The origins of eczema are still unknown. Scientists believe that it is a genetically transmitted disease, but nothing is clear yet. Even more troublesome is the fact that there is no cure for this particular skin condition. However, there are some home remedies for eczema you can turn to in order to alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Depending on how serious it is, with a proper understanding of your body’s needs, it is possible to get rid of the symptoms altogether. However, even if they disappear for a short period of time, they are bound to make their presence visible in the future, if you do not continue with your treatment.
You can find in this article a series of the best 15 home remedies for eczema that will change your life for the better. Each one of them is easy to make using simple raw materials that you can find anywhere, and ready to be put to work right away. If they work for you, then you can spare the trip to the doctor and treat yourself with something nice in order to celebrate. Read on to find out our 15 home remedies for eczema…
It is not certain exactly what causes eczema, however, there are a number of factors and triggers which are widely associated with the development of eczema. It is thought that eczema is mostly caused by a combination of genetics and certain triggers.
People who have eczema tend to have an over-reactive immune system which reacts to certain triggers by producing inflammation. It is this inflammation which results in itchy, red, and painful skin symptoms.
Research has also found that people who have eczema have a mutation of a gene which is responsible for producing filaggrin. Filaggrin is the protein which helps our bodies to maintain a healthy protective barrier on the top layer of our skin. Without this protective barrier, it is much easier for moisture to escape the skin, and for bacteria and viruses to enter the skin. This is why people who have eczema tend to have dry and infection-prone skin.
The following triggers may result in the development of eczema:
When your skin gets dry, it can very easily become scaly, rough, brittle, or tight, and this can lead to an eczema flare-up.
There are many everyday products and even natural substances which can lead to irritation of the skin.
These could be products which you use on your body or in your home, such as laundry detergent, hand soap, body wash, surface cleaners, shampoo, and disinfectants. There are even some natural liquids which may cause irritation, such as juices from fresh vegetables or fruits.
Some of the most common eczema irritants include the following:
Emotional stress is considered to be a trigger for eczema, however, it is not clear why this is. Some people notice that their eczema symptoms become worse when they are feeling stressed. Other people can become stressed due to their eczema and this can result in the symptoms getting worse.
Many people with eczema will notice their skin become itchy when they become too hot. This can happen when working out, wearing too many clothes to bed, or even just on vacation. During the colder months of the year, the skin may become too dry, and this can also lead to irritation and an eczema flare-up.
Eczema may also flare up if the air is too dry or too humid, or if you take long, hot baths or showers.
Your eczema can become infected with viruses or bacteria which live in the environment. One of the most common types is Staphylococcus aureus. The herpes virus, molluscum virus, and certain types of fungus are also common triggers for infection.
There are materials within the environment which can cause allergic reactions and this can lead to an eczema flare-up. Some of the most common environmental triggers include the following:
It is important to know the allergens which could cause your eczema to flare-up so that you can keep the symptoms under control.
Hormones can cause a wide variety of symptoms in the body. When certain levels of hormones in the body increase or decrease, some people with eczema can experience a flare-up.
The main cause that makes your skin crack and itch is the lack of fatty acids or fast skin dehydration. The most logical thing to do in this case is to turn to all kinds of creams and oils. However, only some are beneficial to your skin in terms of hydration and providing it with the best regenerative nutrients. One of the best in treating a wide range of other skin conditions is no other than the coconut oil.
Also, large cosmetic companies use it in many products that are meant to soften and hydrate the skin. However, you will only need the classic coconut oil, without any additions or further processing. You can use it throughout the day as many times as you need. Before you apply it directly to the affected areas, make sure to rinse your hands with water and properly dry them off.
For some people, coconut oil works perfectly. However, every individual is unique in his own way and so is his skin. This is why where the coconut oil fails, go for the Jojoba. In fact, it is not an oil. The consistency closely resembles liquid wax. Thanks to this, the molecular structure is much more like human natural sebum. This means that it will be more efficient once absorbed into the skin.
Due to the fact that it is also composed of fatty acids and a wide range of different fatty alcohols, it features incredible moisturizing and nutritious qualities. Just like applying any other cosmetic product, thoroughly wash your hands before applying the jojoba oil to the affected area. Apply it three times a day and massage it gently into the skin. The effects should be visible right away.
