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Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, also known as atopic dermatitis, that affects up to 30% of children and 10% of adults in the United States. It can be identified by patches of red, unbearably itchy skin that often oozes a clear liquid, leading to great embarrassment for many sufferers. Frequent target areas include backs of knees, elbows and the neck. Damaged areas may crust over, and the skin can grow raw and sensitive from scratching.
The causes of eczema remain unclear, however, it often correlates as a strong risk factor for food allergies. Because the two are so closely linked, accidentally consuming a suspected allergen can trigger an eczema flare. Other factors that may increase eczema’s redness and itching include:
- Stress and anxiety
- Weather changes
- Scented lotions or laundry detergents
- Certain fabrics
- Intense exercise and sweating
- Hormonal changes
- Environmental toxins, like cigarette smoke, latex or dust
- Bacterial and viral infections
Holistic Eczema Remedies
1. MOISTURIZER: Dry skin can make eczema worse. It also exaggerates symptoms, as dryness alone can increase itchiness. Finding the right moisturizer for your skin type can take time, but it is well worth the effort. The time that you moisturize also matters. Applying moisturizer soon after emerging from the shower helps retain moisture in your skin.
Eczema can affect your face, and you might have competing concerns about acne or wrinkles. Seek formulas without a heavy mineral oil base that may clog your pores. Emollient ingredients like ceramides draw moisture to keep moisture in the skin without causing breakouts. Shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil and hyaluronic acid are other good ingredients to seek. Watch out for products containing retinol, as they can trigger flares in some.
Try using a body brush to get rid of flakes. Do this on dry skin, before you shower.
2. HOMEMADE SALVES: Commercial products are convenient, but wading through long lists of chemical ingredients to discern which ones trigger your eczema and which are safe can seemingly take forever. Many people have better luck with homemade salves and creams that moisturize without potential allergens.
For example, honey contains antimicrobial and humectant properties that can improve eczema symptoms when used consistently. It contributes vitamins and minerals to the skin, giving your cells the raw materials needed for healing. Apply the honey before you bathe, leave it on for five to ten minutes, and then wash it off in the shower. Follow each bath by slathering coconut oil — which is solid at room temperature — all over to lock in moisture.
Other natural ingredients you might consider for a homemade eczema salve include:
- Avocado: Full of essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
- Argan oil: Lightweight and won’t clog pores, making it an excellent carrier for other essential oils.
- Tea tree oil: Dilute it with coconut or argan oil.
3. HYDRATION: Water nourishes your skin from the inside, not just the outside. Not drinking enough water increases fatigue and anxiety, and can make your itching worse. This dries out your skin’s outer layer, worsening symptoms. Carry a reusable water bottle with you, and take regular sips. Limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol, as they are diuretics that make you urinate more, leading potentially to dehydration.
4. DIETARY CHANGES: Changing your diet may be your best defense against eczema, given the strong association between the condition and food allergies. When you gut is unhappy, a common place for that to show up is your skin. However, uncovering what you’re sensitive to can take time, especially if it’s not among the big eight common allergens: dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. Seeing an allergist for a test is the quickest route, but you can perform elimination diets independently. Remove all the foods from the suspected groups, adding them back in one at a time as you observe their effect on your symptoms. Keep in mind that you might also react to any of the following:
- Certain fruits and vegetables: Some people have trouble with plants in the nightshade family, like tomatoes and potatoes, because of their solanine content.
- Oils: Some people are triggered by certain seed oils. Peanut oil is an obvious example for folks with peanut allergies. Others respond to canola or soybean oil.
- Additives: Additives are tough because so many common ones exist. For example, xanthan gum is a natural thickening agent made from fermenting sugar with a certain kind of bacteria that some are allergic to.
- Fructose: This inflammatory agent is responsible for disrupting gut flora, and your skin is one of the first places this imbalance will show up.
Try adding more omega-3 fats to your diet, as well as fermented foods or probiotics to promote growth of healthy bacteria in your gut.
5. REDUCING ALLERGEN AND TOXIN EXPOSURE: Some toxins irritate nearly everyone, like smoke or certain chemicals. Your best bet is to avoid exposure, staying away or wearing PPE if you must work around such hazards. Or consider investing in an air purifier. Adding one to your work desk or home may help.
Many people with eczema find the fragrances used in certain laundry detergents, dryer sheets and hand soaps may trigger attacks. It’s very likely these products raise the pH of your skin, making it more alkaline and subject to an allergic reaction. Your skin’s natural pH needs to be more acidic, helping protect against bacteria. An apple cider vinegar rinse can help restore your skin’s natural pH.
6. INDOOR AIR MOISTURE: Pay attention to indoor air quality factors. For example, dry air can make things worse, so consider a humidifier for the winter months. However, too much heat and humidity can also trigger flares, so you might have to switch to a dehumidifier in the summer.
7. STRESS MANAGEMENT: Stress management may be the number one holistic health tip to help you take better charge of your eczema flare-ups. You can change negative thought patterns that increase stress through regular yoga and meditation. Make time for daily practice, even if only for 10 to 15 minutes a day. Tune into a guided meditation, move through gentle stretches right on your mattress or even set a timer and simply breathe deeply, elongating each exhale as you count your breaths.
Mia Barnesis a freelance writer and researcher with a passion for holistic healing and healthy living. She is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the online publicationBody+Mind magazine.
Find holisticSkin Carein the Spirit of Change online Alternative Health Directory.
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