Managing Eczema Flare-Ups: The2nd.co CEO’s Skincare Protocol

There are mornings I wake up and know, even before opening my eyes, that it’s going to be a bad skin day. It’s not a feeling, it’s a physical sensation. A specific kind of heat and tightness that tells me my eczema has flared up overnight. When I finally look in the mirror, the confirmation is there: angry, red patches on my neck, under arms, and in the crooks of my elbows. The worst is my hands, they crack, flake, split, and peel. The itch is maddening, and my first instinct isn't to treat it. It’s to hide.

On days like this, the idea of putting on clothes and facing the world feels impossible. Every fabric feels like sandpaper. You become hyper-aware of anyone looking at you, wondering if they see the flakes or the raw, scratched skin, or looking like your nose is dusted in......cake icing....because the skin is flaking and peeling in little white bits. It’s isolating. You cancel plans. You just want to be invisible until it passes. When a flare-up gets out of control, it feels like you've lost the battle. All the careful routines and products seem like a waste, and the frustration is overwhelming. Ontop of this, you run a men's skincare store and the additional insecurity of feeling like people are thinking "oh, he really must not know what he's doing" creeps in. 

In those moments, my strategy is always the same: stop everything and go back to the absolute basics. When your skin is that compromised, it can’t handle anything new. It needs simple, gentle care focused on two things: calming the irritation and rebuilding the moisture barrier.

My first step is always to remove all potential irritants. I stop all products except for the soap, body wash, and oil that I've been using for 10+ years. It doesn't matter what these are, but you will know what products have been apart of your life, that have never flared you up before. I wash my face with only water, try and reduce how many times I wash my hands (I trend near OCD levels of washing, so I try and reduce where possible), immediately moisturizing with virgin coconut oil afterwards. 

I love cooking, but I can't stand having food smells on my hands, so rather than obsessively washing my hands, I use food-safe gloves. This allows me to handle food, ensure all my surfaces are clean, and be able to wash up afterwards without having to wash my hands with soap at every moment. 

Also, I use gloves in the gym. This is something I always do, I got these cool-looking Under Armour baseball gloves to; number 1 - look rad, and then number 2, protect from calluses and harsh cleaners used in gyms. These hands are usually smooth as!

Once I've reduced or removed all potential irritants, I then have to try and reduce the itch and begin repairing my skin. Something that really helps with this is heavy moisturizing colloidal oatmeal. I use Eucerin Eczema Relief, that boy is thick! It helps calm the intense itch and reduces that angry redness. It's not all peaches and cream though, that thing stings like a mother when you're all cut up and red raw. Try and stay calm and let it subside.

The second, and equally crucial, step is to seal it all in - this was a new trick I've just learnt. Putting on a balm or cream is only half the job. If you don't lock it in, the moisture can evaporate, leaving your skin just as dry as before. This is where I use coconut oil - a product I've used for years now that has really helped change my skin for the better.

I apply a heavy layer over the areas I've applied the cream (ensuring the cream has had time to dry) to create a protective seal. This holds the moisture against my skin for hours, giving it time to heal. Now Imma be real, I don't particularly like the feeling of being a greased up turkey - but it's how it's gonna go to help calm all this down. Here's where you get to sit and think about what an oily mess, I usually try and just sit to let this all dry up without touching much or rubbing it off accidentally on myself. Staring into the abyss is optional. 

Managing a flare-up also means managing your environment. During warmer months, it’s tempting to have a fan blowing directly on you, but that moving air is incredibly drying. It can wick moisture right out of your skin, making the problem worse. I've found even a ceiling fan on the lowest setting can make a difference. It's a tough trade-off, but I’ve learned to position fans so they circulate air in the room rather than hitting me directly. Dust is another major trigger. It’s a constant battle of vacuuming and cleaning surfaces to minimize airborne irritants that can land on sensitive skin and cause a reaction. Watch out for what cleaning products you use, how long after cleaning you touch a surface, and always be aware of touching your face.....like ever. It sucks. 

Dealing with severe eczema is a lesson in patience. There are no quick fixes. It’s about listening to your skin, stripping your routine back to what truly works, and creating a safe, calm environment for it to heal. It’s a slow process, but that simple, two-step approach of soothing and sealing is what helps me regain control. Unfortunately, my flare up has been going on three-weeks now and is showing no sign of slowing down - so I'm heading to the doctor. Usually they prescribe a steroid cream which helps your skin battle the flare up, so it can begin to heal and calm down before you flare/scratch it open again. Then, if that doesn't work, they'll give you an actual steroid - usually a pill cycle. I believe this is what they'll give me - will keep you posted. 

