Does this mean you should avoid exercise? Not at all. Movement is essential for your health, and the right approach can help you stay active without unwanted flare-ups. A few smart choices can protect your skin while keeping you moving. 

Curious to know what these are? Stick around. We’re about to break down the best ways to keep your skin calm while keeping up with your fitness routine.

1. Choose the Right Workout Environment

Where you exercise plays a big role in how your skin reacts. If your skin is sensitive, avoid working out in hot, humid conditions that make sweating excessive. Opt for well-ventilated gyms, shaded outdoor areas, or early morning and late evening workouts to minimize heat exposure. 

Swimming can be a great alternative since it keeps the body cool, but chlorine can be drying. So, if you swim, rinse off immediately after and apply a gentle moisturizer to prevent irritation.

2. Balance Diet for Skin Health

What you eat directly affects how your skin reacts to exercise. Some foods can trigger inflammation and sensitivity, while others help strengthen the skin’s barrier. That’s why managing eczema with your diet is often recommended as the best way to support skin health. A balanced diet rich in omega-3s, nuts, and leafy greens can help reduce flare-ups and keep your skin more resilient. 

At the same time, cutting back on processed foods and excess sugar may prevent unnecessary irritation. Additionally, supporting gut health with probiotics plays a role in maintaining skin balance. By nourishing your body with the right foods, you’re not just improving overall health—you’re giving your skin the care it needs.

3. Wear Breathable and Soft Fabrics

The right clothing can make all the difference when working out. Tight, synthetic fabrics trap heat and create friction, which can lead to irritation and discomfort. 

So, opt for soft, moisture-wicking materials like cotton blends or athletic fabrics that help pull sweat away from your skin. Loose-fitting clothes are another great choice since they reduce friction and allow your skin to breathe. 

Moreover, don’t forget about laundry care. Washing workout clothes with a fragrance-free detergent helps prevent irritation from lingering residues. 

4. Stay Hydrated for Skin Resilience

Hydration plays a key role in maintaining skin balance, especially when you exercise. Consuming enough water before, during, and after your exercise helps regulate body temperature and control dehydration, which can lead to dry, irritated skin. 

However, if you need electrolyte replenishment, opt for skin-friendly options like coconut water instead of sugary sports drinks. Eating water-rich foods, such as cucumbers and melons, can also support skin hydration from the inside out.

5. Manage Sweat Effectively

Sweat isn’t the enemy, but allowing it to sit on your skin for too long can lead to irritation. So, if possible, shower immediately after a workout to remove sweat and bacteria. 

When that’s not an option, gently pat (never rub) sweat away with a soft towel or use fragrance-free wipes to clean sensitive areas. Applying a light barrier cream before workouts can also help reduce direct sweat contact with the skin.

6. Recognize and Adapt to Triggers

Not all workouts affect the skin the same way, so paying attention to what causes irritation is important. If certain exercises lead to discomfort, try adjusting their intensity or duration. High-intensity workouts that cause excessive sweating might need modifications. 

Alternatively, low-impact activities like yoga, Pilates, or cycling could be gentler on your skin. Small adjustments like these can make a big difference in keeping your skin comfortable while you stay active.

7. Consult Professionals for Personalized Advice

Even with the best precautions, skin can sometimes react unpredictably. If flare-ups persist, consulting a professional can help. A dermatologist can recommend tailored skincare solutions, while a fitness coach can help modify workouts to reduce friction and irritation. 

Still, if needed, a nutritionist can also provide dietary recommendations to help keep skin inflammation at bay. 

Concluding It Up All Together!

Exercise should feel good—not leave your skin irritated and uncomfortable. The right approach can help you stay active while keeping your skin calm and balanced.

From choosing the right clothing to staying hydrated and making smart dietary choices, small adjustments make a big impact. Also, pay attention to your skin’s needs, experiment with different solutions, and don’t be afraid to seek expert advice when necessary. However, if the problem persists, a professional can help you find the best solutions. 

The post Eczema And Exercise: How To Keep Your Skin Happy While Staying Active appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

Why Tallow Works for Eczema

Tallow’s effectiveness comes from its remarkable similarity to our skin’s natural oils. This isn’t just marketing – it’s science. Tallow contains the same fatty acids and nutrients our skin needs, making it uniquely effective at:

• Repairing damaged skin barriers
• Reducing inflammation and redness
• Providing deep, lasting moisture
• Supporting natural skin healing

The Science Behind It

Tallow contains vitamins A, D, E, and K – all crucial for skin health. Its fatty acid profile matches our skin’s natural barrier, helping to:

• Lock in moisture
• Protect against irritants
• Calm inflammation
• Support skin cell regeneration

How to Use It

Keep it simple:

1. Clean affected areas with a gentle cleanser
2. Apply tallow to slightly damp skin
3. Use consistently, especially after bathing
4. Store in a cool, dark place

What to Expect

Most people notice immediate moisture improvement, but deeper healing takes time. Consistency is key – regular use typically shows best results after 2-4 weeks.