This time, you won’t have to apply this product directly on the skin, even though it is an oil. However, it still proves one of the most efficient home remedies for eczema out there. As stated in the beginning of the article, being deprived of certain fatty acids can lead your skin to crack and with it comes that horrible itching sensation. N-6 and N-3 are the particular fatty acids your body can’t produce a sufficient amount of which leads to all those symptoms.
As a result, you need to up the dose by taking fish oil supplements which provide exactly those fatty acids your body needs so much. It is possible that you won’t feel the results after just five minutes, but take them regularly and the results will be obvious in time.
With so many DIY recipes out there, creating some home remedies for eczema lotions will save you some money and help alleviate the unpleasant symptoms. One of the best DIY home remedies for eczema is the cornstarch and olive oil lotion. You can make this in a matter of minutes, apply it straight away and enjoy the results. All you need to do is to mix the olive oil with cornstarch until it gains the consistency of a spreadable paste. Be careful not to make it too thick, as it won’t spread properly. Also, if it is too watery and thin, it will slide off the affected area and have no effect whatsoever.
When you manage to find the perfect balance, apply the ointment straight to the affected area. do not massage it into the skin, but just let it sit for about twenty minutes. You can then remove it with warm water and clean the area with a clean towel. Feel free to apply any moisturizer afterward, for better results.
Another great DIY recipe for home remedies for eczema is this particular lotion. You will need 2 tablespoons of both shea butter as well as beeswax, 6 tablespoons of coconut oil and 4 tablespoons of jojoba oil. You can also add into the mix some lavender essential oil for a nice aroma.
Start by melting the beeswax and jojoba oil completely. Next, add the coconut oil and stir everything together until everything is fully melted. In the end, lower the heat and add the shea butter. You want to add the butter at the last moment because it is more heat sensitive. Stir everything for a couple more minutes, and turn the heat off. You can then pour the mixture into airtight tins or glass jars. If you want to use lavender oil for fragrance, add one or two drops in each jar. Allow everything to cool down. Next, you can apply this mixture to the affected areas as many times you need throughout the day.
Another great skin hydrating product that is mainly used by cosmetic companies is vegetal glycerin. One of its many assets is the fact that it is humectant. This means that it draws water particles in and consequently helps to seal the moisture into the skin. To help you better understand how vegetable glycerin and water work together here is a little secret. If you leave a bottle of vegetal glycerin opened, it will become 20% water in the end. Hence, if you use it for eczema, it will draw up water from the deeper layer of the skin to the affected area and keep it moisturized.
You can fill a spray bottle with water and vegetable glycerin, maintaining a 1-1 ratio. This means that you mix as much glycerin as water together and then proceed to spray it to the affected areas. Depending on how your skin reacts, you can increase or decrease the vegetable glycerin ratio, as needed.
The oatmeal bath is highly recommended to people who do not particularly suffer from any skin conditions. As a result, if you find yourself struggling with eczema, make sure to give this a try. The natural ingredients present in oatmeal have anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, it is possible to hep you get rid of the unpleasant inflammation associated with eczema.
All that you need is a cheesecloth or muslin and one cup of oatmeal. Pour the oatmeal into the cloth and secure it tightly. Hang the bag right below the faucet while the bathtub fills only part way. This will squeeze out the nutrients in the oatmeal into the water which will also begin to turn milky. Soak for about 15 minutes and use a clean towel to dry yourself off.
Using the same technique as before, you can replace oatmeal with chamomile tea. Not only is it good for reducing inflammation, but it also heals overly-scratched spots and tames itchiness at the same time. Hence, you will need about four tablespoons of dried up chamomile flowers and a piece of clean cloth. Just like with the oatmeal, place the flowers inside the cloth.
Next, hand the bag under the faucet and let the bathtub partially fill with water. Also, squeeze the bag from time to time to get more nutrients out while soaking. After approximately 15 minutes you can use a clean towel to dry yourself off. If you have any, apply some regular moisturizer for better results.
Honey has been used since ancient times for a wide range of different conditions. More recently, however, modern technology allowed us to understand how crucial honey can be in treating some skin disorders like eczema. For example, the anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial features help to speed up the healing process of broken skin.