Once you're all healed up, and you want to start rebuilding your routine, we curate men's skincare products that follow modern, clean-ingredient standards that are effective at ensuring your skin is healthy, which in turn helps reduce flare-ups. Check it out over at www.the2nd.co.

How to Manage and Calm a Severe Eczema Flare-Up

When your skin barrier is compromised, less is more. Here is the step-by-step emergency protocol I use to soothe raw skin and rebuild the moisture barrier.

1. Strip Back Your Routine: Stop using all active skincare products, exfoliants, and fragrances. Revert to the absolute basics—only use the gentle soaps, body washes, and oils you have trusted for years. Wash your face with lukewarm water only.

2. Protect Your Hands Daily: Minimize hand washing whenever possible. Wear food-safe gloves while cooking or handling raw ingredients. Wear protective workout gloves at the gym to shield your hands from harsh communal cleaning sprays and friction.

3. Soothe with Colloidal Oatmeal: Apply a heavy colloidal oatmeal cream (like Eucerin Eczema Relief) to calm the intense itch and reduce redness. Note: Be prepared for it to sting if your skin is cracked or raw. Breathe through it and let it subside.

4. Seal It In (The "Greased Turkey" Method): Let the colloidal oatmeal cream dry, then apply a heavy layer of virgin coconut oil over the top. This locks the hydration against your skin so it can't evaporate. Sit still and let it absorb without rubbing it off.

5. Manage Your Environment: Turn fans away from your body. Moving air wicks moisture directly out of compromised skin. Vacuum regularly to minimize dust mites, and avoid touching surfaces cleaned with harsh chemicals (and never touch your face).

6. Know When to See a Doctor: If your flare-up persists for multiple weeks without improvement, consult a dermatologist. You may need a prescription topical steroid or an oral steroid cycle to break the inflammation cycle so your skin can finally heal.

Frequently Asked Questions: Managing Eczema Flare-Ups

Should I change my skincare routine during an eczema flare? Yes. Immediately drop any new, harsh, or highly active products. Your skin's moisture barrier is compromised and cannot handle complex routines. Revert to a "water-only" face wash and rely strictly on gentle, trusted products you’ve used for years without issue until the flare-up completely subsides.

Why does my eczema cream sting when I put it on? When eczema causes your skin to crack, flake, and become raw, the underlying tissue is exposed. Even incredibly gentle, soothing creams like colloidal oatmeal can sting intensely upon application. This is normal; try to stay calm and wait a few minutes for the stinging to subside as the cream absorbs.

Does coconut oil help with eczema? Coconut oil is an excellent "sealer" or occlusive layer. While a moisturizing cream or balm provides hydration, applying a layer of virgin coconut oil on top locks that moisture in, preventing it from evaporating into the air. It’s highly effective for retaining moisture on severely dry, cracked skin.

How can I protect my hands from eczema while cooking or working out? Frequent hand washing and exposure to harsh chemicals are major eczema triggers. Use food-safe disposable gloves while cooking to avoid food odors and minimize hand washing. At the gym, wear workout gloves (like baseball batting gloves) to protect your skin from friction calluses and the harsh sanitizing chemicals used on shared equipment.

How long does an eczema flare-up usually last? Flare-up lengths vary wildly depending on the trigger and severity. Minor flares might calm down in a few days with strict moisturizing and trigger avoidance. However, severe flare-ups can last for weeks. If a flare-up persists for three weeks or more without showing signs of healing, it is usually time to visit a doctor for prescription intervention.

How do I safely rebuild my skincare routine after eczema heals? Once your skin barrier is fully repaired and the redness and flaking have stopped, slowly reintroduce products one at a time. Focus on modern, clean-ingredient formulas designed to support a healthy skin barrier. You can find a curated selection of effective, barrier-safe men's skincare at www.the2nd.co.

By Jack Llewellyn-Karski - Founder & CEO of The 2nd
Jack Llewellyn-Karski is a men's personal care expert and the founder of the retail platform The 2nd, alongside its brand incubator, The 2nd Studio. Through strategic manufacturing partnerships with industry leaders like Cosmax and national retail distributions spanning Nordstrom and Ulta Beauty, Jack specializes in developing and curating high-performance, clean skincare solutions for men.