Quality Matters

Choose grass-fed tallow products for maximum benefits. They contain higher levels of beneficial nutrients and are often purer than conventional alternatives.

Safety First

While tallow is generally safe, always:

• Do a patch test first
• Continue prescribed medications
• Consult your doctor if you have severe eczema
• Stop use if irritation occurs

Tallow offers a simple, effective option for eczema care. Its natural composition and long history of use make it worth considering for those seeking relief from eczema symptoms.

The post Using Tallow for Eczema: What You Need to Know appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

The research, carried out by Typharm, an innovative UK life sciences company producing a range of prescription-only skin therapies including the evidence backed medicated tape for painful cracked skin associated with eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis also discovered that 97% of younger adults believe they would be more confident if it weren’t for their skin condition. What’s more, over half of sufferers (52%) say they suffer from a low mood with a third (34%) having less patience when dealing with a flare-up.

With these dermatological disorders affecting millions of people in the UK, it’s concerning to think just how many people are dealing with the mental impact of skin issues. In fact, one in six of us are living with psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, and other increasingly common conditions. A quarter (24%) suffer from more than one skin issue and three-quarters of the survey respondents say they have a visible scar, which the majority (64%) wish was not visible.

GP and skin expert, Dr Nisa Aslam of the Skin Life Sciences Foundation – www.slsf.uk – explains: “Skin conditions are often dismissed, but they can have a devastating impact on our quality of life and mental health. We live in a world where selfies are the rage and it’s cool to have self-confidence, but these skin conditions, from psoriasis through to scarring, aren’t doing us any favours in the self-confidence stakes.”

Dr Nisa Aslam adds: “Skin conditions are often trivialised and I find that patients don’t think it’s important enough to mention their psychological health when they book a GP appointment.”

According to the latest Typharm research, 11% believe that skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis still aren’t seen as medical conditions with almost one in five (19%) finding it difficult to discuss their issue with family members.

But as Dermatologist, Dr Sangeeta Punjabi and Dr Nisa Aslam notes, there are ways to reclaim your self-confidence.

1. Keep going to your GP

Struggling with the symptoms of a skin condition? Although 15% struggle to talk to a health professional about their condition, Dr Nisa Aslam says it is important to open up to your GP.

 “It is so important to keep going back to your GP if your symptoms are not under control — particularly if your treatment plan has not been reviewed for a while. If you don’t tell them your skin condition is an issue, they may assume everything is fine.”

Dr Sangeeta Punjabi notes that our skin is a complex structure and needs to be cared for. “Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis and any wounds which damage the skin barrier require timely and effective treatment, so the skin barrier is restored as quickly as possible because once the skin barrier has been damaged, there’s a heightened risk of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections taking hold.”

Dr Nisa Aslam adds: “Under-treated eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis can have a serious impact on quality of life and increase the risk of infection and chronic skin changes, so it’s important to seek out evidence-based information and support and ensure your condition is managed as effectively as possible. If you are experiencing flare-ups, or skin symptoms which are affecting your day-to-day life, it is really important you speak to your GP or another qualified health professional to explore your options.

“In fact, there really is no need to suffer in silence as there are a variety of prescribed skin treatment options from ointments, creams to formats like medicated tapes such as fludroxycortide tape, which is also waterproof, to help deliver steroids within a different format that can be used for flare-ups as well as wound healing.”

Dr Sangeeta Punjabi adds: “With wound care, medicated tapes can help stem overgrowth of granulation tissue or keloid scarring, which can slow down wound healing.”

2. Be ready to change your routine

Just over half of those surveyed spend half an hour or more every day on their skin care routine, and whilst a regular skin care routine is vital, it’s important to remember that our skin does evolve over time.

Dr Sangeeta Punjabi explains:  “Over time, your response to different creams and emollients can change. Something’s that’s worked well for a long time may eventually become less effective. In some cases, a product that has worked well can suddenly start to irritate your skin.”

Ultimately, the best product is the one you are happy to use every day. It not only needs to be effective, but it also needs to feel good.  “It doesn’t matter how effective a cream or emollient is if you dislike the texture so much you are reluctant to use it regularly,” adds Dr Sangeeta Punjabi.

Be careful of cover-ups. Over three-quarters (76%) of respondents in the latest Typharm survey say they dress to cover their skin condition. But this can make conditions worse, which can knock confidence even more.

Dr Sangeeta Punjabi explains: “Many patients find that synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon can cause overheating and sweating, but wool can irritate skin, too. Pure cotton is ideal because it’s breathable, though steer clear of ‘cotton rich’ fibres as they can still have large amounts of polyester. Bamboo and silk are also good for regulating body temperature and another eczema-friendly fibre is Lyocell, which is made from cellulose.”

3. Get moving

With stress and anxiety often making skin conditions worse, exercise can offer a useful ‘feel good’ tool.

