Coping with Eczema the Natural Way

Do you suffer from dry, cracking, itchy skin? You may be suffering from a common skin disorder that affects many of us in the dry, cold winter months: eczema.

This common but irritating skin condition is characterized by severe dry skin, recurrent rashes, and relentless itching. Although not life-threatening, it is uncomfortable in the least, and in extreme cases it can be socially and mentally debilitating. Not only can the itching drive a person to scratch until they are bleeding, but the effected areas can become painful and lead to scarring. Not to mention the emotional toll of having to cover up or hide embarrassing rashes or sores.

The sufferer is also much more vulnerable to skin infections. Severe cases involve skin swelling, crusting, blistering, cracking, oozing and bleeding. Breaking and cracking of the skin allows bacteria and viruses to enter the skin surface, which can lead to more serious infection.

Causes

Eczema tends to run in families and is usually linked to allergies, hay fever and asthma. Modern medicine does not seem to have much of an idea why it happens to some of us and not to others. The experts have determined however, that this skin condition has both emotional and physical triggers.

On an emotional level, stress, anxiety, depression and fear can cause or aggravate an outbreak. Controlling stress and negative emotions can have a beneficial effect on the eczema sufferer. Yoga, meditation and other calming activities can have a positive effect on the duration and severity of an episode.

Physical triggers fall into two categories: dietary (food related) and environmental. These triggers must be eliminated or reduced in order for the problem to be effectively treated.

Dietary triggers consist of mainly sensitivities or allergies to certain foods. Wheat, eggs, dairy products, soy, corn, nuts, food additives, preservatives and coloring are the main culprits for flare-ups.

Environmental triggers are extensive and can include: certain chemicals, scented soaps, perfumes or laundry detergents, pesticides, synthetic fibers, rough fabrics, wool and the fabric treatment on new clothing ("sizing"), excessive sweating, dust and dust mites, animal dander, mold, pollen, tobacco smoke, and pollution.

Treatment

The good news is that a combination of prevention, hydration and natural treatments for the symptoms can control or even eliminate this persistent skin problem.

Unfortunately, conventional medical treatments for eczema include medications such as antihistamines to calm redness and inflammation, and steroid creams to decrease itching and promote healing. However, medications have undesirable side effects and mask the problem without addressing the cause. Antihistamines can dry skin out, further aggravating the issue, and steroid creams lead to thinning of the skin and premature aging of the skin tissue. Both should obviously be avoided if possible.

Natural treatment addresses the causes of extremely dry skin, and treats the symptoms through the use of specially targeted essential oils and botanical extracts.

Prevention is first step in the effective treatment of eczema. For possible dietary causes, you may need to do an elimination diet to determine your particular triggers. Eliminate all of the most common triggers (wheat, eggs, dairy products, soy, corn, nuts, food additives, preservatives and colorings) from your diet for at least two to four weeks, while treating your dry patches or rashes aggressively to accelerate the healing process. Slowly re-introduce potential dietary triggers, one each week. When you get a reaction, you have found your personal trigger food or foods. You then need to eliminate this food from your diet altogether to prevent the re-occurrence.

With environmental triggers, it may be difficult to determine exactly which environmental trigger is responsible. Scratch testing for allergies with an physician may give clues to which environmental factors you may be sensitive to, however it is very limited in scope and rarely tests for chemical sensitivities.

If you suspect environmental factors are to blame, the best bet is to make changes in your lifestyle in order to reduce these environmental causes. Switching to non-toxic, natural cleaning products and chemical-free personal care products can help or eliminate many of the environmental triggers. Purchase natural, breathable fabrics like cotton (organic if possible) and always wash clothing several times before wearing. Use only fragrance-free products and chemical-free laundry detergents, and wash in very hot water to reduce dust mites. Finally, eliminate smoking indoors, and clean up indoor air with an effective HEPA air filter to reduce other airborne triggers such as pollen and dust.

Moisture is the second step to successful treatment. Properly moisturized skin is healthier, more resilient and flexible, and creates a more effective barrier against pathogens. Drinking adequate water is the first step in helping your skin stay hydrated. Avoid extremely salty foods, caffeine, preservatives and any trigger foods, which may dehydrate you as well as your skin.

