Eczema skin condition affects 5% to 20% of people worldwide and is characterized by an itchy, red rash. Skin eczema occurs when dermatitis becomes chronic and flare up, often during the winter period when the humidity is very low.
This skin condition may also return much later in adulthood and is usually difficult to manage. Not controlling eczema effectively can lead to skin sores and cracks that can further lead to infections, in some cases requiring the treatment of antibiotics.
People who have eczema often have to deal with skin irritation and lifelong related problems. If you or a loved one is struggling with eczema, it is essential to consult a skin doctor or dermatologist.
There is no cure to eczema as yet, but there are several treatments that can help control the symptoms and improve your skin’s condition to prevent it from becoming chronic. We show you some home cures on how to treat eczema.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has many uses and is very versatile. Apart from using it in food recipes, you can also apply it onto your hair and skin. It is a popular ingredient used in making soap, and other products for our skin, hair, and teeth.
Research shows that coconut oil helps eczema sufferers to get relief from itch and pain. One can use a coconut oil lotion bar or apply a thin layer of coconut oil onto the affected area. The oil can help soothe your skin because of its anti-fungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Coconut oil offers relief to the skin when it flares up and minimizes any inflammation.
Apply A Soothing Butter
A good body butter works wonderfully when it comes to soothing those dry and itchy patches of skin that may crack and bleed. Body butter contains some fantastic healing ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, and beeswax.
Shea has stearic and oleic fatty acids which aid in skin repair. Beeswax thicken the butter and helps to repair and protect your skin as well as softening it. Jojoba and coconut oil are good additions to the butter that further help to soften skin and control inflammation.
Magnesium Baths
Magnesium baths and other kinds of detox baths can help eczema patients to get relief from the itch. Simply add magnesium flakes or Epsom salts to bath water and soak in the bathwater. Magnesium oil can also help.
The right recipe for a Magnesium bath is to use 1-2 cups of magnesium flake (caution: do not use more than the recommended amount!). Add 1/2 cup of Himalayan or Sea Salt, 10-15 drops of essential oil of choice and 1/2 tsp of natural vanilla extract. Soak the area or your whole body in this wonderful bath and see remarkable changes and improvement.
Fish Oil
Research shows that fish oil is rich in N-6 and N-3 fatty acids that are particularly helpful in maintaining normal skin functions to control the severity of eczema.
Have sufficient fish oil in your daily diet either through eating fish or supplements to keep those inflammations under control. Fish oil supplements are available in capsules and liquid form and can be easily found at your local pharmacy. The omega-3 fats help normalize the skin fats and keep the skin cells well dehydrated.
Honey
The health benefits of honey are widely known, and honey can also help you to get relief from eczema. As honey is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, it helps to speed up the process of repairing broken skin. Moreover, it is humectant in nature and draws moisture to it.
The only downside is that honey is sticky, so the right way to use it is to apply it over small areas and in thin layers over the affected areas. You can cover those areas with a bandage and leave it on for half an hour before rinsing off with cold water.
Turmeric
The turmeric herb is famous for its medicinal properties and often used in the treatment of skin disorders. According to research, the effective ingredient in turmeric, Curcumin, is known to contain anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties.
It is very easy to use turmeric, all one needs to do is simply mix turmeric powder with some water to make a paste. Apply the turmeric paste on the areas with the skin conditions.
Cornstarch And Oil
Cornstarch paste is simply plain old cornstarch and water, and the soothing paste can absorb moisture that your skin needs to get relief from eczema. To make it more effective, one can add some olive or grapeseed to give it that extra moisturizing effect.
Make sure that the paste is neither too thick nor thin to apply. Apply to affected areas for about 30 minutes. Wash off with warm water and dry with a clean towel.