Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Treating eczema through lifestyle changes
• Part 2 of 4: Treating eczema by applying something on it
• Part 3 of 4: Treating eczema through dietary changes
• Part 4 of 4: Recognize the signs of eczema
• Tips
• Warnings

Eczema can occur at any age and is very miserable. Doctors often prescribe steroid creams, but this has many side effects and does not work for everyone. The good news is there are other things you can do to reduce itching and dryness. Trying a few natural remedies can make your skin look and feel significantly different.If your skin does not respond to the natural treatment or if it gets worse, see your doctor.

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Part 1 of 4: Treating eczema through lifestyle changes

1. Detect stimuli. Those incentives are different for everyone. One is hypersensitive to wool, the other to chemicals in perfume. Since you often don't know what causes eczema to flare up, you have to find out. You can keep a kind of diary with all the products you use to see how you react to them.
   • It can take some effort to figure out what you can't stand, so most people just go all natural and organic life. Then they keep bringing an old product back into their lives to see if it causes them to develop eczema.
2. Wear non-irritating clothing. Wear loose-fitting clothing if possible and avoid garments made of itchy fabrics such as wool. Smooth clothes made of cotton, silk and bamboo are the least irritating. Also pay close attention to your detergent. It can leave a film on your clothes that can cause eczema. Use a natural detergent or switch to an organic brand.
   • Wear suitable sports clothing that keeps you cool while exercising. This will prevent you from sweating too much, which can make eczema worse.
3. Choose non-irritating soaps and shampoos. Irritants such as soap and detergent, shampoo, dish soap and any other products with added fragrances can irritate the skin. Instead, use vegetable, natural based soap and cleaning products.
   • Avoid all products with sodium lauryl sulfate and parabens. These are often found in cosmetics and are known to dry out and irritate the skin. Sodium lauryl sulfate also breaks down the natural proteins in the skin, making the skin more susceptible to external pollution. Medical research has linked parabens to hormone disruptions, cancer and fertility problems.
4. Use a humidifier. Dry air in the bedroom or other areas of the house can aggravate skin conditions such as eczema, as the skin dries out and becomes flaky. You can solve this by buying a humidifier so that you can add more moisture to the air. Portable humidifiers for the home come in all types and price ranges.
   • You can also humidify the air without a humidifier. Indoor plants also increase the humidity. Ferns in particular work well for this.
5. Keep your home clean and avoid allergens. Things that can cause allergies such as dust mites, pet hair, pollen, mold and dander can also cause eczema. Use a vacuum cleaner with a good filter and vacuum regularly.
   • Try to avoid bacteria, fungi and viruses. You should also avoid people who are clearly ill, as they can also make your eczema worse.
6. Minimize stress. Eczema and other skin diseases are often strongly linked to stress, both mental and physical, so taking some time to reduce stress can be very beneficial. Do whatever it takes to relax: visualization techniques, hypnotherapy, meditation, yoga, listening to music, or painting.
   • Set aside some time for yourself each day so that you can relax. The exact cause of eczema isn't known, but stress has been proven to make eczema worse.
7. Bathe or shower less often and use lukewarm water (neither too cold nor too hot). Showering or bathing too often will strip your skin of its natural oils and can make eczema worse. Try to bathe every other day or every other day. Avoid steaming or cold showers and limit each session to a maximum of 15 to 20 minutes. Use a clean, dry towel to gently pat yourself dry.
   • Apply moisturizer after showering or bathing, preferably while your skin is still damp to retain the moisture in your skin. Use a moisturizer without additives and based on coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, avocado or castor oil. Note that while these oils are well-tolerated by most eczema sufferers, everyone is different, so experiment to find out what works for you.
   • Do not sit in the bath for too long. Sometimes the water can soften your skin. You don't want your skin to be irritated, because then you have more chance that the eczema will itch.

