Home Remedies for Eczema
Eczema is a group of skin conditions characterized by extremely dry skin with inflammation and red patches. Eczema can be very traumatizing for the sufferer. It can look unpleasant as well as be painful and irritating.
Unfortunately, many prescription eczema medications are quite irritating and often make the condition worse. In many cases, the medication isn’t effective at all.
If you have eczema, you may want to treat your symptoms naturally. Here are a few tips and remedies to help you look and feel better.
Paying attention to your diet is a great way to help calm your eczema symptoms. Many doctors believe build-up of toxic chemicals from food in the body is one of the causes of eczema outbreaks. While you probably will not be able to get rid of all your symptoms with diet alone, eating healthy can reduce some of the symptoms. Try these small changes to see big results.
* Eat more fruits and vegetables
* Avoid processed foods
* Eat raw foods rather than cooking them
* Take your vitamins
* Reduce your intake of dairy products
Food allergies are another possible cause of eczema symptoms. Pay attention to your diet and your symptoms and you may figure out if they’re related. The easiest way is to keep a journal of what you eat and the severity of your symptoms. You may find certain foods trigger symptoms. If you know what your trigger foods are, then you can avoid them.
One of the defining symptoms of eczema is dry skin. While you can moisturize, the best cure for dry skin is good old water. Often people with eczema have to drink more water than others to prevent dehydration and extremely dry skin. Eight glasses may be enough for most people but in the case of severe eczema you may need more.
A lot of companies are now producing oatmeal bath soaks to help with itchy dry skin. Oatmeal is a great way to soother dry, itchy skin, but you don’t need to buy expensive products to get the relief. Just add a few cups of plain oatmeal to your bath and soak until your symptoms are relieved. You can also try adding a few cups of milk to your bath as well to help add moisture. Just remember to always use warm water, not hot as this can irritate the skin making the condition worse.
Most moisturizers contain additives and other chemicals that can aggravate eczema symptoms instead of soothing them. While you can find natural moisturizers that don’t contain these chemicals, it’s cheaper and easier just to moisturize your skin with natural oils. Virgin coconut oil makes a great option. Plus, you can use it as a healthier alternative to vegetable oils in your cooking.
Treating eczema isn’t just about what your put in or on your body, it’s about what you do with it. Eczema symptoms are often aggravated by stress and other physiological symptoms. By learning to calm down and de-stress, you can help cure your eczema as well. Try meditation, yoga, or just plain exercise.
Taking these small steps can not only help ease your symptoms without drugs, they can also make you healthier and happier overall.
