Eczema and psoriasis are tough to manage in normal weather conditions, let alone this unbearable heat wave. Having irritable, dry skin used to leave you with minimal moisturizing options, aside from a greasy doctor-prescribed cream or ointment. However, many brands have created new amazing products to calm inflamed skin. Along with these creams, here are my top tips to managing these skin conditions.  As always, we recommend that you enlist the help of a dermatologist for mild to severe cases.

1. Do not shower or bathe in extremely hot water. You’ll invite extreme itchiness. Instead, rinse your entire body with cool water just before getting out of the shower.

2. Switch your soaps. Swap those highly-fragranced soaps and shower gels for natural or organic soaps that contain soothing oatmeal, chamomile, lavender or rose. African black soap and pine tar soap are especially effective in eradicating eczema and psoriasis symptoms.

3. Try using dead sea salt. It may seem rather unusual to use, but the minerals in dead sea salt really help to dry up and heal weeping eczema. You can make a gentle scrub by adding softening almond oil, or by adding it to a warm (not hot) bath soak.

Try these super-soothing creams: 

Cortizone 10 Intensive Healing Lotion, Eczema and Itchy, Dry Skin 

Neosporin Eczema Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream

Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream 

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream 

FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm