them.
You can read the full article, here
Tip Of The Month - Scented Candles and Eczema
Scented candles are a favourite in some homes at this time of the year. They are great for creating a Christmassy mood, but are they great for eczema?
Scented candles have a lovely aroma for a reason. A fragrance is used to create the aroma. If you are sensitive to fragrances, when the candle is lit and the fragrance fills the air you may find that the symptoms of your eczema become more severe.
You could try a candle with a 'natural' fragrance, like an essential oil, but if your sensitivity is severe it is best to steer clear of all fragrances.
When paraffin candles burn they pollute the air with smoke and chemicals. Some of the chemicals come from the dyes and fragrances in the candle. These are good for eczema or asthma sufferers.
It is not recommended to light a candle in a small room, or in a room that isn't well ventilated. Also the more candles lit, the more polluted the air is likely to get.
A good alternative to paraffin
candles are beeswax candles. They help to reduce the pollutants in your home and don't release any chemicals and fragrances in to the air. Always look for candles that contain '100% pure beeswax'. If they contain less than 100% beeswax the other ingredient will be paraffin.
Pure 100% beeswax candles are more expensive than paraffin candles, but they are a lot more beneficial to your health and skin.
A quick note if you or someone you know have any nut allergies. It has been reported that candles with a nut scent can cause an allergic reaction. Even after the candle has gone out the scent will still linger in the air and can be a real issue for people with nut allergies.
