Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Treat mild eczema
• Method 2 of 3: Treat moderate to severe eczema with medical means
• Method 3 of 3: Reduce eczema symptoms with natural remedies
• Tips

Eczema is a condition involving dry, red, and itchy patches on the skin. Fortunately, mild eczema is relatively easy to treat. If you have eczema on your face, you can usually treat the area by applying moisturizing lotion on a regular basis. If that doesn't work, you will have to see a doctor. Ask your doctor if he or she can prescribe a steroid cream that will make the rash go away. There are also several home remedies you can use to soothe eczema symptoms.

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Method 1 of 3: Treat mild eczema

1. Determine what type of eczema is involved. Eczema is an umbrella term for a number of different and specific skin conditions that are related to each other. Eczema is also called atopic dermatitis. All types of eczema have physical symptoms such as dry, red and itchy skin, making diagnosis difficult. Some types of eczema are caused by allergies, immune diseases or excessive washing of the facial skin.
   • It is helpful to keep track of the symptoms of your eczema and to keep an eye out for what causes you to develop eczema. Keep a diary in which you write down what foods you have eaten every day, what your skin care routine is, and what environmental influences seem to have an effect on your eczema.
   • See your doctor and describe the symptoms of your eczema. Include how long you have had a rash and whether there are certain things that make your eczema worse.
   • Eczema is hereditary and has been associated with asthma, allergies and increased levels of immunoglobulin in the blood.
2. Avoid exposure to environmental factors that aggravate your eczema. Eczema is in many cases caused by external environmental factors. Hay fever, for example, can cause eczema, and so can food allergies and very high and very low temperatures. If you can identify which of these factors are causing your eczema, you can avoid coming into contact with it.
   • For many of these environmental factors, the influence can only be determined if you have the same experience several times. So if you realize that you get eczema after eating dairy products, stop eating dairy.
3. Apply moisturizing facial lotion to your skin several times a day. You can just apply moisturizing face lotion whether you showered or not. If you're worried about forgetting the lotion, set an alarm or set a schedule for applying the lotion on a notepad. Apply lotion as often as possible. Do this once or even twice an hour.
   • If you don't know which lotions work best, ask your doctor. Brands like Cetaphil, Eucerin and Aveeno often work well. Look for lotions that contain petroleum jelly and mineral oil and don't use products with added fragrances.
4. Take a lukewarm shower daily. If you have eczema your skin is very dry and when treating eczema your first goal should be to moisturize your skin. Soaking your skin in lukewarm water in the shower is a great way to start moisturizing your skin. Never shower several times a day as this can dry out your skin even more.
   • If you don't like lukewarm water, turn on the hot tap a little further. However, do not use hot water as this will dry out your skin.
5. Moisturize your face after taking a shower. Apply moisturizing facial lotion to your skin within three minutes of having finished your shower. If you take a shower and you don't moisturize your skin immediately afterwards, you run the risk of drying out your skin and making your eczema worse.
6. Wash your face with a mild soap. The skin on your face is more sensitive and delicate than the skin on the rest of your body and is more likely to be irritated. If you have eczema on your face, try using a milder soap. Many soap brands have a mild or protective soap in their range. The next time you go to buy soap, look for soap that says on the packaging that it is mild.
   • Do not use soaps with harsh and caustic ingredients such as triclosan, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl ether sulfate and most added fragrances.
7. Don't scratch your eczema. Eczema can sometimes be very itchy, but you should never scratch eczema patches. Doing so will make your already irritated skin even more irritated, making your eczema worse. Scratching can also break down your skin and allow moisture to flow out.
   • Apply a moisturizing lotion if your eczema is itchy.
8. Apply hydrocortisone cream on your eczema. If your eczema is mild, you may be able to treat it with 1% strength hydrocortisone cream. However, such a cream is only available on prescription. Put an inch of blob on your finger and spread the cream on your rash. Allow the cream to absorb completely.
   • With mild eczema, the skin does not break and moisture does not flow out of the skin. The spots are also quite small, no bigger than about two inches.

Method 2 of 3: Treat moderate to severe eczema with medical means

1. Have your doctor prescribe a topical cream for persistent eczema. If taking showers and applying moisturizing lotion doesn't help get rid of your eczema, then you need a stronger cream. Doctors can prescribe steroids, creams that coat the skin, and other anti-inflammatory drugs to treat persistent eczema. As with other prescription products, it is important to follow the instructions for how often to apply the cream.
   • These medicinal creams are not available over the counter. You will need to make an appointment with your doctor and describe your symptoms and treatment. Then ask your doctor if he or she can prescribe a medicated topical cream for you.
   • Do not use a strong topical cream containing steroids for more than two weeks as you may experience skin atrophy. Also, do not apply such a cream on your face or in your groin.
   • Use topical Tacrolimus if a topical steroid cream does not work. You do not run the risk of skin atrophy and other side effects of steroids.
   • Your doctor can tell you exactly which remedies are suitable for treating moderate to severe eczema.
2. Apply a prescription systemic steroid in case of severe eczema. If your facial eczema gets worse, ask your doctor about a systemic steroid. You can do this if the eczema regularly releases moisture, itches excruciatingly and covers a significant part of your face. Moderate to severe eczema can sometimes be caused by an underlying problem with the immune system. As a result, the skin becomes irritated and you get eczema on your face.
   • Systemic steroids are usually taken orally or injected. They are only used for a short time.
3. Ask your doctor about light therapy. In some cases, severe eczema can be treated with UVB rays. This light reduces inflammation and swelling and can stimulate the skin to produce more B vitamins. If your doctor thinks that this treatment will help against eczema, he or she will register you for light therapy in the hospital.
   • Your doctor may also refer you to a dermatologist.

Method 3 of 3: Reduce eczema symptoms with natural remedies

1. Put salt in your bath water and soak your face in it. If washing with plain tap water isn't enough to reduce the itchiness caused by your eczema, add Epsom salts to the water. You can also use Himalayan salt instead of Epsom salt. Add a generous amount of salt - about 100 grams. Then take a bath for about half an hour. Dip your face in the water so that the eczema comes into contact with the salt.
   • If you'd rather not keep your face submerged, splash some salt water on your face.
   • If salt doesn't help, add ten drops of an essential oil such as lavender or chamomile oil to the water.
2. Apply tea tree oil on your eczema. Tea tree oil is an excellent natural remedy for itching and burning sensation. The oil will not treat and heal your eczema, but it may temporarily relieve your discomfort.
   • You can purchase tea tree oil at most health food stores and drug stores.
   • The oil is sometimes sold in a spray bottle so that you can easily apply it to your skin.
3. Apply vitamin E oil on your face. Vitamin E can also soothe the uncomfortable symptoms of mild eczema. Go to a health food store and look for vitamin E that contains natural D-alpha tocopherol. Put a small amount of the oil on your finger and spread the oil on your eczema.
   • Do not apply synthetic vitamin E oil to your face, as it may contain ingredients that aggravate your eczema.

Tips

• If you have a bacterial skin infection in addition to eczema or your doctor thinks your eczema is caused by a bacterial infection, he or she may prescribe antibiotics in the form of creams or pills.