Natural Remedies for Eczema

Natural Remedies for Eczema

What is Eczema?

Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) is the most common form of eczema, a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. Atopic eczema is more common in children, and often develops before their first birthday. However, eczema may also develop for the first time in adults. It’s usually a long-term (chronic) condition, but it can improve significantly, or even clear completely, in some instances.

What Causes Eczema?

The exact cause of Eczema is unknown and there are numerous factors that could contribute to the skin condition. Atopic eczema often occurs in people who get allergies. “Atopic” means sensitivity to allergens. Eczema can run in families, and often develops alongside other conditions, such as asthma or hay fever. The symptoms of atopic eczema have certain triggers, such as soaps, detergents, stress and changes in the weather. Sometimes food allergies can play a part, especially in young children with severe eczema. Although allergy tests are not usually needed, they may be helpful to identify whether a food allergy may be triggering symptoms.

Natural Remedies for Eczema

In addition to the creams and medication that your doctor prescribes you, there are some natural remedies that may help to reduce symptoms of eczema:

• Aloe Vera: You can buy aloe vera gel over the counter, which is antibacterial, antimicrobial, immune system boosting and wound healing. Plus, the cool gel will feel soothing on sore areas of your eczema.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar helps to balance the skin’s acidity levels, this helps to reduce irritation as people who suffer with eczema have less acidic skin than others. We recommend popping two cups of apple cider vinegar to a warm bath and soaking for 15-20 minutes!
• Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is full of healthy fatty acids, if you smother your body in this, your skin will feel well moisturised. The best part is it’s cheaper than a lot of moisturisers for eczema and completely natural!
• Honey: Honey is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, and people have used it to heal wounds for centuries. Dabbing honey onto the affected area of skin can speed up healing time and moisturise the skin.
• Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is also anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. When diluted with water, tea tree oil can be the perfect way to reduce the symptoms of eczema.
• Diet: Eating anti-inflammatory foods such as fish, spinach, lentils, fruits and turmeric can reduce symptoms. You may also wish to avoid foods such as dairy, eggs and wheat as they have been proven to be inflammatory.
• Keep Warm: Weather changes can impact eczema significantly. It is important to stay wrapped up in very cold very to ensure your eczema doesn’t flare up!

Who Are RXLive?

This article was written by the pharmaceutical experts at RXLive online pharmacy, who post repeat prescriptions to you for free! You may wish to consider using services such as RXLive, which provide a free delivery service to ensure you never miss your medication again and have a dedicated pharmacist ready to chat at all times. You can sign-up to the service here – completely free!