Have you ever thought about how to treat eczema? If you’ve ever been affected with this skin problem, you know how frustrating and painful it can be. I’ve observed the effects of eczema up close and personal through one of the students in my kindergarten class.
Little Reggie came to class every day with awful irritation on his skin. Soon after lunch, he’d scratch and scratch and irrespective of how many times I’d tell him to quit, he kept on scratching. He’d bawl too as the welts were unpleasant, made even worse by all the scratching he was doing. It broke my heart to see him in pain and it made me ask myself…just what are the causes of eczema and how can it be taken care of naturally?
What is Eczema?
Before we delve into the causes, just what specifically is eczema? Here is a very simple explanation from Dr. Melissa Conrad Stoppler:
“Eczema is a term for different types of skin inflammation (dermatitis). The symptoms of eczema commonly include itchy, reddened, dry skin.”
So essentially, any sort of rash can be thought to be eczema. It can range in seriousness from just a small patch of itchy rash to big areas of the body. The most typical areas of the body stricken by eczema are the face, neck, and the interiors of the elbows, knees, and ankles. Nearly everyone has encountered a skin rash at one time or another in their lifespan that ultimately heals, but relentless rashes and skin lesions are considered persistent eczema.
What Causes Eczema?
Professionals say eczema is hereditary, and that it’s more common among members of the same family. Others allege it’s caused by external or dietary reasons. I choose to agree with the latter claim viewpoint as I’ve seen this closely. My student had several food allergies and although his mom tried very diligently to keep him away from certain foods, this was not consistently possible. When he reappeared from the noon-time meal period, his scratching was much more intense and I tend to think it was because he ingested the wrong food at lunch. We’ll get more into the eczema/nutrition link in a while.
Some medical professionals say eczema is an outward reflection of inflammation in the body and is a consequence of a weakened immune system. Aspects within the body which influence eczema include substandard nutrition plan and a body full of toxins.
The indications can also be worsened by environmental variables, such as when personal care products, detergents, and clothes come into very close contact with the skin. I think most people develop some sort of rash when using common cosmetics, because these kinds of damaging components are harmful to both the skin and inside the body when they get ingested. When people experience a rash or sensitive reaction, they tend to fail to make the connection between the irritation and their skin products. When I was younger, I would get continuous rashes under my arms from the deodorant I used and I never imagined it was from my deodorant.
A lot of the cases of eczema I believe can be totally avoided by changing to natural or organic skin products.
So what are the methods in handling eczema and can it be healed?
There are diverse approaches to dealing with eczema, including both drug and natural methods. An approach I would not suggest is to use medicated creams and prescription medications. Such “remedies” only mask the signs and symptoms, without seeking to treat the root causes. Both over the counter and RX medications also come with a multitude of effects you may possibly experience and it’s just not worth the risk.
So if medicines and drugs are ruled out, what should you do when you have an episode? Here’s a couple of healthier options for topical relief:
Use a natural, comforting ointment, like Calamine (a good one is Cal-Al by Aubrey Organics, which integrates calamine and aloe) or a lotion containing calendula, which is an anti-inflammatory
Use a curative balm such as Sweet Blessed Bee Magic, Badger Balm, or Hawaiian Healing Salve by Lanikai
If you are very sensitive to creams with essential oils, use plain natural, virgin coconut oil – it’s really healing in many ways
If you are bothered with eczema, there are a handful of things you need to stay away from such as:
Over-bathing – when you do bathe, take brief showers/baths in warm, not hot water)
Allergic foodstuffs – some examples of allergic foods include wheat, dairy, corn, and rice
Scratching – I know, it’s hard not to!
Excessive sweating – it makes the itching a lot worse
Irritants, such as skin ointments, perfumes, and soaps
The Eczema/Nutrition Connection
Although I find some credibility in the eczema/heredity connection, I think the most significant factor with the potential to make it worse is eating routine. Reggie himself demonstrated how his eczema worsened after he ate wheat and drank dairy at lunch time. For me, I detect an increase in eczema symptoms if I eat a food I know I shouldn’t. If you know you’re reactive to wheat, gluten, dairy, or some other foods, it’s best to refrain from those foods at all costs.
Moreover, men and womens eczema’s symptoms are made worse simply by a poor diet. If your diet is full of packaged, processed foods, your eczema will be worse, guaranteed. The very best diet for a person with skin irritability is to dine on whole foods, like organic fruits, vegetables, and grass-fed meats, along with sources of healthful fats, such as oil from coconuts, fish, and nuts. The ingestion of healthy fats is crucial. Eczema Natural Healing site says,
“…it has been scientifically proven through clinical research that individuals with eczema appear to have deficiencies in essential fatty acids.”
You may want to take a look at the book, “The Skin Cure Diet: Heal Eczema From the Inside Out”, available on Amazon.com.
In addition, those bothered with eczema most likely have a buildup of toxins in their bodies, which may include pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, and drugs. The best defense against this is to do a complete detoxification program, which may include juicing whole fruits and vegetables. One pure detox program I’ve used before is made by Dr. Natur, which is a high quality brand only readily available online. It really works!
In conclusion, the most effective option on how to treat eczema is to look within. Eat healthily and do a detoxification program and you should see transformations. If outbreaks still occur, you can use a purely natural cream which will provide quick relief.