Eczema isn’t always easy to trace back to one thing. You can use the same skincare, eat much as you normally do and wear clothes you’ve worn countless times before, yet find a familiar patch beginning to itch again.

The instinct is often to work backwards. What did I use? What did I eat? What changed?

Those questions can be useful, but they can also make us look for a single culprit when eczema is often more complicated than that. Several small exposures can overlap, and what happens between flare-ups can be just as revealing.

At By Sarah, that’s where we’d begin: with the patterns your skin has been quietly showing you all along.

What everyday habits can help keep eczema flare-ups under control?

Regular emollient use, reducing exposure to known irritants and recognising your own patterns can all help with everyday eczema management. It’s also worth paying attention to scratching, sleep and what repeatedly comes into contact with your skin. If eczema is persistent or worsening, everyday skincare should sit alongside appropriate medical treatment.

What we’ll explore

We’ll also look at when a change in your eczema is worth discussing with your GP or dermatologist.

Should you moisturise eczema even when the skin looks clear?

Yes. Emollients are part of eczema care between flare-ups, not only when skin feels dry or itchy.

It’s easy to become less consistent once redness and discomfort settle. Yet regular moisturising still matters when eczema looks better, rather than being something to return to only when skin becomes uncomfortable.

Rather than waiting for dryness, notice where your skin tends to change first. If handwashing is usually followed by tightness, for example, keeping an emollient beside the sink means you can moisturise after washing rather than several hours later.

For dry, sensitive and itchy skin, Tender Skin Balm can sit within that kind of everyday routine. Skincare can help care for eczema-prone skin, but it doesn’t replace prescribed eczema treatment.

Sun protection belongs in an everyday sensitive-skin routine too. Serene Daily SPF 50+ was developed over two years and, in an independent third-party controlled clinical study, received the highest classification for skin compatibility and suitability for sensitive skin.

A note from Rhian

Rhian has severe eczema on her body, with occasional flares on her face. She shared this with us after adding By Sarah to her routine:

“I started using By Sarah and the results are amazing. Within a few weeks my skin felt calmer, and the combination of products has left it feeling so calm and refreshed. Thank you so much for creating these.”

- Rhian

Rhian’s skin before and after using her By Sarah routine. Individual experiences and results will vary.

Can detergent, clothing or friction trigger eczema?

They can. And when eczema keeps returning to the same place, the location itself may offer a clue.

A patch around the waist, for example, doesn’t encounter fabric alone. There may also be a close waistband, perspiration, detergent residue and repeated rubbing. Hands can move through soap, washing-up liquid, cleaning products, gloves and repeated washing in the course of one ordinary day. 

Instead of changing several things at once, start with the skin: Where does the eczema keep appearing, and what repeatedly touches that exact area?

One label distinction is surprisingly useful here. “Unscented” doesn’t necessarily mean “fragrance-free”. An unscented product can still contain fragrance used to mask another smell, which is why dermatologists recommend choosing fragrance-free products for eczema-prone skin. 

How do you stop the itch–scratch cycle?

The useful moment is often before scratching becomes automatic.

Scratching can briefly satisfy an itch, but it also damages already-vulnerable skin and can keep the itch–scratch cycle going. What’s particularly easy to miss is that scratching can become an unconscious, conditioned response, your hand may return to the same patch while you’re working, watching television or half-asleep.

So “don’t scratch” isn’t especially helpful.

Make another response easier instead. Keep nails short, try a clean, cool compress for a few minutes and keep an emollient within reach. Tender Skin Balm is fragrance-free and Dermatologically Approved for sensitive skin, with Madecassoside and prebiotic inulin in a nourishing formula for dry, sore or itchy skin. Keeping one on your desk or in your bag means it’s there when you notice yourself reaching for an uncomfortable patch.

And notice when your hand finds the itch before you do. For one person it might happen while concentrating at a desk; for another, once they become warm in bed.

Can sleep affect eczema flare-ups?

Eczema and sleep can become caught in an unhelpful loop. Itching can disturb sleep, and scratching may happen before you’re fully awake. Repeatedly disrupted sleep is also useful information about how much eczema is affecting everyday life.

Which is why “get more sleep” misses the point when your skin is the reason you’re awake.

Instead, notice what changes at night. Does becoming warm in bed make the itch more noticeable? Is one area predictably dry by bedtime? Would a cooler bedroom, breathable sleepwear or having your usual emollient within reach make the evening easier?

If itching regularly wakes you, mention it to your GP or dermatologist. How well you sleep can tell them something that the appearance of your skin alone may not.

Is there really an eczema diet?

There isn’t one diet that has been shown to control eczema for everyone. Unless there is a confirmed food allergy or another clinical reason to avoid something, broad restriction is unlikely to be the most useful place to start.

Eczema can make cause and effect difficult to read. Skin flares, you think back to what you ate, and a food quickly becomes the suspect.

A systematic review found that elimination diets may offer only a small improvement for some people, while also bringing potential downsides. That is why targeted dietary changes make more sense than cutting out foods “just in case”.

We’d be particularly cautious when the list of “safe” foods keeps getting shorter. Removing dairy, gluten, eggs or other nutritious foods can narrow the diet without necessarily telling you what is driving the eczema.