Don't soak too long in hot baths or take hot showers; they rob skin of moisture and aggravate inflammation. Short, lukewarm showers with a gentle, non-drying soap are best. In addition, consider installing a de-chlorinating water filter on your shower to remove potentially irritating chemicals that can dry and irritate your skin. After showering, always apply an effective moisturizer immediately to lock in moisture.

Finally, you will need to deal with the symptoms. Avoid lotions and moisturizers with fragrance, alcohol or other irritating chemical ingredients. Natural treatments are just as effective or more so than steroids to treat the itch and promote healing, without the unwanted side effects. Beneficial ingredients to look for are oatmeal, shea butter, cocoa butter and carrot seed oil. Additional extracts and oils that have been shown to be effective are sunflower, Cardiospermum halibacum, neem, rose hip, calendula and cranberry seed.

Pursue the course of prevention and natural treatment to enjoy healthier skin, naturally!

Switch to Natural Products - the Smart Way

The task of switching your tried and true personal care products or cosmetics to healthier, safer, natural alternatives can be daunting, not to mention expensive. The easiest way to make the switch is to take things gradually--it is less traumatic for you (and your family), not to mention easier on the pocketbook.

One strategy is to wait until you use up a particular personal care product or household product and replace it with a natural one. While this seems to make a great deal of sense, it may not necessarily be the best for your health or the health of your family, particularly when it comes to household cleaning products.

Conventional household cleaning products, air fresheners and insecticides are extremely toxic and harmful to your health and that of your family. When sprayed, tiny droplets of these harmful substances are suspended in air and enter your lungs, where they are absorbed readily and do the most damage. The toxic residue left on surfaces end up your body as well--just by touching. In contrast to many natural personal care products, natural cleaning and other household products are very affordable. All the more reason to switch over your household cleaning products immediately!

With personal care products, it all comes down to personal choice. If you are extremely concerned about the health effects of conventional products, you may want to choose a strategy other than "use it up, replace it".

When deciding what to replace first, you need to keep in mind the amount of time a product is left on the skin, and the surface area involved. For example, you should replace your moisturizers and lotions first, since they not only stay on your skin indefinitely, but they involve the most surface area. Deodorant is also another product you want to replace early on, due to the extremely toxic nature of aluminum and other conventional ingredients, and the amount of time the product remains on your skin.

Among the last products to replace can be those that remain on your body a short period of time, such as soaps, shampoo and toothpaste. However, don't be lulled into thinking that they aren't important to replace. The harmful ingredients in these products have an additive effect--you are exposed to them numerous times a day and the exposures add up to affect your health.

When choosing your new personal products, trying out sample or travel sizes are an ideal way to see if a product works for you without spending a bundle. Also check out our product reviews--they will clue you in on what product is right for you.

The bottom line is, the choices you make today in your personal care, cosmetics and household products will have a direct effect on your health down the line. Make the switch--for yourself, your children and your future!

Why Should I Buy Natural Personal Care Products?

Why Use Natural Personal Care Products?

Products made from natural and organic ingredients are just plain better for you.

Better for your skin, better for your hair, and better for your health! Facial skin clears up after using natural skin care and cosmetics, looking more radiant with improved elasticity, clarity and less irritation. Skin feels softer, more moisturized, less itch. Your hair is softer, silkier, and more manageable.

Natural products also don't contain synthetic chemicals that can be allergens, skin irritants, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors or carcinogens. In short--using natural products protects your health too!

They are also better for the planet. Natural ingredients are absorbed back into the ecosystem. Millions of gallons of synthetic chemical ingredients from personal care products, however, are not. Chemical contaminants from shampoo, laundry detergent, and other personal care products are now being found in lakes, rivers and streams. These chemicals are harmful in their own right, but they also combine with other chemicals already in the water, with disastrous results. The harm to the environment and contamination of our drinking water is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, somewhat similar to the problem of pharmaceutical drugs that are now found in our water. All the more reason to switch to natural personal care products!

