Table of Contents
Eczema Remedies
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DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
10 YEA
2 NAY
[YEA] 09/18/2007: Liz from Nairobi, Kenya writes: "My 8 month old son has had eczema since he was four months old. I have tried many prescription creams that did not seem to work or worked for only a few days. A friend asked me to try coconut oil. Its worked miracles. I got results in a day. There was no itching and the dry patches were gone. I now make sure to keep a bottle in the house all the time. I have also noticed that water and soap worsen eczema, so when he has it, I avoid them on the patches and use the oil instead."
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[YEA] 03/29/2007: Marietta from Montpelier, Vermont writes: "Virgin Coconut Oil: My teenage son had raw, red and cracked skin where the ear meets the head. I remembered reading somewhere that VCO cures eczema, so I spread some on the backs of his ears after he showered. Amazingly, the very next day (after only ONE application) they were completely healed; no raw, red, no cracks! We also eat it often, on popcorn, straight off the spoon and in stir-fries. Yum!!!"
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[NAY] 02/26/2007: Kim from Wheaton, IL writes: "Coconut Oil and ACV did NOT help my son's eczema. He has had terrible eczema/dermatitis all of his life. He is 13 years old now and the older he gets the worse it gets...especially in winter. As I looked for alternative treatments, I read the feedbacks on this website and tried the coconut oil and ACV. Neither worked and the Coconut oil seemed to make it worse. It was the Organic virgin oil. I'm glad it worked for some people but did not help my son. Thanks."
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[YEA] 08/04/2006: Jay from Chicago, IL writes: "1 TBS daily of oral supplementation has helped by facial eczema and atopic dermatitis. I have become immediately convinced that Coconut oil is nothing short of a miracle remedy for the skin and immune system. I was suffering from weekly eczema outbreaks on the face, and within 4 days of using 3 tablespoons daily and dabbing it with vitamin E oil, I noticed an almost immediate improvement. The itching and redness stopped, and the inflammation was way down. I would strongly urge ANYONE who suffers from this condition to try it, because in my opinion, there is nothing else like it on the planet."
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[YEA] 03/01/2006: Bonnie writes: "It is the only thing that gets rid of my daughter's eczema and mine. In fact mine was really bad when I was pregnant and it was the only relief I found. I used to take primrose oil internally -- that really helped, but it never offered any immediate relief. When she was about 2 months she got a bad flare up on her forehead and it cleared it within days. As a side note lice was going around the school and my boys came home with it. She never got it (I think it was the smell of coconut oil) & they always put their hats on her head."
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[YEA] 02/11/2006: Amy from Reeseville, WI writes: "I use coconut oil half and half with butter to make my cookies or if the recipe calls for shortening, I use all coconut oil. It also cleared up eczema for me and my son. You can add it to bath water just a tablespoon or two. It works great."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 02/18/2009: LB from Reigate, Surrey, UK writes: "VIRGIN COCONUT OIL/TEA TREE OIL FOR DISCOID/NUMMULAR EXCEMA
I found that mixing VCO with Tea Tree Oil and applying it to the patch of excema several times daily (6 or 7) cleared my discoid eczema within 7-10 days rather that the 8-10 weeks it usually took to clear. Discoid eczema patches are usually roundish in shape. They are very itchy to begin with, and then become very sore as they form several tiny heads which weep. The patch then becomes very hard and thick and normally takes weeks to heal leaving a mark where it had once been.
I have also made a connection with eating citrus and flare ups."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 09/12/2009: Macky from New Iberia, La writes: "My son had severe eczema from the time he was a few months old. I took him to 3 doctors and was given prescriptions that didn't cure him.He scratched til he bled. One day after fasting I read that a deficiency in vitamin A will cause dry, itchy bumps especially on the legs.
I gave him cod liver oil in a cup of juice with a top on it (sippy cup) because of the smell. The next week he did not have one spot on him and he is 18 years old now and never had that again."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 01/12/2007: Josh from Elk Ridge, UT writes: "Hi all! What a great website this is...finally; I've been looking for a resource like this for years! Anyway, I have moderate to severe eczema that flares up in the winter and is more mild in summer. Anyway, I went several days without using steroid creams or immune system inhibitors (Protopic ointment)when I tried the following regime. I would take a cold shower, then spray myself with potassium alum (dissolved in water and put into a spray bottle) when I was still slightly damp. Also, I was taking 1 T apple cider vinegar internally twice a day. My eczema didn't seem to get worse until I missed 2 days of the potassium alum treatment. I even had a semi-cold bath with 1 C ACV and soaked for about 20 minutes, but I forgot to do the alum. When I do the alum, it helps my skin to calm down. It gets softer. I don't use lotion.
