Can Yoga Help With Eczema?

Managing your stress is a great option for managing eczema. And when it comes to stress reduction techniques, nothing beats the positive impact of yoga on people with skin allergies.

Recognized as an ancient practice that originated in Northern India, yoga is a combination of physical postures, controlled breathing, relaxation, diet control, positive thinking, and meditation to help the body, mind, and environment develop harmony. 

This 5000-year-old systematic practice has become a popular way of reaching the mind, body, and well-being of nearly 300 million people practicing regularly worldwide. 

In the health field, yoga techniques are being applied in health promotion programs, substance abuse treatment programs, and as a complementary treatment for other diseases. It's also a low-cost self-help approach to well-being, bringing relief to people with anxiety disorders, depression, coronary heart disease, cancers, and even eczema. 

Eczema, an umbrella term for a group of conditions that include atopic dermatitis, is often characterized by red, itchy, and inflamed skin. Its symptoms commonly surface when an allergen or irritant pushes one's immune system into overdrive, affecting more than 30 million Americans. 

While there is no cure for an autoimmune skin condition like eczema, the inflammatory symptoms can be tamed through a variety of medical approaches. However, aside from corticosteroid creams and other practices, anything that reduces your stress may also help keep flare-ups at bay, giving importance to activities like yoga. 

HOW DOES YOGA HELP RELIEVE ECZEMA? 

As a mind-body practice that uses meditation and breathing techniques to improve physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being, yoga can help people with skin allergies by reducing stress, which may cause flare-ups and irritation.

Stress is a major trigger for many people's eczema. Once a person feels stressed, his/her body goes into a flight-or-fight mode and responds by increasing stress hormones. A rise in stress hormones suppresses the immune system and stimulates an inflammatory response for eczema to occur.

Moreover, high cortisol levels can increase the oil production in the skin glands, leading to clogged pores, rashes, and breakouts. When that happens, people with eczema often find themselves frustrated with their self-image, embarrassed of their skin, and unable to enjoy certain clothes. 

According to the American Institute of Stress (AIS), the stress and mental health statistics of people in the United States are worsening, linking the reasons to the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and the Russia-Ukraine crisis. 

"This year around, 87% of the respondents have cited the rising cost of day-to-day necessities like groceries, gas, and electricity to be a major source of stress for them," the AIS reported, citing a recently conducted survey from the American Psychological Association. 

The survey, which was released last March, 2022, concluded that all aspects of American life have been altered virtually, compounded by economic concerns and fears of war. They emphasized that "being stressed out can have a negative impact on the overall well-being of an individual."

This infographic from APA’s Stress in AmericaTM Survey Report shows that inflation, global uncertainty, and the invasion of Ukraine are significant stressors.

At Cottonique, we believe that understanding the relationship between eczema and stress can help manage your symptoms better. When things get a little challenging due to heightened levels of eczema-inducing stress, try to relax your body and mind and practice yoga.

If you’re looking for clothes that allow you to stretch and work out to your heart’s content without triggering skin allergies, our hypoallergenic choices give you the best of both worlds.

• Women's Racerback Tank Top

• Women's Racerback Croptop Bra

• Women's Cropped Leggings

• Men's Thermal Base Layer Long Sleeve Shirt

• Men's Thermal Base Layer Long Johns with Fly

Warmest base-layer bottom for men with allergy-free comfort 

TAKEAWAY: While it is true that what works for one person may not work for another, this should not prevent you from engaging in creative activities to distract your mind from negative thoughts. People can take a variety of preventive measures to avoid eczema flare-ups—reducing stress is one of them.

To find out more about the correlation between stress and eczema, read this resource from the National Eczema Society. You may also view our previous blog: 4 Ways to Cope with the Emotional Impact of Eczema.

DISCLAIMER: The information presented on Cottonique is not, and will never be, intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content materials found on this site, from text, treatments, outcomes, charts, graphics, photographs, and study findings, are created and published for general informational purposes only. It should not, in any way, be construed as a standard of care to be followed by a user of the website. 

Thus, readers are encouraged to verify any information obtained from this website with other accurate references and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with their physician. As Cottonique strives to help those with allergies live with better days, the hypoallergenic apparel brand encourages everyone to always seek the advice of their physician or other qualified health providers with any questions they may have regarding a medical condition.