Eczema is a condition that blights the lives of many people across the world. It can often be a life-long struggle. Steroid cream can treat irritation and blistering, but this rarely alleviates the symptoms completely. Moreover, it is for a limited period only if the cream is successful.
Being told ‘not to scratch’ is also advice commonly given, but this may only help prevent itching initially.
What can you do to treat your eczema without drugs? Here is a list of 11 natural things that can help the skin get back to health right now.
Identify The Root Cause
Although tricky, identifying a potential cause for a flare-up is the best way to begin your eczema-free journey. Unfortunately, all drugs and natural remedies won’t help if a persistent and identifiable problem is the root cause.
Many things can cause eczema, but the causes are often stress and anxiety, bacteria in the gut by antibiotics, and, ironically, steroids.
Therefore, managing pre-existing physical diseases or psychological problems before seeking further treatments is vital in combating eczema. It may mean no other treatment is necessary and could eliminate the problem.
Eliminate Milk And Dairy Products
Many people believe cow’s milk to be the main trigger of the eczema condition. Cutting it out of your diet even for a short period is worth doing to see any noticeable improvement in your skin.
Goat and sheep’s milk are equally creamy good alternatives and are readily available. Soy, oat, and rice milk are also there as non-animal options.
Take Bleach Or Magnesium Baths
Soaking in water only aggravates the problem for some people with eczema, so this is a trial and error recommendation.
However, magnesium and other types of detox baths can work wonders if your skin type allows it. The addition of magnesium flakes, bleach, or Epsom salts to the water can help with the itching associated with eczema.
Magnesium also helps alleviate symptoms of the condition when taken orally or applied directly to the skin from magnesium oil.
Humidify Your Room
Many people underestimate the benefits of using a humidifier. Dry air can worsen eczema by causing flakiness. Adding moisture to the air adds moisture to the skin. Humidifiers can come in a portable form or as those that attach to the furnace.
Don’t worry if purchasing a humidifier is too expensive. There are homemade options that work just as well. For example, you can invest in house plants or place a bowl of water beneath a radiator or heat source.
Use Non-irritating Shampoos And Soaps
The majority of eczema-prone skin will react well to a hydrating and moisturizing product. Anything that dries the skin, such as deodorant or anti-bacterial products, is not recommended.
In addition, perfumed lotions and bath products with dye will likely irritate the skin and cause further inflammation.
Products containing sodium sulfate are too harsh on the skin and will dry it out. Parabens are chemicals found in many lotions, gels, and creams. These are known to irritate the skin and have even been linked to cancer.
Moisturize Naturally And Often
Keeping your eczema-prone skin hydrated is essential. Aloe Vera, Almond oil, and Cocoa butter are the best examples of moisturizers as they do much more than just moisturize.
Aloe Vera has proven effective in healing wounds. It is often used to treat burns to do amazing things for your skin relatively quickly. If you are concerned about added ingredients, you can buy an aloe plant and cut from it whenever you want – you can drink it in juice form.
Almond oil is known for its hair strengthening and repairing benefits with the bonus of shine; however, it is rich in vitamins and can do wonders for irritated skin due to its skin barrier effects and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Likewise, cocoa butter, particularly cold-pressed, can do great things for your skin because it is vitamin E-rich. Always buy it in pure form, though, to avoid any added parabens that may be counter-productive.
Manage Your Stress
Stress can be a significant or mild contributor to eczema flare-ups. But in either case, your skin can benefit significantly from stress reduction.
Think of your skin’s health as a balance between your body’s internal healing abilities and the factors that contribute to your eczema. If this balance shifts in favor of healing, then your skin will improve.
On the other hand, if this balance shifts towards the eczematous factors, you may experience a flare-up.
What this means is that even if stress contributes only 10% to your eczema, finding ways to keep your stress levels under control can shift the balance and allow your skin to heal itself.
Meditation, deep breathing, and mindfulness are all techniques that can work wonders for your stress.
Bathe Less Frequently In Warm Water
Though showers and baths may feel soothing on itchy or inflamed skin, it does more harm than good to bathe too often. The skin is stripped of its natural moisture, causing the flare-up to worsen.
Instead, use warm or tepid water, which is less harsh on the skin than hot water. Always remember to moisturize after showering to replenish your skin’s moisture, and rub the affected area gently with a soft towel to get dry. Abrasive or old towels will worsen the inflammation and even cause eczema blistering when this was not previously a symptom.
When added to a warm bath, baking soda and bleach in small quantities can help eczema sufferers. The soda calms any itching, and bleach kills bacteria known to contribute to the increase in severity of the skin condition.
Use Chamomile
Chamomile is an excellent natural eczema remedy to try. Make its tea by brewing dried chamomile flowers in boiling water for about 10-15 minutes. This tea and is a tasty alternative to other hot drinks.
Massage chamomile directly onto the skin in essential oil or add to a hot bath.
However, be mindful if you have never used chamomile before because some people develop an allergic reaction.
Apply Calendula Lotion
Similar to a marigold, calendula is a flower. Its extract makes salves and lotions.
It has skin-healing properties and reduces inflammation and pain associated with eczema and other skin conditions.
Most calendula products can be found at health stores. These are recommended above any drug store products, likely to have less pure calendula and added potentially irritating ingredients.
Calendula can safely be applied directly to the skin, and it can be used liberally. Also, this flower extract has no known adverse side effects.
Take Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil has long been in use for eczema treatment due to gamma-linolenic acid.
This fatty acid can help to correct skin deficiencies in lipids. This, therefore, reduces inflammation and nourishes the skin.
Usually taken as a supplement, evening primrose oil can be ingested orally in tablet form. It is available in all drug stores, health premises, and general stores.
BOTTOM LINE
Taking care of your diet and trying out natural remedies can greatly help in reducing eczema flareups. However, if your eczema flare-up is not getting better, seek medical help.
