Eczema is a condition that affects a lot of people and it can get quite frustrating at times. It causes the affected skin to get really dry, itchy and scaly, leaving you restless and in need of quick relief.
It is estimated that 1-3 percent of adult Americans suffer from this chronic problem. However, it’s not just adults who go through this as 10-20 percent of children also have to endure this painful condition. It is characterized as a chronic condition of the skin caused by inflammation and it is also known by its infamous nickname: the “itch that rashes”.
Eczema is usually hereditary in nature meaning that it can be passed on from generation to generation. Having eczema has resulted in people having to go through lifestyle changes and continuous stress caused by its symptoms. There are cases where even sleep is hard to come by and normal activities become hampered by the onset of the itch. Even your choice of clothing has to be taken into consideration given the fact that certain fabrics could cause you discomfort.
However, at times like these, we can always turn to nature to give us natural eczema remedies to alleviate discomfort and allow you the freedom to live life to the fullest. Don’t let a skin condition like eczema bring you down, nature has a lot of solutions for your pains.
8 Effective Natural Remedies to Reduce Eczema Symptoms
1. Oatmeal (Colloidal)
Everyone knows that oatmeal makes for a delicious and nutritious breakfast. It’s a great source of carbohydrates when you’re looking for a quick boost in the morning, but believe it or not, it’s as good for your skin as it is for your nutrition. Use it in your bath to alleviate eczema symptoms.
- Prepare a bath and mix colloidal oatmeals in the form of powder or cream
- Soak in the bath mixture for at least 15 minutes
- Rinse off and be sure to apply some hypoallergenic moisturizer afterwards
2. Oil Extracted from Evening Primrose
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash
Gamma-linogenic acid (GLA) is an Omega 6 fatty acid that the body can use to reduce cell growth and inflammation. Since eczema is generally inflammation of the skin it makes for a great substance to keep rashes at bay. GLA can be found in some seed oils such as evening primrose oil and borage oil.
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil can be characterized as a super natural product with health benefits that can solve a lot of ailments from dry hair to improvements in digestion. One of its great benefits is that it does wonders for your skin. It’s a natural moisturizer with antibacterial properties and it even prevents wrinkles. It aids in preventing skin infection and inflammation.
4. Sunflower Seed Oil
Sunflower seed oil also has antibacterial properties like coconut oil. It helps soothe skin irritations and aids in allergies. Research also shows that it protects skin layers from bacteria. It makes for a great after-bath moisturizer.
5. Hazel Shrub
For centuries, Witch hazel shrub extract has been a popular remedy for skin irritations and dryness. The extract derived from its leaves and bark make for a good astringent. It helps relieve redness and skin itching.
6. Cream of Calendula
The direct application of cream of calendula is a great herbal treatment for eczema. It heals skin allergies and inflammation. As a plus, it also treats cuts and burns, and also improves the blood flow in affected areas. It is said that the “cream” has hydrating properties and can help your skin fight against infections.
7. Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been known to relieve a lot of bodies from a lot of different ailments, and one of them is eczema. Acupuncture is done in parallel with the use of Chinese herbs like Huang Bai (Phellodendron). It has been proven in clinical research studies that several of the herbs used in these treatments have anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.
8. Common Relaxation Hobbies
Like many conditions, eczema also has a lot of triggers. One of its triggers is stress and sometimes the mere act of relaxation can do wonders not only for your skin condition but also for your overall health in general.
Here are a few activities that you can try out to help alleviate stress and hence alleviate the itch:
- Deep breathing
- Visualization therapy
- Tai-chi
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Music therapy
- Biofeedback
One of the best ways to minimize stress is to make sure that you are getting the right amount of sleep every night. There are natural remedies for insomnia and sleeplessness, and you should aim to get your recommended 8 hours. A sleepless night can equal an itchy night.
What You Must Avoid
Moreover, apart from avoiding stress, there are a few other things that you can avoid in order to keep symptoms at bay.
- Eggs
- Wheat
- Peanuts
- Commercial milk products
- Soy
- Beans
- Chicken skin
- Exposure to smoke
- Pollen
- Soaps with dyes
- Perfume
- Scented soaps and body wash
- Scented detergents
Recommendations
Eczema can be one of the most irritating skin conditions that one can go through. However, you shouldn’t live in constant discomfort because of its symptoms. There are a lot of natural remedies available that can help minimize the daily discomfort and allow you the freedom to go about life.
Winning the fight against eczema is no easy task, but it doesn’t have to be that difficult either. With just a little discipline, a few lifestyle changes, patience and some of nature’s wonders, you’ll be better in no time at all.
https://www.thedailymind.com/hacks/beat-depression-naturally/
Originally posted on November 21, 2017 @ 8:30 am