A friend of mine gave me the potassium alum stone with his story of severe eczema in Thailand. The generous people there gave him this stone to try and it cured his eczema. I've been using it as deodorant and it works very well; no chemicals or additives. I think you can get the stones at a health food store (or do a google search for them).
Get a clean spray bottle and break up about 1-2 Tablespoon size chunks of alum. Put this in about 1 cup of water and then fill your spray bottle with it. I spray a few sprays on my hair and massage it in my scalp. Some under arms for deodorant and then I give a few sprays all over my limbs and body, rubbing it into my skin. It has a weird texture; it seems to sink into your skin quickly - that's why the spray works so well. I'm thinking of trying an application in the evening as well and maybe by then I'll have more of a cure. Experimenting with the frequency... Let me know how this works for you. I used to have bad eczema in my hair that would flake all over; very embarrassing. I cured it by soaking my head with straight ACV and covering that with a shower cap overnight, but I don't like smelling like a pickle throughout the day. :) Now, the potassium alum has prevented it without the smell. Good luck to all, and hopefully we can cure our debilitating eczema."
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1 QUESTION
[QUESTION] 02/19/2009: Jessica from Toronto, Ontario, Canada writes: "I have heard that doing a colon cleanse can cure excema is this true? and if so what is the best type of cleanse? Also what can be done for infants who suffer from excema?"
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1 YEA
[YEA] 09/29/2006: Sharon from Boston writes: "Please delete my previous email from January and put this one in its place. This is the most successful remedy combination I have experimented with for dermatitis!
I have had an itchy dermatitis on and off around my nose for about 10 years. It was triggered after working in an office in Los Angeles for a man who smoked all day long (illegally of course, but he was a top entertainment executive so no one complained at that point in time). After years of smoking, the cigarette smoke was embedded in his furniture-- that's a horrendous smell to someone whose never smoked. Plus, think of all those microbes! At any rate, it took about 3 years to clear and then came back every time I would get around old, furniture embedded cigarette smoke. Psychological response? Maybe! At any rate, it came back again this summer after a few month respite.
But this time, I am happy to report that after years of playing around with every prescription and supplement under the sun, I think I have finally hit upon a dermatitis cure! It will only cost about $5... $.79 for the decolorized iodine, and $4 for a bottle of vitamin E oil. Here is my cure:
Using decolorized iodine for the face, take a q-tip and dab the dermatitis with iodine. If this is not on your face, you can use regular iodine. But it will stain you orange for a few hours.
If your dermatitis is on sensitive skin around your nose, like me, it will burn like crazy when you apply the iodine. Don't inhale the fumes while it is drying (takes about 10 seconds to dry). After it dries, apply some natural vitamin e oil. I open a large capsule and use that for several days before it runs out. Your skin will redden from the iodine and dry out, but the vitamin e will heal it and keep it from flaking. Keep this area moist with vitamin e oil all day and night if possible.
Do the topical iodine for 2 days, 3x a day. After the 2nd day, cut the iodine back to 1x a day. However, you will still want to keep the vitamin e oil on all day. After 3 days of 1x daily application of iodine, cut the iodine back to every other day. Continue every other day for 10 days (or less). Keep up the vitamin e oil every day until the dermatitis has disappear completely.
Let me tell you, the iodine and vitamin 3 oil starts to work on clearing up the dermatitis in about 24 hours! Initially the skin will look red and inflamed, but don't worry... the vitamin e speeds up the healing process.
I hope everyone with dermatitis (even perioral dermatitis) will try this cure. My particular form of dermatitis is one of the trickiest to heal so I am thrilled to maybe have a cure! I will let you know in the future how long this holds before I have to do the iodine again. Hopefully, never! Thanks"
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1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 10/10/2009: Rich from Boca Raton, Fl writes: "I've had some success with this one. Desitin Diaper Rash cream. Ingredients are Cod Liver Oil plus Zinc (2 remedies already mentioned in here). The stuff doesn't work overnight, but it seems to work.
Note: it is known that Zinc supplementation cures facial eczema in cows, I looked for a zinc product.
Had some bumps dissapear and wrinkles/stretch marks go away and hair grow back in the affected area. I'd say 80% cured in 2 weeks. Kind of smelly stuff. Got a bit lazy on application.
