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!