If you've suffered from atopic dermatitis and the skin rash associated with it, eczema, you know what a trial it can be: incessant itching, blisters, weeping and raw flesh.
Conventional medical treatments usually involve steroid-type drugs, which may prove effective over the short term. Topical treatments work to ease inflammation, by suppressing or masking the problem; however, to eliminate eczema, you need to address underlying causative factors.
What Causes Eczema?
Eczema, in most cases, is triggered by food allergies or chemical sensitivities. Your body tries to excrete whatever is causing the problem and this manifests in itching skin and/or blisters. Scratching results in a rash, which can result in flesh that becomes raw.
What Comes into Contact with your Skin?
Try to pinpoint any products you use on a regular basis that may be aggravating your eczema. Use the process of elimination to see if your eczema clears. This may take a few weeks instead of days so you'll need to be patient.
This also includes wool or fur. The area where eczema breaks out could offer insights. Children who are susceptible may encounter face skin irritation after wearing a fur-lined hood. Animal dander can affect susceptible individuals.
Dairy Products and Eczema
Dairy products can be a real culprit. Milk proteins, in fact, may be at the root of eczema symptoms. Try eliminating milk and cheese for a couple of weeks and see if itching lessens and skin begins to clear. Some people have experienced a complete reversal after eliminating milk from their diet and curbing their cheese intake.
Food Allergies and Eczema
If you suspect that you have food allergies, allergy testing may yield some answers.
Temperature
Temperature may aggravate eczema. Heat can be a trigger for a flare-up.
Stress
Stress seems to worsen the condition for other people.
Natural Treatments for Eczema
Herbal supplements for eczema can be a boon. Eczema supplements work to detoxify the body and enhance liver function, which has proven helpful for eczema sufferers.
Beneficial Herbs for Eczema
- Rosemary
- Burdock root
- Red clover
- Yellow dock
- Milk thistle
- Pau D'Arco
- Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) (found in licorice root, evening primrose oil, borage oil, and chamomile) is a fatty acid that may help to control eczema. GLA is believed to act upon skin lipids, implicated in inflammation.
- Flax seed oil-people with atopic eczema may have trouble metabolizing fats. Flax contains omega-3 fatty acids and can help with digestion and healthier skin.
Herbal eczema supplements often contain a blend of beneficial ingredients, which work in tandem to clear eczema.
Topical Natural Remedies for Eczema
- Aloe Vera or Gotu Kola can be used as natural topical agents to relieve itching. The juice or gel should be rubbed on the affected area.
- Herbal extracts of chamomile and licorice have shown promise in clinical trials. Chamomile cream rendered better results over a standard hydrocortisone cream.
- Organic coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), which give the oil healing properties
It's a good idea consult with a natural practitioner or herbalist before trying a natural eczema remedy. A knowledgeable practitioner can recommend a natural treatment for eczema and track what might be contributing to the condition.
You don't have to suffer with eczema, nor ride the merry-go-round of flare-ups and cessation associated with steroid drug use. Address underlying causes and utilize effective natural treatments for eczema. Soon, you'll be free from this troubling skin condition.