Dr Nisa Aslam explains: “Not only does movement help to relieve us of stress, but it can also help to improve the look and feel of skin.” Plus, exercise has been proven to improve self-esteem.

Ultimately, as Dr Nisa Aslam says, ‘When we are unhappy with the way we look, we often feel low and anxious and this can undermine relationships, our physical and mental health, and the way we interact with the world. And this is the reality for many people with skin conditions.

She adds: “Learning to work with our skin conditions and to care for them appropriately is a big step towards improved confidence and a happier day to day life.”

The post Skin Condition Knocking Your Confidence? Expert Shares Simple Ways To Love The Skin You’re In. appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

Although homeopathy has an impressive track record in treating a wide range of ailments, I have seen excellent results achieved in the treatment of a range of skin conditions, in the course of my practice. Often the patients who come to me have received conventional medical treatment for their skin conditions, but with varying levels of success. In search of a safer and less invasive cure, and often at the behest of a friend or family member, they decide to (often as a last resort and without much expectation!) give homeopathic treatment a chance. For the vast majority of these patients, my treatment proves to be effective and some are left pleasantly surprised.

A lovely little fellow aged eight years old was brought in by his mother complaining of a large stubborn patch of eczema on his hand. Thus far his mother had been using a topical ointment prescribed by their GP which would successfully alleviate the eczema, only for the complaint to return more viciously after a few months. This cycle had repeated a couple of times. The little boy’s symptoms included an incessant itch which he found difficult to resist scratching, often leading to bleeding at the site of the eczema. 

As I investigated the case, two things became quite evident. The patient’s usual bowel activity was sluggish and meant he opened his bowels every 2-3 days. This routine would sometimes go off-track with occasional bouts of constipation, where 4-5 days would pass without activity.  Homeopathic theory suggests a vital link between the bowels’ efficacy in eliminating toxins from the body and the consequent effects on the skin when such toxins are not efficiently removed. This combined with the boy’s continued use of the topical ointment resulted, in my view, in driving the eczema deeper.

As the skin is a highly reactive organ, ascertaining the cause-and-effect relationship is vital in helping to build up a picture of what is going on inside. It is not uncommon for me to see a patient suffering from eczema but who also suffers from say, constipation or an over reactive immune system or dysbiosis (disturbed ecology of gut microbiome). Similarly, hormonal imbalances in adolescents hitting puberty, and/or during the premenstrual stage in females, can cause a breakout of acne. Stress and anxiety can be seen time and time again causing inflamed, reddened and itchy skin in some patients. And there are many other skin conditions which are rooted in some sort of internal imbalance. 

So, in tandem with the homeopathic doctrine of holistic healing, I proceeded to prescribe the homeopathic remedy Nux Vomica to my young patient, with the aim of providing safe and gradual support to the bowels in achieving their natural rhythm. This remedy encourages peristalsis- a series of wave like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract. Although it remains true that Nux Vomica is highly effective in treating sluggish bowels and has not disappointed me in the course of providing treatment to patients, it also remains the case that such treatment cannot be used indiscriminately, since each patient’s specific individual symptoms will determine the eventual choice of remedy. 

I further prescribed another homeopathic remedy- Graphites, to my young patient. This remedy is particularly beneficial for eczema  located on the hand with a crust-like presentation, and which is sometimes accompanied by clear fluid. My case notes ticked off most of these symptoms. The time and diligence taken to match individual symptoms with those of the remedy is pivotal in prescribing homeopathic treatment.

Providing lifestyle and dietary advice to my clients is central to my practice.  Often, adjusting dietary preferences in conjunction with homeopathic protocols produce excellent results. For my patient, I advised less junk food and less refined carbohydrates for the period of the treatment. I recommended that his diet be adjusted  to include more soluble and insoluble fibre in the form of fruit, vegetables, beans, potatoes and cereals. 

Homeopathic treatment can sometimes cause an initial flare-up of symptoms. For a first-time patient this may be disheartening but in fact such flare-ups are a positive sign as they show that the suppression of symptoms is abating, toxins are being off-loaded and the body is on course to healing itself naturally. My little patient also experienced a mild flare up of symptoms followed by a steady improvement. 

Three weeks after my patient began homeopathic treatment, the results were highly satisfying- the eczema patch had cleared by around 90%, there was no longer any itching, and the little boy was opening his bowels on a regular basis. His appetite and quality of sleep had also significantly improved. His mother was impressed with the results, particularly of the fact that she had initially contacted me for her child’s eczema but had as an added bonus seen a general improvement in his health and well-being.  

This is how homeopathy works; its approach is holistic, and one that offers sustained cures in a safe and effective manner.  As homeopaths are often inclined to say “homeopathy treats the person, not the disease”. 

Written by Haroon Ashraf

Haroon Ashraf is a homeopath based in London, where he offers consultations in person and online. Haroon specialises in treating skin and gut conditions. Please visit his homeopathy practice at https://holistichomeopathy.co.uk/ for more information.   

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