Part 2 of 4: Treating eczema by applying something on it

1. Use aloe vera. Rather use aloe vera straight from the plant than from a bottle or tube. Cut off a leaf and squeeze out the clear gel. Apply this gel to your skin where you have eczema and let it soak in. You can keep the tray in the fridge for multiple uses. Pure aloe vera has no negative side effects, so you can use it as often as you want.
   • Aloe vera gel has been used as a moisturizing and soothing treatment for thousands of years. Many people find it effective in treating eczema as it reduces itching and moisturizes dry, flaky skin.
2. Apply calendula lotion. You can spread calendula generously over your skin as there are no known side effects when applied topically, or you can mix it with aloe vera first before applying it. Calendula is a type of marigold whose extract is used in lotions and ointments to reduce pain and inflammation.
   • You can buy calendula products such as soap, oil, lotion, ointment and cream at the drugstore or health food store. Please note that it contains a high percentage of pure calendula and no irritating additives.
3. Use oats. Fill an old cotton sock or nylon knee-high sock with organic oat flakes, tie this to the faucet of your bathtub and let the water run over the oats. Oats contain anti-inflammatory and anti-itch ingredients that can be very soothing.
   • Try oatmeal pasta. You just need to mix some oats and water to form a paste. Apply this directly to your eczema!
   • Nettle works in the same way and, like oats, can be used in the bath. It acts as a pain reliever and reduces itching.
4. Make a chamomile compress. Chamomile is a popular natural eczema remedy as it relieves itching and calms inflammation. You can make chamomile tea by soaking dried flowers in boiling water for 15 minutes. Prepare a warm compress by dipping a clean cloth in the chamomile tea, wringing it out, and then placing it on the affected skin for 10 to 15 minutes.
   • You can also massage some chamomile oil directly into the skin or add a few drops to a warm bath. But be aware that some people may be allergic to chamomile, so you may need to try it on a small area of ​​skin first.
5. Use organic coconut oil. Organic cold-pressed coconut oil is widely used as a moisturizer, and many eczema sufferers find it to be a lot more effective than store-bought creams. You can find coconut oil at health food or health food stores, online and at some supermarkets. Heat the oil (which is solid in the pot, but melts quickly) between your hands, apply it to the eczema and let it soak in.
   • Cold pressed means that the oil has been processed at temperatures below 47ºC, which preserves the nutrients, enzymes and minerals from the oil.
6. Try sweet almond oil. Sweet almond oil is widely used as an eczema treatment because it contains ursolic and oleic acids, which are said to reduce inflammation and repair the skin. You can spread it all over your body as a moisturizer, or you can put it on your skin before a bath or shower to create a barrier against the drying effects of the hot water.
7. Try lemon. Cut a lemon in half and place it on top of your eczema. It can burn because the lemon juice helps fight inflammation. But usually it only burns when the skin is broken.

Part 3 of 4: Treating eczema through dietary changes

1. Improve your diet. Avoid processed foods as much as possible. If possible, eat as organic and natural as possible. In other words, choose fresh fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts, berries and seeds. Limit the amount of red meat you eat.
   • Make sure you eat enough omega-3 fatty acids (fish, green leafy vegetables) to keep your skin soft and hydrated.
2. Avoid milk and dairy products. Cow's milk is one of the most common eczema stimuli, so it's worth cutting it out of your diet (at least temporarily) to see if you notice any improvement. Cow's milk can be very acidic and is often full of hormones and chemicals that can worsen your eczema. Do not drink cow's milk for at least two weeks and see if you notice a difference.
   • There are an awful lot of cow's milk substitutes, so don't worry about drinking your coffee black. Goat's milk and sheep's milk are a great, creamy alternative.
   • If you're looking for a non-animal alternative, you can also try soy milk, hazelnut milk, almond milk, oat milk, or rice milk.
3. Cut gluten from your diet. Wheat can also cause eczema. If possible, cut wheat from your diet as it can trigger your skin condition. Do not eat bread, pasta, muesli or other processed carbohydrate-rich foods for a while.
4. Try the elimination diet. Keep a food diary. Write down what you eat every day and see if you see changes in symptoms. Sometimes you see something immediately, or within a few hours. After a while you will start to discover certain patterns. Eliminate those foods from your diet for at least 2 weeks (preferably 4 - 6 weeks) and see if your skin improves.
   • In addition to dairy and wheat, you can also get eczema from soy, eggs, nuts and seeds. If you find these foods make your eczema worse, don't eat it.
5. Take natural supplements. There are many nutritional supplements that can reduce the symptoms of eczema. Some of the best are:
   • Fatty acids: Fatty acids help against dry skin and reduce inflammation, making it very effective against eczema. Omega3 is anti-inflammatory. Omega6 can actually cause inflammation. One study shows that taking 1.8 grams of EPA (an Omega3 fatty acid) per day for 12 weeks can improve eczema.
   • Vitamin A, D and E.: These vitamins help moisturize the skin, improve texture, increase collagen production and protect against free radicals.
   • Gamma linolenic acid: This is a type of fatty acid found in evening primrose oil, borage oil and black currant oil. This is said to reduce inflammation in the skin and restore the balance of lipids in the skin.

