It’s hard to ignore the appearance and reality of red, itchy skin. When it shows up, it’s hard to notice anything else. But thankfully, the health and wellness aisle is full of eczema creams designed to reduce inflammation, redness, and itching associated with the all too common skin condition.
Treating eczema at home can be simple if you know what you’re looking for. Everyone is different, and nobody’s skin reacts the same way. Which is why exploring a variety of eczema home remedies is important. Today, we’re going to explore all things eczema, and share affordable and available home remedies that may help ease your symptoms.
goffkein.pro/ShutterstockWhat is Eczema?
The National Eczema Association estimates that 10 percent of everyone on the globe will develop eczema in their lifetime.1 So, what is it? Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that can present itself in a number of different ways.
The condition is often associated with dry, itchy, and scaly skin, but that isn’t always the case. In fact, there are seven different varieties of eczema with symptoms that can include redness, flaky skin, blisters, spots, and more.
Eczema isn’t always present in all people at all times. Certain dietary or lifestyle triggers may impact the frequency and severity of outbreaks. Treatment is often twofold, and involves avoiding known triggers and using eczema creams to soothe the affected skin. Ahead, we’ll walk you through a few ways you may be able to do both from home.
Evening Primrose Cream
To make evening primrose cream, manufacturers must first source evening primrose oil by extracting it from the seeds of the yellow evening primrose wildflower. Though it can be used in oil form, evening primrose cream is much more manageable.
It’s a rich source of omega-6 essential fatty acid, linoleic acid, and gamma-linoleic acid. All that’s to say that can be very beneficial for those suffering from irritating skin conditions like acne and eczema.2
Calendula Cream
Harness the age-old power of marigold flowers with calendula cream. Calendula cream uses calendula oil, which is extracted from marigold flowers and incorporated into a topical cream meant to soothe skin irritation.
The natural oil is praised for its antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, and is used to treat all sorts of skin conditions, including eczema. Though its effect on eczema has yet to be scientifically explored, many use it to alleviate swelling, redness, itchiness, and soreness.3
Colloidal Oatmeal Cream
A popular at-home remedy is taking a bath with a mixture of warm water and a liberal scoop of colloidal oatmeal. The soothing skin additive is made from oat kernels which are ground fine enough to dissolve in the warm water.4
It’s often mixed in with creams to create a topical moisturizer that soothes and prevents dry, rough, and itchy skin.5 Colloidal oatmeal cream is easy to use, stores well, and is widely available in creams, soaps, shampoos, and body scrubs.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a true medicinal marvel. The common succulent has been used to relieve burns, skin irritation, and wounds since the days of the ancient Egyptians. Studies have shown that aloe vera can be reasonably relied on to aid heartburn, lower blood sugar, and improve the health and appearance of skin.6
It’s an active ingredient in a lot of topical moisturizers and lotions too. Use a pre-mixed lotion or buy pure aloe vera gel to help moisturize and soothe eczema affected skin patches. Aloe vera won’t cure eczema, but it could help broken skin patches heal quicker, and ease itching.7
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is another natural ingredient found in countless skin care products. It’s linked with reduced inflammation, and is a known antimicrobial. Coconut oil’s ability to moisturize and help heal wounds is well documented.8
You shouldn’t expect coconut oil to cure your eczema, but know that you can rely on it for relief when flare ups appear. Apply a generous scoop of coconut oil to the affected area or purchase a coconut oil infused cream and apply it for immediate relief from dryness, pain, and itching.
Dietary Changes
Eczema outbreaks can be caused by a variety of triggers. Even if your eczema isn’t the result of a food allergy, making subtle changes to your diet can help.9
Foods to avoid include:
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Shellfish
- Gluten
Foods that might help improve your symptoms include:
- Yogurt
- Fatty fish
- Apples
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Spinach
Relaxation Techniques
Stress has a dramatic effect on the human body. When left unchecked, it can cause insomnia, high blood sugar, tense muscles, high blood pressure, and increase your risk of a heart attack.10 Stress and anxiety may not be the source of eczema, but it is a known flare up trigger.11
Which is why managing stress is a key piece to the eczema puzzle. Everyone has different tastes, and people de-stress in different ways. If you don’t know where to start, try the following popular relaxation techniques:
- Meditation
- Visualization
- Yoga
- Music therapy
- Deep breathing
- Tai chi
Get Relief
There’s no easy answer to living with eczema. Most sufferers know that it’s a matter of eliminating triggers and treating flare ups as they appear. Still, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to ease your symptoms.
As our list above suggests, you can treat your symptoms at home through a combination of affordable eczema creams, dietary adjustments and relaxation techniques. Getting better will take time, but improvement is a process and taking the steps above should help.
These are far from the only options too. If you’ve tried and failed to use our suggestions or you’re just looking for another opinion, know that the internet is full of helpful information and affordable products for you to explore and try.