Reasons to Buy Organic Products

Certified Organic products are grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It is an innovative method of farming and production and is increasingly being recognized as being on the leading edge of food production. Organics is not just chemical free by testing. It is about the way the product ingredients have been grown, prepared, processed and packaged.

The benefits of choosing organic and certified organic products and produce are as follows:

1. They are good for people. Organically grown ingredients have been shown in a number of studies to contain more vitamins, nutrients and cancer-fighting antioxidants than non-organic ingredients. In addition, the harmful synthetic chemicals in pesticide and fertilizers that are found in conventionally grown produce have been shown to cause a host of negative health effects, ranging from infertility to cancer.

2. They are good for the soil and the environment. Organic systems rely on a modern and scientific understanding of ecology and soil science, while also depending on traditional methods of crop rotation to ensure weed and pest control. Pesticides and fertilizers used in conventional farming contain harmful synthetic chemicals that can accumulate in the ecosystem and animals, causing a whole litany of negative effects (think of the well documented effects of DDT on bird populations in the 1970's). Organics also do not use GMO crops, which have untold negative effects on not only our health but also on the future of biodiversity and the environment.

3. Organic systems aim to reduce dependence on non-renewable resources. Organic production aims at all times towards sustainability while having proper management of the environment and wildlife as a priority.

How to Make Sure You Are Buying Natural or Organic Products

The simplest way to tell if you are buying a products with purely natural ingredients is to read the ingredients label. The label should read something like this:

"Saponified cold pressed olive, coconut, organic palm, sunflower, and castor oils, distilled water, wild honey, goat milk, organic oats, sea salt."

Notice how you can pronounce and recognize all the ingredients? That's what you are looking for in a natural product! If the product lists chemical-sounding names, such as sodium lauryl sulfate or DEA, pass on it. Many unscrupulous companies have cashed in on the "natural" and "organic" bandwagon, and make claims of natural or organic while loading their product with synthetic chemicals. Don't be fooled--read ingredients.

The best way for you to tell if you are purchasing truly organic products (produced without the use of synthetic chemicals and GMO's) is to purchase products which have been organically certified with a leading independent certifying body such as the ACO (Australian Certified Organic), the BFA (Biological Farmers of Australia), the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), and IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements). Look for these symbols on your products:

Enjoy safer products and better health, as well as protect the environment, by purchasing natural or organic products!

Benefits of Natural Products

Products made from natural and organic ingredients are just plain better for you.

• Better for your skin
• Better for your hair
• Better for your health
• Better for the planet

Most people experience a dramatic improvement in their skin and hair after switching to natural skin care, hair care and cosmetics. After you start using your natural products, your face is radiant, with improved elasticity, clarity, less irritation and fewer blemishes. Skin feels softer, smoother, more moisturized. Your hair is suddenly softer, silkier, and more manageable.

It may take a day or week to notice the difference, but you WILL notice! By then, you will swear by our natural products!

Natural products also don't contain synthetic chemicals that can be allergens, skin irritants, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors or carcinogens. In short--using natural products protects your health too!

Our natural products (skin care, shampoo, cosmetics, deodorant, etc.) are made with 100% natural ingredients. No marketing hype or false claims of natural and organic--we are the real deal. No synthetic chemical preservatives or potentially irritating or toxic synthetic chemical ingredients--period.

We don't just call our products natural because their ingredients are "derived" from natural ingredients, they actually truly contain pure botanical or mineral ingredients. We follow the strict criteria and guidelines set out by the Natural Products Association. Only very minimal processing of a natural ingredient is allowed, such as saponification (made into soap), but no extensive or solvent-based processing is allowed.

We diligently research each and every product and its ingredients to verify its safety. We use the EWG Cosmetic Safety Database as our guide in verifying product safety, and we do not carry any products that are rated above a 2 on their scale of 0 to 10 (0 being the safest and 10 the most hazardous). This means that all our products are rated as "no hazard" to "low hazard" on the database. Any products not yet rated have received a provisional rating report through the database to verify their safety.

Our goal is that everyone feel confident that ALL our products are safe and chemical-free. No exceptions.