Eczema

Atopic dermatitis, or eczema as it is commonly called, is a common but recurring skin condition.

The symptoms include a dry, flaky, itchy rash and may appear on different parts of your body contingent upon your age.

Its appearance can also fluctuate depending upon how severe it is and where it is located on the body. Flare-ups of the condition can include one or a combination of any of the symptoms.

If the affected skin becomes too inflamed, open sores may result, and a clear, sticky fluid may seep from the affected skin making it difficult to determine if the skin is affected by the eczema or a skin infection, both of which can occur at the same time.

The skin may become thick and leathery if it has been affected by eczema for a long time.

Eczema usually appears on the hands, neck, inner elbows, backs of the knees and ankles in older children and adults, but in younger children it usually appears on the face, elbows, knees, and possibly other areas as well.

Home Remedies for Eczema:

How to Get Rid of Eczema:

The development of eczema has been related to many different environmental issues, including allergies to various products.

Eliminating those products that you know trigger an attack is the first step toward a natural cure for the disorder.

Organic Products:

Sometimes switching to organic cleaning and personal care products can relieve the symptoms of eczema.

Depending on your sensitivity on the chemicals in the products you were using, you may find that this will great reduce your flare-ups.

Steroid Creams:

Over the counter topical creams for itching and redness may help the current outbreaks but they will not prevent future outbreaks.

Be careful of long-term use of steroids.

Diet:

There is some indication that avoiding foods an eczema sufferer is sensitive to such as wheat, cow’s milk, shellfish, oranges, peanuts, food preservatives, and corn improves the condition.

One tablespoon per day of flaxseed oil may also help because it is a good source of essential fats that are instrumental in reducing inflammation.

Nutritional Supplements, Herbs, and Vitamins:

Gamma linolenic acid, an omega-6 essential fatty acid that is found in high quantities of evening primrose oil has to found to improve the symptoms of eczema.

This dietary supplement is used a great deal in Europe for treating eczema. The typical daily dose is two to four grams per day, taken with food. It can take up to six months for results to develop.

Zinc is another dietary supplement that has the ability to assist with the treatment of eczema. Do not exceed 30 mg per day in order to prevent a copper deficiency from ingesting too much zinc.

Skin and lymph cleansing herbs such as yellow dock, burdock, cleavers, nettle, and red clover can help to clear skin rashes.

Yellow dock is an excellent herb to use in the treatment of eczema.

To make a tea using some dry herbs from a health food store, mix one part burdock root, one part red clover, and one part yellow dock. Add one teaspoon of this mixture to one cup of hot water.

Topical Applications:

Zinc oxide applied to unbroken skin can help relieve the itching that eczema causes.

Evening primrose oil applied to cracked and sore skin can be instrumental in promoting the skin’s healing.

There is some belief that eczema occurs more often in people who have a deficiency of Vitamin B12.

Topical applications of chickweed, chamomile, calendula, St. John’s Wort, and goldenseal can help promote healing of cracked, painful, or dry skin.

These herbs can often be found in topical ointments formulated for eczema.