Also, just like vegetable glycerin, honey is a humectant, which means that will provide the affected areas with enough moisture to prevent them from further cracking or itching. Before you proceed to apply honey directly to the affected areas, however, make sure to properly clean your hands. Let it sit for about half an hour and then rinse off with warm water. Do this about three times a day, and the results should become noticeable pretty soon after.
The worst symptom of eczema has to be the continuous itching sensation that you can’t get rid of. Even if scratching provides you with a temporary relief, it only worsens the inflammation of the affected area. however, there is a cure against that. The green clay is especially rich in iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium that will alleviate the burning and itching sensation. No more itching means no more scratching and consequently no more inflammation.
Because of the many benefits this DIY lotion provides, it makes for one of the best home remedies for eczema on this list. Mix either water or witch hazel extract with a half cup of green clay. Once creamy paste forms, you can apply it straight to the affected area. after it dries, rinse off with cool water and dry the area off with a clean towel. You can store the excess lotion in an airtight glass jar for further use. If the compound dries out, just add a little bit of water or witch hazel extract and use it again.
Not all forms of eczema refer to dried skin. When someone suffers from an oozing type of eczema, drying the skin is more beneficial than trying to moisturize the affected area. for this purpose, you can make yourself a homemade spray that will offer you relief.
For this, you will need one cup of boiled of distilled water, one tablespoon of sea salt and a pinch of magnesium flakes. All you need to do next is to mix the salt and magnesium together in warm water until they dissolve completely. You can apply by spraying the mixture on the affected area right away.
The “big brother” of the DIY sea spray is the magnesium baths. If you suffer from multiple rashes, it is better if you just soak in a magnesium and sea salt bath than spraying small amounts of lotion on each affected zone. Also, a magnesium bath is good for relaxation, which in turn helps you to battle the skin disorder more effectively.
For this particular home remedy, you will need about one or two cups of magnesium flakes and half a cup of Himalayan or sea salt. If you want your bath to benefit from a nice aroma, as well, you can add into the mix about ten drops of essential oil of your choosing.
It comes as no surprise that eczema can leave behind scars and painful blisters that take a long period of time to heal. For this purpose, we provide you with yet another one of the best DIY home remedies for eczema to try. For this, you will need about two cups of olive or almond oil, two tablespoons of dried broad-leaf plantain and one tablespoon of comfrey leaf.
Heat the olive oil together with the herbs for three hours over low heat, until the oil turns green. Collect and discard the herbs. Next, mix the beeswax with the heat infused oil and stir until completely melted. Let everything cool down for several hours. Apply it straight to the affected area and massage into the skin. You can store the excess mixture into airtight glass jars for further use.
Eczema is an autoimmune disease which means that the immune system is overreactive and perceives its own tissues as harmful pathogens. As a result, the body attacking itself. One way to control this is to start understanding what causes the allergic reaction that in turn provokes an immune response. Some foods like cow’s milk, soy, wheat, corn, eggs or peanuts might be the culprits.
Hence, you need to eliminate these from your diet for at least 30 days. Next, start taking vitamins like Vitamin A and D (for skin health), L-glutamine (about 3.000 mg per day) and full spectrum probiotics. The final step of this 30-day diet is to apply different ointments like coconut oil or the one that fits you best on this list of home remedies for eczema. Ultimately, eat foods rich in omega 3 such as walnuts or wild salmon, in order to increase the fatty acids production.
Another series of factors that promote skin rashes are industrial chemicals and synthetic fibers. As a result, try to avoid wearing clothes made from scratchy or synthetic materials. Instead, go for cotton fibers, silk or bamboo, which are considerably gentler on the skin.
Also, yet another cause of constantly dried skin and itching sensation might be caused by an allergic reaction to some detergents. Because of this, switch to laundry detergents that are free of any added chemicals or powerful scents.
Even though the sources of eczema are unknown and a cure is still to be found, you can still live a happy life. In order for you to do that consider these 15 home remedies for eczema and try them at home. Pick whichever suits you best, and put yourself out there again without having to deal with a constantly itching or dried skin again.
Moreover, using these effective home remedies for eczema instead of going to the doctor’s will most certainly save you some money. Use it to try out even more remedies and explore new possibilities of leading both a healthy life as well as a relaxed one.
Do you have any home remedies for eczema that you would like to share with us? Please leave us a comment in the comments section below this article – we would love to hear your ideas and experiences!
