This skin condition is characterized by discolored and sometimes even inflamed skin. Since one of the main symptoms is the inflamed skin itself, this condition is usually referred to as dermatitis. The skin usually gets red and dry and there are crusts or blisters formed. Although this skin condition usually occurs in children, some adults are affected as well.
Even though there are many different kinds of eczema, ‘atopic eczema” is the most common type that people experience. The most common belief about this skin condition is that it is usually triggered by allergens and that it is hereditary.
There isn’t any specific cure for eczema but knowing the cause and being familiar with the ways that can help you treat it properly can be very helpful. People whose skin is producing lesser amount of oils and fats are likely to suffer from this skin condition. The thing is, the body isn’t able to retain the water it should and the space between cells widens because they are not moisturized properly. This results with loss of water from the dermis and this allows the bacteria and irritants to easily enter the pores of the skin.
Since the use of detergents and soaps can worsen the condition, people suffering from this skin condition are recommended to stay away from them. The pH levels of these people are under 7 and it will strip away the lipids the skin produces. This makes your skin transform from a healthy to dry and inflamed one, with blisters and cracks.
People who have experienced this skin condition have tried a lot of remedies in order to treat it and reduce the effects of it. Luckily, they have shared their experiences and provided a list of several home remedies for treating eczema. These remedies strengthen the skin barriers, moisturize the skin and fill in the gaps. They managed to successfully reduce itchiness and inflammation.
1. Soak the Oats
Turning to the basics is always a safe and effective variant. An oatmeal bath is one of them. It will soothe your skin and moisturize it at the same time, without causing any itchy or painful sensation. It actually reduces the itchiness very effectively. The secret of this natural remedy are its chemical constituents that have anti-inflammatory properties and they can provide a sense of relief of the discomfort caused by eczema. It is not surprising that oatmeal is one of the most common ingredients in every beauty product.
Ingredients:
- A cup of oatmeal
- Cheesecloth or something similar
Directions:
You need to pour the cup of oatmeal in cheesecloth and tie it securely. Make sure you tie and extra-long piece of material on the top. Then, tie the bag around your faucet and fill in the bathtub- enough that the bag would soak. Wait until the water becomes smooth and milky and soak for about 15 minutes. Squeeze the bag in order to let the good stuff seep out even more. When done, apply some moisturizer, the one you normally use.
2. Jojoba Oil
Interestingly, Jojoba oil is not in the form of oil, but in wax instead. It has the ability to penetrate the skin deeply and the molecular structure of this oil is quite similar to the oils produced by our skin. This makes the Jojoba oil one of the ideal remedies for eczema. In addition, it contains fatty alcohols and fatty acids that moisturize the skin and work very well. Just rinse your hands and apply the Jojoba oil on affected areas. Massage your skin gently so that the pores would absorb the oil. Apply it thrice a day, or as often as needed.
3. Coconut Oil
The coconut oil is one of the most effective home remedies for eczema. It has the ability to fill the intercellular space of the skin that opened up, causing the loss of moisture. Moreover, it contains huge amount of oil and fats, which enable the oil to effectively moisturize the skin. You don’t need to worry about your skin getting dry as long as you use this oil. All you need to do is to rinse your hands with water and apply the coconut oil on the affected areas. Allow it to dry and you don’t need to rinse afterwards. You can do this as much as you want during the day and of course, as much as it is needed.
4. Food- grade Vegetable Glycerin
In case you didn’t know, the glycerin or glycerol is one of the most effective home remedies for eczema. It’s the backbone of lipids and it is usually a by-product in the industry of making soaps. What makes vegetable glycerin different from the regular one is that the former usually comes from oils and fats from plant such as coconuts and palm.
Moreover, the vegetable glycerin is 99.7% pure with the remaining 0.03% water. The regular one isn’t food-grade quality. The vegetable glycerin is one of the most effective natural remedies for eczema because it helps the skin stay moisturized. The evidence for its potency is that if you leave a bottle of pure glycerin exposed, it will eventually become 20% water. It is ideal for treating eczema because it rehydrates the skin, it could fill in the gaps and keeps the skin moisturized.
Ingredients:
- Filtered water
- Spray bottle
- Vegetable glycerin ( food-grade)
Directions:
Pour 1:1 ratio of water and glycerin in a spray bottle and shake it in order to blend everything up. Spray one the skin as needed. If you find the solution too strong, you can change the ratio and try 2:1 or even 3:1. It is recommended to start with lower rations in order to see how your skin reacts.
5. Aloe Vera
This amazing plant has many uses and treating eczema is just one of them. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which can lighten the scars and reduce the irritation caused by eczema.
In order to get all the benefits aloe vera provides it is recommended to apply the fresh gel directly on the skin. However, you can also add vitamin E in the gel and make a thick paste. Apply the paste on the affected areas and leave overnight. In the morning, rinse with lukewarm water. You can be sure that by using this remedy your eczema will reduce and eventually disappear.
6. Olive Oil
Apart from the above mentioned coconut oil, the olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties as well. This enables it to reduce the redness and soften the skin. It is recommended to use extra virgin oil so that it will be more effective.