If one food repeatedly seems linked to symptoms, especially an immediate reaction such as hives, swelling, vomiting or breathing difficulty, that deserves proper medical assessment.

Can probiotics or omega-3s help eczema?

The evidence is interesting, but not definitive.

Probiotics have been studied in eczema, and some trials, particularly in children with atopic dermatitis, have reported improvements in severity. But studies use different strains, doses and populations, so the findings cannot be applied to every probiotic or every person with eczema.

That matters because probiotic effects can be strain-specific.

For those who already choose to include a daily probiotic, Flora Daily Biotic contains 20 billion live cultures from 9 clinically studied probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus LA85 and Bifidobacterium longum BL21. Its delayed-release capsule is designed to help the live cultures reach the gut, while 10mg of zinc (100% NRV) contributes to the normal function of the immune system and the maintenance of normal skin.

We see Flora Daily Biotic as something that can sit alongside a varied diet and appropriate eczema care, not as a treatment for eczema.

Omega-3s are another area of interest, but the evidence in eczema remains inconsistent. We wouldn’t recommend an omega-3 supplement simply because someone has eczema.

When should you start treatment for an eczema flare?

A flare doesn’t always begin with dramatic redness. Increasing dryness, itching, swelling or a familiar change in the way an area feels can all be early signs.

When you already have a treatment plan from your GP or dermatologist, follow the advice you’ve been given about when to start treatment and how long to continue it.

Keep your regular emollient routine alongside prescribed treatment rather than treating the two as alternatives.

Can contact dermatitis look like an eczema flare?

Yes. Atopic eczema and contact dermatitis can overlap, and a change in location or behaviour can be a useful clue.

Contact dermatitis happens after skin comes into contact with an irritant or, in allergic contact dermatitis, something the immune system has become sensitised to.

Location can be revealing. A reaction beneath jewellery, around the hairline after hair products, on the eyelids, or on hands exposed to particular substances at work may raise different questions from eczema that behaves in its usual pattern.

One important point: you can become allergic to something you have used for years. Previous tolerance does not rule out contact allergy.

If familiar eczema suddenly changes its location, pattern or response to treatment, mention it to your GP or dermatologist. Patch testing may sometimes be appropriate if allergic contact dermatitis is suspected.

When should eczema be checked by a doctor?

Everyday habits can help, but persistent, worsening or significantly disruptive eczema deserves medical review.

Speak to your GP or dermatologist if eczema is repeatedly disturbing your sleep, affecting daily life or not responding to the treatment plan you’ve been given.

Seek prompt medical advice if the skin becomes painful, rapidly worsens, develops weeping, crusting or pus, or you feel unwell, as these can be signs of infection.

Quick Summary

• Keep moisturising between flares. Emollients are part of eczema maintenance, not only something to reach for when skin becomes uncomfortable.
• Notice where eczema appears. What repeatedly touches that particular area may offer useful clues.
• Interrupt the itch–scratch cycle early. Short nails, a cool compress and having your usual emollient nearby can help.
• Take disrupted sleep seriously. Regular night-time itching is useful information to share with your GP or dermatologist.
• Be cautious with restrictive diets. There is no universal eczema diet, and removing foods without good reason can unnecessarily narrow your diet.
• Pay attention when familiar eczema changes. A different location, pattern or response to treatment may deserve medical review.

FAQs

What is the best daily routine for eczema-prone skin?

Keep it simple and consistent. Use an appropriate emollient regularly, including between flares, minimise known irritants and follow prescribed eczema treatment as directed. What matters is finding a routine your skin tolerates rather than continually adding new products.

Should you moisturise eczema every day?

Yes. Regular emollient use is a foundation of eczema management and is recommended even when eczema looks clear.

Can certain foods cause eczema flare-ups?

Food allergy can be relevant for some people, but food isn’t responsible for every eczema flare. If the same food repeatedly appears linked to symptoms, particularly an immediate reaction, seek appropriate assessment before removing several foods from your diet.

Do probiotics help eczema?

Research is ongoing. Some studies have found benefits from particular probiotic interventions in certain groups, but results vary according to factors including the strains and populations studied. A probiotic shouldn’t be considered a treatment for eczema or a replacement for medical care.

Is contact dermatitis the same as eczema?

Not exactly. Atopic eczema and contact dermatitis are different conditions, although they can look similar and may coexist. Contact dermatitis is related to contact with an irritant or allergen, so a new location or repeated contact pattern can be an important clue.

Continue exploring

• How to Soothe Eczema in Summer: Everyday Skincare, Lifestyle & Nutrition Tips
• Women’s Health & Gut Health: Why Probiotics Matter
• What Causes Facial Redness? Common Triggers and How to Soothe Skin

A considered approach to eczema care

Eczema won’t always give you an obvious explanation for why it has flared. What helps is getting to know your own skin, what it tolerates well, what tends to change and when something no longer feels like its usual pattern.

Not quite sure what your skin needs? Our free Skin Quiz gives you personalised recommendations and expert guidance from Sarah. For questions about your skin, your routine or where to begin, email care@bysarahlondon.com or message us at @bysarahlondon. We’re always happy to help.

This article is for general skincare, nutrition and lifestyle information and isn’t a substitute for personalised medical advice. For persistent or worsening eczema, suspected food allergy or concerns about treatment, speak to your GP, dermatologist or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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