Eczema is a form of atopic dermatitis. If you have eczema or any other form of dermatitis then you know that the effects can be horrible. Sometimes it will feel like it is burning, stinging, oozing, or bleeding on your skin. It can vary between just being irritating to feeling just as painful as rashes, blisters, or open sores. You may be wondering if you can treat eczema naturally.
Eczema can occur anywhere on your body and cause redness, scaly skin that can crack and red itchy bumps. It is reflective of a problem with your immune system.
Commonly eczema presents in babies or young children. It can however occur at any age. In adults it is often as a result of developing an allergy to a food or chemical, or after exposure to a toxic substance.
The hands and forearms are particularly common sites to be affected. Using perfumed soaps can make eczema worse. The fact that our hands are washed more often than the rest of the body is a problem. This is worse because of the increased hand washing that we now need to do because of the pandemic.
A build up of sweat can make the problem worse also. If your job requires you to wear face masks for long periods of time that can also be an issue.
You may wonder how to get rid of eczema. There are a number of treatments available. These can range from prescription drugs and topical creams, natural products that can be found at your local health food store to natural remedies that use the healing power of plants.
It can be difficult to completely get rid of your eczema. You don’t want to use toxic chemicals that can damage your overall health. The treatments that you find at your local drug store may work for many people, but they are not guaranteed to work for everyone.
Aim to get rid of eczema naturally with natural treatments that cause no side effects. Many of these also offer the chance to improve your overall health.
Ways to treat eczema naturally
Here are some simple tips to help you begin healing your skin. The worst thing you can do is to scratch eczema.It can be difficult to ignore the constant itching that can result from eczema.
Dietary changes
Get tested to see if you have food allergies.
Eat to support your gut bacteria. Include probiotics in your diet. Kefir is a good choice.
Improve your diet. Cut down on sugar and processed foods.
Include Vitamin D rich foods in your diet. Salmon and eggs are suitable. Consider a Vitamin D supplement, especially in winter months.
Herbal supplements you can take include Quercitin and Nettle which act as antihistamines. Licorice acts like a natural cortisol and can also help. Finally the jelly like substance you find between the leaves of Cattails is good for skin infections.
Topical and lifestyle considerations
Avoid the use of perfumed soaps and harsh chemicals.
Apply herbal salves to moisturize and soothe skin. Comfrey, calendula and plantain are all good.
Coconut oil is a good choice as a base cream to use.
Aloe Vera or Manuka honey can be applied. Both have antibacterial properties.
Dry your skin well after you shower or bathe. Pat your skin dry rather than rubbing.
Apply cold compresses when it seems worse, or take a cool shower. Avoid hot baths. Bathing in lukewarm water with added colloidal (finely ground) oatmeal can help.
Stress can make outbreaks more common. Use mindfulness and aromatherapy with lavender oil to relax.
Do you need medications from a pharmacy?
The natural treatments above will help lessen your symptoms even if they don’t actually cure the eczema. At times you may need a trip to a pharmacy.
There are creams that act as a mild treatment for eczema that will help moisturize your skin. They will also help with healing the itchy patches that you may be suffering from. It’s important to discover the best kind of cream for your skin type.
If you are prone to flaking or bleeding, and the open sores become infected you may need to apply a medicated ointment to the area. This helps heal your skin faster.
Try the natural treatments first to get rid of eczema
So, you can see that there are choices to help you treat eczema naturally. Improvements can be made without sacrificing your health. Indeed many of the dietary changes will contribute to better health in general.
