There are many other kinds of dermatitis, like seborrheic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, neuro-dermatitis and contact dermatitis, all quite related to and concurrent with eczema. However, lets not indulge deeply in classification and see what remedies provide relief from eczema.
It is still not clear what eczema exactly is and what causes it, which is utterly unfortunate. Given the fact that humans have advanced greatly in all walks of life, it still remains a pertinent question which begs comprehensive research.
As for now, it is believed that eczema may either be genetic and triggered by certain allergens or it could be something completely unknown. However, according to ancient medicinal texts of Ayurveda, all skin disorders are somewhat related to impurities in blood. So, if blood is made purer, there is hope that skin disorder may fade away. At least that is what I take of it.
9. White Vinegar
Dilute some vinegar in a bucket of water. Dip your body parts in it. See if it works for you. If vinegar helps, then one can apply it regularly on skin lesions.
Similar effect is also observed by applying Apple Cider Vinegar. It is gentler than regular white vinegar with comparable results.
10. Aloe Vera
Best to reduce itching . A major problem with eczema is the severe itching caused by it. Apply aloe Vera gel on the skin to reduce the itching sensation. It helps to prevent the rashes from spreading.
Aloe Vera also contains essential amino acids which help skin to get taught, boost collagen and heal itself faster.
Similar soothing effect is produced by witch hazel extract liquid.
11. Carrot Mask
Prepare a carrot mask for skin. Carrots are very high in beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A which bolsters skin healing and exfoliation. It is also a wonderful skin detox.
- Ingredients
Organic orange carrots ( There are other colors of carrots but these ones are the highest in beta carotene )
Water
- Directions / How to use
Boil some carrots in a pan. Mash them up nicely. This creates a watery mixture. Drink the liquid part so that a more semi-solid paste remains. Pound it up in a metal vessel so that it become finer. Now, apply it on eczema lesions. Keep it for 3 hours and then wash it off.
( Photo Courtesy: joechacko )
12. Calendula Cream
There are lots of calendula containing creams. You can try a good one as eczema ointment. It should be just the calendula extract. Actually, calendula is noted for its skin soothing ( inflammation reducing ) properties.
If the salve is not working or worsening it, you can try using homemade calendula tea instead. It is more natural but slow acting. Nevertheless, calendula helps in eczema.
( Photo Courtesy: cy-v )
The home remedies above are good for controlling an outbreak of eczema. So, you can use these for all kinds of eczema on different body parts, like face, neck, hands, arms, legs, feet, back and chest. Some of the remedies, like coconut oil, olive oil, carrot mask and bentonite clay are good for infant eczema in babies.
But, these remedies are
not going to prevent further eczema outbreaks.
So, what can be don to prevent eczema from occurring again. These are some remedies for that.
13. Get An Allergy test done
This is quite cumbersome, painful and time taking process to get an allergy test done. But, it really helps people who suffer from allergic asthma and eczema. Many people suffer from eczema and asthma both, and it is a dreadful situation. It clearly shows that the body is allergic to something. It could be the common things like dust mites, pollen, any chemical or something at work.
For some people, it could even mean changing their job and moving to a position where they are not in contact with the allergen.
14. Cleansing The Blood
There is some indication that skin diseases may be a result of certain impurities in blood, although it may not have the same effect on every person. What we can do is to cleanse and purify our blood on a regular basis. Here is a list of some foods and herbs which I have compiled that are excellent for blood cleansing and promoting better circulation.
Pomegranates
Ginger
Garlic
Green juice a day ( this can be cucumber, celery, spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage etc )
Apples
Grapes
( Photo Courtesy: mckechnie )
15. Turn Your Body Alkaline
I shall touch on this subject briefly, because it is a vast field. The idea is that human body prefers an alkaline state ( basic environment ) inside. Foods that are acidifying for the body may be harmful if not enough alkalizing foods are taken.
Acidic forming foods are cheese, meat, eggs and most fast foods.
Alkalizing foods are lemons, Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemons, Most veggies and some fruits.
I suggest you take 40 % foods that are acid forming and rest 60 % alkalizing to neutralize the body's internal pH. In the long run, it can have dramatic results in terms of preventing diseases like gout, arthritis etc.
16. Get your omega - 3 and omega - 6
Both omega 3 and omega 6 are essential fatty acids for our body. They are excellent in lowering systemic inflammation in all kinds of illness, specially in acne, arthritis and inflammatory skin diseases.
You can get omega 3 from fish oil, like salmon and omega -6 from evening primrose oil.
Eczema is not contagious. However, it is quite resistant to both home remedies and medication. It takes dedicated effort and eating a very healthy diet to fight it back. Most cases of mild eczema on body can be healed with natural treatment methods.
But, severe eczema should not be neglected. It needs to be treated with medication. Eczema on sensitive regions, like groin, eyelids, scalp and face should be shown to a dermatologist. This is important because eczema in these areas can lead to subsequent health concerns like hair loss, scars and eyesight issues.
