Anyone with eczema knows of the annoying and unbearable discomfort that the itchiness and sometimes pain that the skin condition can bring. Basically, eczema or atopic dermatitis is a chronic allergic condition occurring in the skin. Symptoms include the development of areas of dry, leathery skin, redness and inflammation, and occasional blisters or crusts formation. Eczema can occur anywhere on the body but it is most common on the face areas, the scalp, inside of the elbows, knees, ankles, and hands. Eczema first appears as patches of dry, itchy skin which becomes worse and irritated when scratched. Not only does eczema interfere with your daily tasks, it can make you feel ashamed of showing off your skin as well. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways you can keep the symptoms of eczema under control. Here are five natural remedies for eczema.
- Coconut Oil
There is an endless list of uses for coconut oil and one of them is for treating your skin. Coconut oil is known for being very moisturizing and hydrating to the skin while easing any inflammation or redness. As long as the affected person isn’t allergic to coconut, coconut oil can soothe the symptoms of eczema. You can either use a coconut oil lotion bar or you can apply a thin layer of coconut oil directly onto the affected area. Apply as often as needed.
- Jojoba Oil
Eczema is a highly individual condition, which means it differs from person to person. While for some, a certain type of treatment will work, for others, it won’t. In this case, if coconut oil doesn’t work, try jojoba oil instead. The molecular structure of jojoba oil most closely resembles the natural sebum of human skin. Thus, it has a very moisturizing and healing effect on the skin which means it is very useful for those with eczema. It penetrates deeply to treat the condition from within the skin. To use, gently massage the oil into the affected area until it is partially absorbed. Repeat three times daily.
- Healthy Diet
With a healthy diet, you can treat and prevent a variety of conditions and diseases, even those involving your skin such as eczema. You may not notice it but the food you take in can either be beneficial or harmful to your skin. Processed food, dairy, gluten, caffeine, and alcohol are only some of the food that can worsen your condition and must therefore be avoided. Observe what you eat. If you find your eczema reacting after you eat a certain type of food, you might be allergic to that. Try to avoid it and see if it helps your skin condition.
- Sea Spray
Although it is generally not advisable to further dry out your skin when you have eczema, for some people, drying out oozing eczema has a soothing effect and offers relief. You can try drying out your eczema with a sea spray and see if it works for you. However, if your eczema gets irritated, reddens, and itches, apply a moisturizer to counteract the dryness.
- Oatmeal
Oatmeal is great for the skin. It has anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties that soothes and heals the skin, and reduces the itchiness you feel. Pour some oatmeal in a cheesecloth or muslin then tie it to have a little bundle of oatmeal. Fill the tub halfway with water then let the oatmeal bundle hang below the faucet. Run the bath until it’s full so that it’s milky and smooth because of the water that passed through the oatmeal bundle. Soak in the bath for 10-15 minutes. You can let the oatmeal bundle float around the bath while you’re soaking in it and even squeeze on the bundle to get the beneficial nutrients out. Afterwards, pat your skin dry then apply your usual moisturizer.