*****
Eczema is often a misdiagnosed yeast/fungal infection. Diaper rash is usually a yeast problem. So I'm thinking this eczema stuff is like "adult diaper rash". :)"
10/10/2009: Avis from Indianapolis, In replies: "I have very smooth skin but whenever I have a break out of any kind I use Aveeno brand diaper rash cream and it clears it up right away. I have tried the Destin brand but if I am honest, I have tried several brands the Aveeno worked the best for me but the Walmart brand worked better than Destin for me."
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1 YEA
[YEA] Jimness from Torrance, CA writes: "After I dampened a small sponge with water, I poured a small amount of distilled white vinegar onto the sponge, which I then used to lightly scrub away the unsightly white patches from my chin. Although this vinegar treatment does not STOP the appearance of white flaky patches (which I believe to be Psoriasis), it definitely slows-down the recurrence."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 04/24/2008: Wade from Phoenix, AZ writes: "I suffered from eczema my entire life - I head it all over my arms and legs as a kid, and continued to suffer from it on my legs (behind my knees), my arms, and hands. After trying countless prescriptions, lotions, oils, etc., I finally found my cure - do nothing. I found that by putting these ointments and lotions on my skin, even though it was dry, it makes my skin itchier and weakens the skin for when you scratch - and by the way, I could control my self and not scratch during the day, but my itching was so bad that I would scratch unconsciously at night - very very aggravating). So do nothing - and ever since I stopped using any lotions or ointments, my eczema is gone on my legs and arms. My hand unfortunately, I still have to watch because doing dishes, working on cars, etc. is much more demanding on my dry skin - so every so often I have to work on that. Yes my skin is still dry - so sorry ladies if you demand having soft smooth skin, cause that I don't know how to fix. I got the idea from my friend in med school, who pointed out that people's lips who use chapstick actually will produce less oil because of the artificial oils coming from chapstick. Same with my skin - the skin will balance oils, etc. once you stop putting stuff on there. Some of my boys also have my skin - and we've instituted the same policy - no lotions, just let the skin adjust. It takes months some times, but it is the best option I've found for the long term."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 10/10/2007: JOYCE from Joelton, Tn writes: "On eczema, I believe removing the cause is the best cure. The causative factor is usually soap. No matter what kind - if it's soap, don't use it. One of our psychiatrists came in with a classic case of exzema (in his forties). I took one look at him and remarked, "that looks itchy, is it?" He said yes. When I caught him without an audience, I asked him if he ever tried leaving off soap for his eczema. He said he had and it got better at first, then got worse.
This almost threw me off track, until I thought to ask him what he used instead of soap. He replied that he didn't remember the name of it but it was some kind of medicated cream. I then suggested that he try leaving off soap again and not using any thing instead. He was surprised when told to just use a thick, wash cloth and water when bathing, nothing else, but agreed to give it a try. Several days later when he was next on call, he came in with the smoothest complexion and very happy with it.
People who forgo the use of soap also find that they have less body odor and attract fewer insect bites.
Again, on headaches, remove the cause, instead of looking for a cure. Aspartame (Nutrisweet) is well known for causing headaches. So is Monosodiumglutamate. If you want to find some other things they can cause, type in Excitotoxins, and hit search. For those who think MSG is only found in stir-fried (Chinese foods), make a list of the names MSG is hidden under in the ingredients list, then go into your kitchen and see how many of your foods have one or more of them listed in the ingredients.
Classic example is the 15% chicken broth that may be contained in a well-known brand of raw chicken that you must take home and cook...The MSG isn't mentioned because they didn't add MSG - they added chicken broth which contained the MSG.....Learn to protect yourself and your loved ones by learning these legal loop-holes. Oh, yes, you will also learn that that they are named excitotoxins because they excite the neural cells (Brain & Central nervous system) to death.
If you also research meta-bolic syndrome X (now called insulin resistance) by orthodox medicine) you will also find that excitotoxins are the same things that cause insulin resistance which ends up as full fledged Diabetes Mellitus,Type 2 which used to be called DM, adult onset, but was renamed to DM type 1 for juvenile onset and type 2 for adult onset, because children (even toddlers, are now developing type 2. So be your own health defender by learning all the names the excitotoxins are hidden under, stop buying these products, and write the supplier telling them why you aren't buying their product. You will only have to make one list because the excitotoxins are the same ones that makes us kick out excess insulin, proceed through insulin resistance, then to full fledged DM, type 2 and all of its complications."
