Medically Reviewed
Eva Katalin/Getty Images
If you’re living with eczema, you know that what you do or don t apply to your skin can affect whether red, dry, and itchy skin stays at bay. But sometimes figuring out which products are safe for you takes some trial and error.
“The right skin-care routine can help support skin functioning in eczema, but the wrong one can make matters worse,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
The most common form of eczema is the itchy skin condition called atopic dermatitis, according to the National Eczema Association (NEA). Unlike contact dermatitis, which can be blamed on a specific irritant or allergen, atopic eczema has no defined cause. It appears to be indirectly related to allergies because it s common in people who have respiratory allergy symptoms such as asthma, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immu
iStock
While there’s no magic-bullet food to cure asthma, making some changes in your diet may help reduce or control asthma symptoms.
In general, a healthy, varied diet plan is beneficial with asthma, says Holly Prehn, RD, a certified nutrition support clinician at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver.
Nutrients, there is evidence that a traditional Western diet which is high in refined grains, red meat, processed meat, and sweets can increase inflammation and worsen asthma symptoms, while a diet filled with more fruits and vegetables can positively impact both asthma risk and control.
“Diets rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (particularly omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]), and lower in added sugars and processed and red meats tend to be better for asthma management,” says Kelly Jones, RD, CSSD, owner of Kelly Jones Nutrition based in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
Pandemic bright spot? More people seem to be physically active
Pat Melgares
Kansas State Research and Extension
MANHATTAN A silver lining in the COVID-19 pandemic for those who have found themselves at home more is that many have used their spare time to be more active.
Their challenge in the months ahead? Make it stick.
“What we’ve seen is that some of these new habits that people may have developed during the pandemic may be more sustainable than the habits they had previously,” said Emily Mailey, an associate professor of kinesiology at Kansas State University.
“Being active at home or walking in your neighborhood or community is easier to fit into your day, compared to paying for a gym membership and driving there. I think people are finding ways to fit physical activity into their day that will be easier to maintain.”
‘Living Well Together’ weekly series rolls into second month
Pat Melgares
Kansas State Research and Extension
An innovative program addressing many areas where people need support during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is about to complete its first full month.
Living Well Together, a one-hour weekly online program by K-State Research and Extension agents and specialists, will wrap up its January schedule with the program, ‘Who’s Taking Care of You,’ on Jan. 28.
“Oftentimes, we think about taking care of ourselves, but the reality is that we spend a lot of time taking care of others as well,” said Sharolyn Jackson, the northeast area extension specialist and one of the program’s organizers.