8 Things You Should Never Do If You Have Eczema - msnNOW

Because the condition means your outer layer of skin is weak and therefore sensitive, it's important to give your skin some extra TLC.

"Hot water is rough on our skin and can irritate and damage our skin barrier.

Patients with eczema already have a damaged skin barrier layer, and over time, hot showers just make it worse," says Papri Sarkar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Brookline, Mass.

She adds that her patients with eczema are sometimes extra tempted to take a hot shower because it can be temporarily soothing to their itchy skin.

If you have eczema, it's important to avoid using exfoliating products.

"If you see dry, flaky skin, listen to what your skin needs and give it hydration," says Dr.

"Using a humidifier can help restore hydration to the other skin layer keeping the skin in as good shape as possible—[even] while you sleep." .

Still, stress can take a toll on your body and can even lead to an eczema flare-up, notes Dr.

People with eczema need protection from the sun just like everyone else, but this step is often skipped out of fear of a flare up

Having contact with those things—especially in long or high doses—tends to flare eczema so I recommend avoiding them as much as possible."