Home Remedies for Eczema

Eczema, the itchy, red rash some people get in places where the skin creases, such as inside the elbows and on the backs of knees, affects as much as 20 percent of the population in Scandinavia, Australia, and England. The United States has similar figures compared to only about 2 percent in Iran and China.

If you suffer from eczema, you might want to try some of these home remedies to relieve it. No one likes an itchy, red rash.

Skin Care Basics

Eczema and dry skin go together so it makes sense why people try to treat their dry skin in order to treat eczema. Things to avoid when it comes to eczema and dry skin are soaking your hands in water, of course, you need to wash them but if you are doing the dishes or wiping off the counters, wear gloves. If you are working out in the yard, wear garden gloves. Also, apply your favorite moisturizer right after washing your hands. You might want to apply a heavy-duty ointment at night when going to bed. Make sure to wear gloves to protect your sheets and to let the ointment really sink in.

For other parts of the body affected by dry skin and eczema, follow the same techniques. Bathing and showering are okay but should not be prolonged and don't use soap or detergent if you can avoid it. Instead, use a gentle, non-soap cleanser such as CeraVe or Cetaphil.

Moisturizers don't make eczema better by themselves but rather relieve dry skin and lessen the itching.

Things to Avoid

Allergens and certain foods may trigger eczema so it is recommended to avoid such foods and allergens. For example; dust mites is one of the most common allergens and are also very hard to avoid because they are in your bedding, furniture, carpets, and stuffed animals. There is no proven solution to avoiding dust mites except maybe the most extreme way such as encasing your mattress in plastic. However, this may not even be enough to avoid dust mites.

If you or your child reacts to eggs as a trigger to eczema, avoiding them may help. Also switching a baby from cow's milk formula to soy-based formula may be helpful.

Some people who suffer from eczema say that by cutting out all Trans fat from their diet has completely eliminated their eczema. If you suffer from eczema and nothing else has helped, you might want to try this.

Oil Supplements

One reader of the book, Best Choices from the People's Pharmacy, suggests that by taking oil supplement in capsule form has eliminated his eczema. He had eczema so bad that his hands would bleed form the itching and cracking. He says by taking one capsule of Borage oil after breakfast and before bed, eliminated his eczema within a few months of taking it.

Hemp seed oil is also good for reducing the effects of eczema. This oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. One study showed that hemp seed oil capsules reduced itchiness and dryness in skin.

Low Carb Diet

Some people that suffer from eczema have said that by following a low-carb diet, for other health reasons, they have seen a complete difference in their itchy, red rash. They say by just by changing their diet and cutting out sugars, white flour, potatoes and rice have reduced flare-ups. The say that they only have a flare-up when eating foods, like cake or milk chocolate.

This approach to relieving the symptoms of eczema has not been scientifically proven but it couldn't hurt to try it and it might just get rid of that irritating, itchy, red rash or significantly reduce flare-ups.

Hot Salsa

Believe it or not, some people have heard of eating more hot salsa for clearing up skin conditions. Capsaicin is the compound in chili peppers that makes them hot and people who have tried this have said it worked for them. They say by eating salsa daily for about a month helped relieved them of their eczema.

Oolong Tea

Another great use for Oolong tea is for the treatment of eczema. Studies show that people who were given Oolong tea bags and told to drink a quart daily had their symptoms reduced within 24 hours to 2 weeks.

Vitamin E

Even though Vitamin E has been disappointing in preventing heart disease and cancer, studies show that it can greatly reduce the irritating symptoms of eczema. Not a lot of research has been done but one study, with people of ages ranging from 10 to 60 years old and lasted for about 8 months showed a significant decrease in the symptoms of eczema and therefore proving that Vitamin E might be a good therapy for eczema.

If prescriptions don't work to relieve the symptoms of eczema or if you don't want to take prescriptions then you might want to give these a try. What can it hurt? They helped others so why not you too?