Eczema and sensitive skin: getting symptoms under control

Dry, itchy, tight or easily irritated skin can make everyday life uncomfortable. If you live with eczema or very sensitive skin, you’ll know how much difference the right habits make, and how quickly the wrong product or a hot shower can set things off.

In this guide, we share gentle, practical ways to look after sensitive skin, and explain where professional skin treatments can and can’t help.

An important note before we start

Eczema is a medical skin condition. At Believe in Beautiful, we don’t treat eczema medically, and our skin treatments aren’t a substitute for medical care.

If you have a flare-up, or your skin is cracked, weeping, bleeding, very itchy or not improving, please see your GP or a dermatologist. They can diagnose what’s going on and recommend the right treatment for you. Our role is to support everyday skin comfort with gentle care and advice, alongside any treatment your doctor provides.

Everyday habits that support your skin barrier

Your skin barrier is the outermost layer that helps hold moisture in and keep irritants out. When it’s struggling, skin can feel dry, tight and reactive. These everyday habits can help:

• Use lukewarm water. Hot showers and baths can leave skin feeling drier. Keep the temperature comfortable and showers short.
• Choose a gentle cleanser. Look for something mild that doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight or stripped.
• Moisturise straight after showering. Gently pat your skin dry, then apply moisturiser while it’s still slightly damp to help lock in hydration.
• Avoid fragrance. Fragranced skincare, body products and even laundry products can irritate sensitive skin.
• Introduce new products slowly. Try one new product at a time on a small area first, so you can tell how your skin responds.
• Protect your skin from the sun with SPF 50+ every day.

If you’re already using products prescribed or recommended by your doctor, keep following their advice and check with them before adding anything new.

Skincare to support dry, sensitive skin

For the face, two Australian Skin Institute products worth asking your therapist about are:

• Barrier Hydration Complex ($99), known as “the skin reset serum”.
• The Daily Remedy (from $59), designed to relieve, repair and restore.

These aren’t eczema treatments. They’re skincare designed to support dry, sensitive skin. Ask your therapist or GP whether they suit you, and avoid applying anything to broken or flaring skin unless your doctor has advised it. You’ll find the full range in our online shop, with free Australian delivery on orders over $150.

Personalised skincare from Tugun Compounding Pharmacy

Sensitive skin doesn’t always get along with standard formulations. Our partner brand, Tugun Compounding Pharmacy, compounds personalised skincare scripted by their pharmacists, so products can be tailored to the individual.

To get started, request an order form. A pharmacist will contact you to assess your skin and needs before anything is made. You can read more about how it works in our guide to personalised compounded skincare and supplements.

Can I have a skin treatment if I have eczema?

Sometimes, yes, but only when your skin is calm and after your therapist has assessed it. We won’t treat over an active flare-up or broken skin.

When your skin is settled, gentle options your therapist may consider include:

• Hydro Jelly ($180, 40 min). Esthemax Hydrojelly® algae-based masks designed for hydration, redness and dullness.
• LED ($180, 40 min). Painless with no downtime. Red light is used to help calm inflammation. LED isn’t suitable if you take photosensitising medication such as isotretinoin.

Always tell your therapist about your eczema, any flare-ups, any creams or medications you use, and if you’re pregnant. They’ll only go ahead if the treatment suits your skin on the day.

The best first step is a free 20-minute Advanced Skin Consultation. Your therapist can look at your skin, talk through your routine and let you know whether any in-clinic treatments are appropriate. If you’re new to us and your skin is calm, the Skin Discovery Treatment ($99 for new clients, usually $180) includes a consultation, skin assessment and a homecare plan. You can read about it in our guide to your first Skin Discovery Treatment.

Gentle ongoing care with Radiance Club

If your therapist agrees regular treatments suit your skin, Radiance Club is a flexible way to keep up gentle, hydrating care. For $135 a month (regular value $180, so you save $45 a month, or 25%), you’ll have one Radiance Skin Treatment every month, with the modality chosen by your therapist on the day. That means your treatment can be adjusted, or swapped for something gentler, depending on how your skin is behaving.

Members also get 20% off Australian Skin Institute and Tugun Compounding Pharmacy retail, plus a Welcome Pack and a one-time Bring-a-Friend voucher. There’s a 6-month minimum term, then it’s month to month. Explore the details on our memberships page.

Ready to book? Book your free Advanced Skin Consultation online or visit one of our six Brisbane clinics.