How to Heal Your Eczema

Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is an uncomfortable condition characterized by dry and irritated patches on the skin. It can be painful, itchy, and just plain embarrassing. It can also lead to infection if you don’t treat it properly.That is why a homemade eczema remedy is so essential when it comes to healing your skin.

In the United States, 10-20% of infants and 3% of adults develop eczema. Doctors don’t know exactly what causes eczema. It may have to do with allergies or an overactive immune system. Even without knowing the cause, there are ways to treat it. Some people opt for expensive

Healing Your Skin With A Homemade Eczema Remedy

It’s not always necessary to go straight to your doctor for an eczema flare-up. There are plenty of ways to prevent symptoms and heal your skin with a homemade eczema remedy. Here are a few common treatment methods:

Warm Baths

Add oatmeal (uncooked or colloidal) to your bath for a simple, soothing skin treatment. It moisturizes your skin and reduces itching.

Soaps for Sensitive Skin

Check the products you use on your skin. Your soaps, moisturizers, sunscreens, etc. could be full of irritating ingredients. Switch to gentler products to accommodate your sensitive skin.

Bandages

Scratching patches of eczema only makes the condition worse. Bandages protect the areas from further irritation and prevent you from scratching.

Allergy Medication

Eczema is an irritation. Therefore, taking an oral allergy medication can sometimes help. Try an over-the-counter allergy pill and follow the instructions on the box.

Anti-Itch Creams

Since one of the main symptoms of eczema is itchiness, it makes sense to try an anti-itch cream. Many of these creams also contain moisturizing ingredients like aloe. These will help with the dryness.

Moisturizers

If dryness is more of a problem than itchiness for you, try using a moisturizing lotion or cream. This will combat the dryness and soothe your skin. Just make sure there are no irritating ingredients.

Humidifiers

Like creams and lotions, humidifiers aid eczema symptoms by moisturizing your skin. This results in less dryness and itchiness. Put a humidifier by your bed and let it run overnight.

Gentle Materials

Some fabrics and fabric detergents can irritate your skin and cause eczema flare-ups. Use detergents made for sensitive skin. When shopping, choose soft, natural materials for your clothes.

Stay in a Temperate Environment

Excessive heat and humidity are bad for eczema. If you live in a hot and humid area, avoid going outside when the weather gets bad.

Deal with Stress

Anxiety and stress can make eczema worse. If you suffer from these feelings, addressing it can help your skin heal.

Check for Food Allergies

Food allergies and eczema often exist simultaneously. You may not think you are allergic to anything but take an allergy test to make sure.

When to See a Doctor

If you try these home remedies and nothing works, it may be time to go directly to your doctor or dermatologist. They can prescribe you stronger, medicated creams to calm the symptoms and help heal your eczema.

How NOT to Heal Your Eczema

Avoid doing these things to prevent your eczema from getting even worse.

Scratching

Scratching at patches of eczema further irritates the skin and can create open wounds. These open wounds can get infected if you aren’t careful.

Ignoring Signs of Infection

In some cases, patches of eczema can get an infection. If you think you have an infection, talk to your doctor. They will likely prescribe antibiotics to kill the bad bacteria.

Not Sticking to a Routine

Eczema treatments work best when they are part of your routine. Taking one oatmeal bath or applying a prescribed medication one time isn’t enough. To see a real difference in the condition of your skin, make sure you keep up with your treatments. Only then can you start to heal your eczema.

Forgetting the Emotional Side

Especially for adolescents, eczema can be incredibly embarrassing and take a negative toll on someone’s self-esteem. Stress only makes it worse, so it’s essential to address these feelings. It may be wise to see a counselor if your eczema makes you anxious and stressed.

Life Beyond Eczema

Dry, itchy, painful skin is not easy to deal with. Yet, by caring for your skin and creating an eczema-fighting routine, it’s possible to live a healthy and fun life with this condition.

Read more about skincare and health to improve your wellness.