Home Remedies For Eczema

What is Eczema?

Eczema, also known as Dermatitis, is an inflammation of the skin (usually, the epidermis). The term Eczema includes different types of skin inflammations, Atopic Dermatitis or Atopic Eczema being the most common. Children up to the age of three are mostly affected by this disease.

However, adults are also prone to develop this inflammation from time to time. It is most likely to affect allergy-prone individuals when they come in contact with certain allergens. They are more sensitive to skin irritations.

Eczema usually appears and disappears on its own. In some people, it persists for longer periods of time and may even recur throughout the span of their life. So, the natural home remedies for Eczema focus on reducing the skin irritation and inflammation to great extent and even help to prevent it.

Causes of Eczema

It is believed that Eczema is generally the result of a genetic predisposition to develop the disease. In other words, it is hereditary. Allergic conditions like Asthma or Hay Fever may also result in the same. Chemicals and substances present in detergents, soaps, jewelry, cosmetic and other such items may also known to trigger Eczema. Other factors include stress and sudden changes in temperature or humidity. Older people may develop Xerotic Eczema due to cold weather. A strong immune system can help avoid this problem to some extent.

Symptoms of Eczema

Eczema can occur on any part of the body, but the face, the neck and the insides of the knees, elbows and ankles are more prone to develop this inflammation or swelling. The onset of this disease is characterized by intense itching on the affected area.

The forehead, scalp, cheeks, neck, forearms, and legs are the target sites of Eczema in newborns and young children. It renders the skin dry and scaly. Further, the sufferer tends to experience a burning sensation on the affected part where the skin becomes red in color. Due to continued scratching, it may become thick. Certain types of Eczema are accompanied by blisters.

Natural Home Remedies for Eczema

• Applying mashed papaya seeds on the affected area of the skin is one of the simplest natural home remedies for Eczema.

• Applying coconut oil is the easiest home treatment for Eczema.

• Prepare a paste by mixing one teaspoon of camphor and the same amount of sandalwood. Applying this paste on the affected area acts as a natural home remedy to cure Eczema.

• Extract the juice of spearmint and apply it on the Eczema affected area to get rid of it.

• Consuming pear juice is known to provide relief from the symptoms of Eczema on account of its cooling effect on the skin. Tomato juice is also an effective remdy in this regard.

• Mix one tablespoon of turmeric powder and one tablespoon of bitter neem leaves to make a fine paste. Applying this paste on the affected skin is one of the most widely used natural home remedies for Eczema.

• Drinking green tea is an effective natural remedy to heal this type of skin inflammation.

• Oatmeal baths are quite successful in the treatment of Eczema in infants.

• Applying nutmeg paste is one of the most highly recommended natural home remedies for Eczema.

• Take one teaspoon of white oak bark, one teaspoon of slippery elm bark, and one teaspoon of comfrey root. Boil these ingredients in two cups of water for about half an hour. Wash the Eczema affected area with this solution to heal the skin and reduce the itchiness.

• Applying cold compresses or cold wet fomentations is a common yet successful home remedy used in the treatment of Eczema.

• Mash almond leaves in water and apply the paste on the Eczema affected skin to cure Eczema.

• Take half glass of milk and add one teaspoon of black strap molasses in it. Drinking this mixture is a tried and tested home remedy to control Eczema, especially in children.

• The therapeutic properties of goldenseal, burdock, dandelion, comfrey and slippery elm tea are excellent for curing Eczema. Apply these herbs several times a day to provide relief from the frustrating symptoms of this disease.

Diet for Eczema

Celery, spinach, wheat grass and parley are useful in the treatment of Eczema. Along with these, carrots and muskmelon are also known to play a vital role in controlling Eczema related symptoms. Experts recommend that a diet rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc goes a long way in preventing as well as curing Eczema. The sufferer should adopt the habit of drinking water and fruit juices at regular intervals throughout the day.

Restrict the consumption of beverages like tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcohol. It would be better to resist the temptation of chocolates and sugary products until the inflammation is healed completely. Eggs, milk, butter, cheese, wheat, corn, white potatoes, chicken, meat, fish and other similar products are also best avoided. Packaged foods with chemical preservatives and additives should be excluded from the diet in order to control Eczema. Certain spices and oils can aggravate the problem, so it’s better to avoid such products.