Exercising in the morning has many benefits, but going to the gym and then going to work can be a complicated challenge for people with eczema. Being hot and sweating can cause inflammation. Eating breakfast to refuel after a workout can do more harm than good. Stress from deadlines and other workplace pressures can also be triggered after an intense workout that takes a toll on the body.
Bottom line: If you want to start your day at the gym with a bang, you need smart strategies to keep eczema at bay.
Meet Matt Knight, one of London's most popular fitness experts. Inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger's books, Knight became serious about bodybuilding in his teens (his training partners nicknamed him „Diesel“) and in his early 20s. quickly achieved success as a personal trainer at the gym. But then the gym closed. On top of that, he injured his shoulder and was unable to exercise. His stress levels skyrocketed, and soon Mr. Knight was suffering from severe eczema all over his body, including redness on his legs that made it difficult to walk.
“I would wake up at night scratching myself,” he recalls. “The soles of my feet were badly cracked and bleeding and I was on antibiotics.”
Knight went from doctor to doctor, but her symptoms didn't get much better until she figured out the food that was causing her symptoms to flare up. When I changed what I ate, my symptoms went away. Meanwhile, Knight was able to revive her career by finding a way to exercise without causing an eczema attack, and her stress levels were significantly reduced.
Now in great shape, he wants to help people who want to work out, go to work, and avoid skin problems. Here he offers his three keys to managing eczema at the gym and heading toward a productive, itch-free workday.
1. keep cool and clean
When Knight realized that regular patch tests weren't resolving the problem, she took stock of her condition, focused on what she thought was causing her flare-ups, and tried to eliminate personal triggers. Getting hot and sweaty is a big problem for him, but when you're working out like Knight, it's inevitable if you want to get results. So he came up with a post-workout solution. „What I do is try to be as cool and clean as possible after a workout. If you have eczema that's exacerbated by the heat, I think a quick shower with cold water is a good idea. The important thing is to do that. Don't continue for too long.“
The National Eczema Association recommends the „soak and seal“ method.
- Shower only for 5 to 10 minutes using a gentle soap-free detergent.
- Pat the skin dry and leave it slightly damp.
- Use all prescribed topical skin medications.
- Apply moisturizer all over your body within three minutes of getting out of the shower.
- Wait a few minutes before putting on clothes to allow your skin to absorb the moisturizer.
„You don't want to wash away all the oil and leave your skin dry,“ says Knight.
2. restart breakfast
By analyzing her diet, Knight realized that certain foods made her symptoms worse. „Try to absolutely minimize foods that cause inflammation,“ he says. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there is no clear link between eczema and food allergies, but avoiding foods that cause allergic reactions may reduce flare-ups. Common allergies include peanuts, gluten, and alcohol. Knight recommends limiting red meat, dairy, whole grains, flour, and sugar in your diet and eating more fish and vegetables. „Also be wary of certain so-called health foods,“ he added. „Whey protein shakes and eggs can do far more harm than good.“
3. improve posture
After you leave the gym, exercise the power of positive thinking. On your commute, instead of worrying about the possibility of it happening again, remind yourself that you've done your best to prevent it from happening again. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that whatever happens that day will be okay. Look for ways to reduce stress at work. For example, if you're a manager, you might learn to delegate.
And never throw in the towel. „Whether it's stress-, environment-, or food-related, don't ignore the possibilities and keep looking for answers,“ Knight said, adding: everytime answer. Don't stop looking. ”