Part 4 of 4: Recognize the signs of eczema

1. Know the symptoms of eczema. Eczema is actually a term that refers to a group of conditions in which the skin is inflamed and irritated. All types of eczema have itching as a symptom. Scratching leads to wet sores and atopic eczema often shows flakes and scabs.
   • Although the direct cause of eczema is unknown, stress is known to make eczema worse. Eczema often starts in childhood, although some people don't get it until after the age of 30.
2. Look at your whole body for symptoms. The most common symptoms are itching, dry, flaky skin and a rash on the face, behind the knees, on the inside of the elbows, and on the hands and feet. In adults, it is usually located behind the knees and on the inside of the elbows and on the neck.
   • In babies, the rash usually starts on the scalp and face (especially the cheeks) and can start as early as a baby is only 2-3 months old. In children between the ages of 2 and puberty, it usually starts on the inside of the elbows or the back of the knees.
3. Determine what type of eczema you have. Redness and itching are common symptoms, but there are different types of eczema depending on the area or type of rash.
   • If you have an allergic reaction, or contact dermatitis, it is a reaction to touching a particular substance. You see a rash in areas where clothing, jewelry, or anything else has touched the skin.
   • If you have eczema on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet, or if you have blisters that are filled with a clear liquid, then you probably have dyshidrotic eczema.
   • If you have one or more coin-shaped patches of inflamed skin on your arms, lower legs, and buttocks, you have nummular eczema.
   • If the skin on your head and face is yellowish, oily, or scaly, you probably have seborrheic dermatitis.

Tips

• Hold on. You can't beat eczema if you don't persist. If you are lazy, give up easily or say things like, "I'll never get rid of it anyway" it won't work.
• Gamma linolenic acid - found in evening primrose oil, borage oil and black currant oil - works well to relieve the symptoms of eczema.
• Get plenty of sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, take a nice bath before going to bed, make sure your bedroom is cool and dark, and turn off all electronics an hour in advance.
• Try a different approach, such as acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicines, herbs or homeopathy. If you choose Ayurvedic medicine or homeopathy, prepare for a long session with all kinds of questions that you may think have nothing to do with your eczema. Ayurvedic medicine has been around for thousands of years, and homeopathy for hundreds of years, so it will probably work!
• If your hands are in bad shape, get a pair of cotton gloves. Put a lotion or oil on your hands, put on the gloves and wear them for an hour and an hour at a time, and put on some oil or lotion over and over again.
• Consider taking an allergy test. It's a lot of hassle, but you can find out which foods, animals, carpets or trees give you eczema.
• Try lavender oil in a humidifier; it has a relaxing effect, making it easier for you to sleep when you suffer from your eczema.
• If you don't have a humidifier, you can also spray water around with a plant sprayer.

Warnings

• If you don't eat dairy products because of your eczema, make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D. Good sources of this are dark leafy greens such as kale, or almond or soy milk. You can also take supplements.
• Don't scratch your eczema. Then it can get very ignited.