Apply the extra virgin oil on the affected areas and let the skin absorb the oil by gently massaging. In case you cannot find olive oil, you can use coconut oil instead. After massaging, place a warm washcloth over the area and leave it until it cools off. Do this procedure once a day.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
The apple cider vinegar or ACV is considered as one of the natural remedies for eczema due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties.
Mix a solution of glass of water, 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of honey. By drinking this solution thrice a day, you will improve your immune system and it will result with reducing of inflammation and scaring of the skin.
Another way of using the ACV is applying it directly on the affected areas. You can also dilute it with one part of water. Massage the affected area once a day ( at least) and this will lessen the itchiness and dryness.
8. Tea Time
The tea is known for its relaxing properties, and these properties particularly are the reason why it can be used as a natural remedy for treatment of eczema. It reduces the inflammation and with that the itchiness and heals the scars. Chamomile contains a natural alcohol called levomenol or a-bisabolol and both could alleviate irritation, reduce inflammation, and the anti-microbial properties present in Chamomile could eliminate the germs before it could even enter the skin.
So with this information that we have about the properties of the tea what could be better than a relaxing tea bath? This bath has much in common with the oatmeal bath that we already talked about. The procedure is all the same instead that you will use chamomile instead of oats. But what is interesting is that you can use both of them in the same time.
The following is what you will need:
- Cheesecloth or something similar
- 4 tbsps. of chamomile flower (dried)
Instructions:
Put the chamomile in the cheesecloth and tie it off. The amount of 4 tbsps is the recommended, but if you want a stronger bath you can add some more. Fill in the tub with water and soak the bag into the water. Squeeze the bag in order the goodness to seep out more. Leave it like that for 10 or 15 minutes and moisturize yourself after.
9. Supplement with Fish Oil
Maybe the most effective remedy for treatment eczema is fish oil. It alleviates the itching brought with it. Some researches show that people who suffer from atop eczema have a lower rate of essential fatty acids breaking down into their metabolites and it has an effect on the skin cell membranes. What is more the N-3 and N-6 fatty acids are important when it comes to maintaining a healthy skin. The home remedy with fish oil will help rich in both. Taking an appropriate amount of it will make
You will need the following:
- Orange juice (optional)
- Fish oil
Instructions:
You can use both liquid and capsules. Always take the recommended dosage and dissolve the liquid into some orange juice. Many people can`t stand the odor and the taste of the fish oil and by mixing it with orange juice it can be reduced.
10. Dab Some Honey
Honey has great properties that are excellent for treatment of eczema. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that it has improve the process of healing of the skin.
The following is what you will need for treatment with this remedy
- Bandage
- Organic raw honey
Instructions:
Put a thin layer on the affected areas of your skin, after that secure it with a bandage in order to avoid rubbing off on anything. Leave it sit like that for 10-30 minutes and rinse with warm water. According to some people who have tried this remedy it is better to leave the area exposed so that it could breath. It is up to you to decide in which way you will apply the remedy.
11. Oil and Cornstarch
If you have problems with eczema don’t hesitate to try out treating it with cornstarch. In order to neutralize it we recommend you to mix it with some olive oil or grape seed oil.
You will need the following:
- Olive or grapeseed oil
- Cornstarch
Instructions:
Mix cornstarch and olive oil to create a spreadable paste. Make sure that the paste isn’t too thick or too thin. All you have to do is to apply it on the affected area and after some time rinse it.
12. Clay Could Be the Key
Eczema can sometimes make the inflammation worse. Maybe you be achieve a temporary relief but the situation will get worse in the long run. French green clay is packed with iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and other essential minerals, making it the perfect paste that would soothe those itchy scars and bring down the inflammation too.
You will need the following ingredients to prepare the paste:
- Witch hazel extract or water
- 1/2 cup of green clay
Instructions:
Mix small amount of water with clay and you will get a creamy paste. Apply this paste on the affected area and leave it like that until it dries. In the end rinse it with cool water. If you had prepared a bigger amount than you actually need, store the paste in a container and keep it for later use. You can reconstitute the paste by adding some water to it.
13. DIY Soothing Butter
In the end we will recommend you a combination of 4 fantastic healing ingredients that is proven to alleviate eczema. The four ingredient needed are coconut oil, butter-jojoba oil, beeswax, and Shea butter. They are all rich with acids and have the ability to repair damaged skin. This combination will also reduce inflammation caused by eczema because Shea is rich in non-saponifiably fatty acids. At the same time the other ingredient beeswax is used to thicken the butter and as an added perk, it also softens and protects the skin.
You will need the following:
- 6 tbsps. of coconut oil
- 2 tbsps. of Shea butter
- 4 tbsps. of jojoba oil
- Lavender essential oil (optional)
- 2 tbsps. of beeswax
- Airtight container
To prepare your own DIY cream for eczema take a double boiler and melt the jojoba oil and beeswax completely. Once you have done this add the coconut oil and stir the mixture until it gets fully melted. Add the Shea butter but before you do this lower the heat. Stir until it melts. Store the mixture in the container and wait for it to cool down. If you want the mixture to have better scent, add 1 or 2 drops of lavender essential oil to the mixture. After you prepare it apply it on the affected areas on the skin as much as you think that you need the treatment.
Note!
Always add the Shea butter last because it is very sensitive with heat and could get grainy when over-exposed.
