Relief for Eczema

By: Lisa Andrews
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:18:26
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Eczema, is a chronic condition that can make your itchy skin dry and crack in places. The good news, however, is that you can use simple home remedies to help relieve the pain and soothe the itchy discomfort without having to spend a lot of money!

The skin can break out in rash-like patches that come and go. The rash can become red and inflamed with blisters that may leak fluid. If scratched open it will spread to other areas. Yuk! So, please don’t scratch.

With home remedies you will be feeling better and you be cleared up no time!

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition describes eczema "as a non-contagious inflammation of the skin characterized by redness, itching, and lesions that break open with a clear discharge which becomes encrusted and scaly."

Now, let’s look at some things that can cause a breakout:

• soaps with fragrant or perfumes, alcohol or perfumed lotions
• hot, sweaty skin
• dry indoor air or wintry air with little moisture
• itchy clothing such as wool, dust mites in bed sheets
• pollen, mold, mildew, or animal dander
• latex (my worst enemy) or rubber gloves
• certain jewelry (another culprit of mine)
• tobacco smoke
• some foods with a tomato base, the acid or certain dairy foods
• nutrient deficiencies especially vitamins A and B-6, Zinc, magnesium, iron and essential fatty acids
• emotional stress

There are several types that will have different symtoms and causes such as:

Atopic Eczema which is the most common type. Atopy means a family history or predisposition to allergy conditions such as hay fever, asthma and eczema. Runny noses and sneezing, from the allergies, can trigger flare ups.

Allergic Contact Eczema develops when a person's skin has a chemical reaction to contact with a substance.

Irritant Contact Eczema is caused by contact with soaps, cleaning products or other harsh substances. The hands are affected most.

Seborrhoeic Eczema also known as "cradle cap". This causes a greasy type of rash that is affects the scalp, face, under arms, groin area or under the breasts.

Varicose Eczema is usually associated with a person having varicose veins or other circulatory problems. The rash affects the lower legs and ankles. The skin can become scaly, itchy and dark colored.

Discoid Eczema usually affects middle-aged men on the arms and legs with many round patches in the areas.

Now, let’s look at some simple Home Remedies, which can save you lots of money, that WORK to help treat, soothe and heal:

• Take warm (not hot) baths with oatmeal soaking products, or make an oatmeal paste with oatmeal and water.
• Add a half cup of cider vinegar and a third cup of cold compressed sunflower or safflower oil to bath water; soak
• Pat skin gently with a with a wet cool soft compress then gently pat dry to cool the inflammation
• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize affected area with a hypo-allergic lotion several times daily
• Apply petroleum jelly (creamy type or lotion is good) on skin immediately after bathing, Wet skin soaks it up better. Keeping skin moisturized is a key factor in healing eczema!
• Wet-wrap therapy – soak in bath with mild bath oil then apply moisturizer, such as creamy petroleum jelly. Afterwards, soak bandages in warm water then wrap around affected area. Wrap the wet bandages with dry bandages to lock in moisture.
• Break open a leaf then dab the juice from an Aloe Vera plant on the affected area several times daily
• Add moisture to skin by drinking plenty of water
• Use humidifier in dry air or cold weather
• Wear cool, loose, cotton clothing
• Stay out of the sun

I have suffered from the dry, itchy skin for many years, especially on the hands, and I know that many of the home remedies do work! The best thing to do is to find the culprits (mine are harsh chemicals and my wedding rings, of all things) then stop using them or remove them, as in my case of jewelry.

Aloe Vera is a great healing plant! If you don’t have one, I highly recommend getting one. For only a few dollars, you will always have available a priceless home remedy for your eczema and many other problems.

For more information on the different types of eczema and ways to help be sure to look a t Eczema Home Remedies below.

For more information look at Eczema Home Remedies or Aloe Vera...The Healing Plant!

Article source: Expert Articles