Thankfully, if you have eczema, it is good to know that home remedies for eczema are highly effective. Not only are they safer than conventional medical treatment and have fewer or no side-effects, if used correctly, they can even be more effective than what your doctor will offer you.
If you're concerned about stopping your medical treatment, it also helps to know that most eczema home remedies can be used alongside with your prescription drugs, creams and ointments.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a an inflammatory skin condition that causes patches of red, itchy skin. Something triggers your body's immune system and it overreacts and attacks its own skin cells. Traditional treatment involves the use of a variety of medications, including antihistamines, steroids, and mast cell inhibitors. While these drugs can be effective, they also come with a myriad of unpleasant side effects. If your eczema is mild to moderate in nature, home remedies for eczema may be a better option.
4 Highly Effective Home Remedies For Eczema
1. Oatmeal Baths
Oatmeal has a variety of nutrients that relieve itching and help your skin heal more quickly. If you have a food processor, you can grind regular oats into a fine powder. You can also buy the powdered form, called colloidal oatmeal. After that, simply add a cup or two of the powder to your bath. It's best to add the oatmeal when the water is running to avoid clump formation.
Experts recommend that you soak in the mixture for about 15 minutes. You should notice a reduction in the amount of itching and irritation after just a few minutes. This is one of the home remedies for eczema that works best during flare-ups and can be done up to twice a day until your flare-up has subsided.
2. Baking Soda Paste
Commonly used for everything from bug bites to bad breath, baking soda works wonders for eczema. It contains properties that fight inflammation, which can reduce swelling, itchiness and redness. Because it covers the entire affected area, a baking soda paste can provide you with long-lasting relief as well as protect the area from outside irritants. Just take 1/2 cup of baking soda and slowly add room temperature water, stirring constantly. Eventually, the mixture will take on a toothpaste-like consistancy. Spread a generous layer onto your skin and let it dry. The anti-inflammatory effects usually start within five minutes. When the paste starts to dry and crack, dust of the excess. You'll want to wash off the rest of the paste in two or three hours, but you can always apply a fresh coating if you need it.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of the only home remedies for eczema that can be used both internally and externally to combat eczema. It has antimicrobal properties, which means it can fight off bacteria and fungi. You can mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a tablespoon of water and use a cotton swab to apply it to affected areas. It will prevent bacteria from getting into your skin and causing a secondary infection, such as cellulitis. It will also stop the itching. When taking internally, apple cider vinegar is thought to regulate your immune system, which can lessen the frequency and severity of your flare-ups. All you have to do is put a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water or juice and drink it once a day.
4. Lifestyle Changes & Other Home Remedies For Eczema
When it comes to eczema, the little things can add up, and they can either help you or hurt you. Everything from diet to how you do your laundry can make the difference. It's best to keep a notebook and write down what you're doing when you develop a flare-up. You may start to notice certain patterns, such as certain pollens, fabrics, or cigerette smoke. Identifying what triggers these flare-ups can help you avoid them in the future.
Using non-scented soaps and lotions is also important. Fragrance products can be irritating to the skin. Try using hypoallergenic detergent and soap when possible. It's also a good idea to double rinse your clothes when you wash them to get rid of as much of the detergent as possible. Believe it or not, diet can play a significant role as well. Focus on eating vegetables, whole grains, and essential fatty acids and stay away from processed food, saturated sugar, orange juice and milk. Doing all of these things can help your home remedies for eczema work more effectively.
Being Safe…
Although home remedies for eczema can be very effective, it's still important to check with your doctor before using them, especially if you have other health problems. Apple cider vinegar, for example, can interact with certain diuretics, so if you're taking one, you may not be able to use it. Only a doctor can tell you if there is a reason trying a certain home treatment may be unsafe for you. If you have severe eczema, you may need to use traditional medicine to get it under control first. You can then use home remedies for eczema to maintain healthy skin.
Where To Learn More Home Remedies For Eczema
There is a lot of free information on the internet, though it's difficult to sift through all the junk to get to the remedies that actually work. Personally, I spent a good number of years going through different so-called remedies that either didn't work or even made my condition worse!
I then went on to purchase every eczema natural remedy book on the market, and found only a handful to be helpful. The one that I would recommend to someone new to eczema home remedies is 'Eczema Free Forever'. This book is simple, straightforward, and contains remedies that really did work for me.
