Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions afflicting individuals across the globe. For others, this starts to sprout in childhood, while there are also those that have adult eczema. When you have this skin condition, however, you know that it’s not to be taken lightly. It will have your skin feeling dry and itchy. However, scratching it won’t give you any relief and could instead make it worse.
If you suffer from eczema you’ll probably try almost anything to ease the discomfort. No doubt you have attempted to reduce your stress levels, changed your diet, and tried to figure out if you have a deficiency of some kind; not to mention every over-the-counter medicine on the market. However, the truth is that some of these topical creams will only irritate your skin even more. No matter how “gentle” they may claim to be, there are still added chemicals and preservatives that your skin may have adverse reactions to.
If you have tried all of this and are still finding it difficult to find a resolution, there still might be an answer. Don’t give up just yet, but do stop experimenting on different products on your skin. Read all about one of the top three natural remedies which are by no means a cure for eczema, but could provide you with the relief you’ve longed for. If you choose to do so, do consult with a team of dermatologists or skin experts that you can trust, like the people at My Psoriasis Team, whenever you intend on using any of these natural remedies.
With these natural remedies, you’re using one less chemical topical cream on your skin. Instead, you’re letting the healing power of nature work its magic. These top three natural remedies are enumerated below.
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe Vera is a succulent plant that has leaves that produce a gel with anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties – perfect for dry and inflamed skin and various other health issues such as eczema. This product produced from the aloe vera plant is what you now know and purchase as the aloe vera gel.
Due to its antibacterial, wound-healing, and immune system boosting properties, you can apply aloe vera gel topically to irritated skin. Aloe vera gel also has an excellent cooling effect, which can help soothe your skin, especially in the warm summer months. This can help avoid the flare-up of your eczema, when exposed to too much heat.
Aloe vera products can also be found almost anywhere now. But, to ensure that you’ll have the best results, it’s highly recommended that you choose to purchase those that are of good quality. That way, you can be sure that it has only a few added ingredients such as alcohol and preservatives, which can only irritate your skin even more. It can either be purchased from health food shops or you can invest in an aloe vera plant and harvest the gel directly from the leaf by yourself.
Coconut Oil
Containing antioxidants, fatty acids, and lauric acid, which is also found in breast milk, coconut oil is an excellent natural moisturiser which hydrates and soothes dry and itchy skin. It can effectively reduce the appearance of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which can work particularly well for reducing the risk of infection which is common in those suffering from eczema. Virgin coconut oil, in particular, has also been known to combat inflammation and improve the health of the skin barrier.
It is best to apply coconut oil to the skin after you have a bath and before you go to bed so that your skin is kept nice and moisturised overnight. Coconut oil does more than treat eczema. It’s also great for hair and nails.
Oatmeal Baths
Used for centuries to ease irritated skin, Colloidal Oatmeal (also known as Avena Sativa) contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce the dryness, itchiness, and irritation caused by eczema-prone skin. The oatmeal effectively binds to your skin to create a protective barrier. It’s worth noting that this kind of oatmeal is made from finely-ground oats.
Be careful though, as these oats are different from those which make your breakfast porridge! Colloidal Oatmeal can be bought pre-ground from any healthcare shop or you can grind them yourself using a food processor.
Make sure you buy the purest form you can get your hands on as any added ingredients or fragrances will lessen the effect or even irritate your skin further. Before making your bath, add them to a glass of hot water and they should fully dissolve creating a cloudy, milky liquid.
To make your oatmeal bath, pour approximately one cup of oatmeal under lukewarm running water as the bath fills and soak in the bath for no longer than 10 or 15 minutes. Afterward, apply a gentle moisturizer and your skin should feel nice and supple.
With colloidal oatmeal, the two common types of products that you can purchase can either be in cream form or still in the powder form.
As with all things eczema related, it is wise to patch test in a small area first before using any of the above three natural remedies for eczema.
Final Word
Please note that the three natural remedies enumerated above will not work as a magical cure for eczema. But, at the very least, they can provide you with the much-needed relief that you’ll need once eczema starts to kick in. These are all tried and tested natural products. But, if symptoms persist, do remember that there’s no better substitute for professional medical advice.