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3 YEA
[YEA] 03/10/2007: Teri from Atlanta, GA writes: "I have been trying everything to help my 8 week old's facial eczema. Then I found that her eczema flared terribly every time I used a product containing citric acid. We once rinsed her pacifier out at a restaurant in one of our diet cokes. (full of citric acid) Her eczema flared TERRIBLY and on the spot. We took it out of my diet (she is breast fed) and stopped using all products containing citric acid. She is soooo much better. BUT is that considered an allergy or just an intollerance? I'd love some help."
06/28/2009: Kate from Adelaide, SA, Australia replies: "I would say that Teri from Atlanta is on the right track regarding citrus. I had eczema all of my childhood. My family and I eventually came to the realization that acidic properties were to blame, in particular oranges. Every since that discovery I have stayed well clear of them. I also have to watch my intake of other acidic fruits such as tomatoes, lemons, limes and even grapes. Your little one is so young, but even now you can record what you feed her each day and in another column you can write her reaction to that food, if any. Eventually you will see a pattern form. There may be one or more culprits. As your daughter gets older, the key is to put a topical cream on before she feels the itch. That is if you want to use that on her skin. I used to apply it once I had already starting scratching and by that point it was useless because it would just make me want to scratch even more. When I learned to apply it religiously (about 2-3 times per day) it would be more controllable. Stay away from soap, there are plenty of soap free products today that will be gentler for your baby's sensitive skin. The worst thing one can do is scratch an eczema spot 'vigorously' as that will only spread it. Just digging a nail lightly in or even just pressing against the itchy point is usually enough to relieve the itch. Remember 'Knowledge Is Power' so explore this condition as much as you can and you will help your daughter no end. "
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[YEA] 04/24/2006: Minni from NYC writes: "Re: Elimination of Citric Acid for Eczema - I agree 100%. Citric also causes me acne & headaches & sore throat. But I'll also add this: That Licorice is like the ANTITHESIS of Citric Acid. Why? Citrus speeds things up. Licorice calms things down."
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[YEA] 02/16/2006: Laura from Streetsboro, Ohio writes: "Just wondering if you had heard from anyone regarding citric acid allergies and eczema. When my son was a baby he had really bad eczema. We didn't know what was causing it until I started looking at the labels of all his food products and discovered a common denominator....citric acid. I decided to only use products that did not have this in it and low and behold his eczema cleared up. It was even in the creams I was using to treat the eczema. No wonder none of it helped. He is 4 now and when he gets a build up of citric acid in his body (because it is in EVERYTHING) he gets eczema breakouts again."
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ELIMINATE CORN PRODUCTS AND NUTS
[YEA] 11/13/2007: eva from fairfax, ca writes: "I stopped eating corn products and my eczema cleared up and hasn't really come back unless i eat nuts, especially walnuts."
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ELIMINATE DAIRY, EUCERIN CREAM
[YEA] 12/11/2007: free from kelowna, canada writes: "I had severe eczema growing up. The things that I have found to be best for me over the more than 20 years.....reduction in milk, cheese and yogurt - definitely!...Eucerin Original Cream - if I don't use this cream I can gently run my nails over my skin and produce dry skin. if you have very dry skin this cream is great....oatmeal baths.... and sunlight in a dry climate. I use to live in a humid climate in the summer and it was horrible. Well good luck everyone"
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1 SIDE EFFECT
[SIDE EFFECTS] 07/31/2009: Connie from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA writes: "I can't speak for everyone, obviously, but the eczema on my arms returns when I drink milk or eat ice cream."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 08/04/2006: Amiee from Eastern Passage, NS writes: "I had been wheat-free for 7 months and my gas, acid-reflux and psoriasis went away. When you are on a wheat-free diet, it can cause other problems like constipation if you do not watch your fiber intake. I am now off the wheat-free diet and all has returned. I will be going back on the wheat-free diet ASAP."
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ELIMINATION OF HOUSEHOLD TRIGGERS, ACUPUNCTURE
[YEA] 11/12/2007: Lynn from Wasilla, AK writes: "re: atopic dermatitis aka eczema -- Shortly after giving birth to my first child I developed eczema -- it started on my hands and proceeded to climb up my arms, neck, chest, etc.
5 Months later this is what I found.
1. Figured out on my own that I was reacting to disposable diapers. Switched to cloth and symptoms improved 50%.
2. Allergy test showed allergies to nikel,formaldehyde, and something called Quaternium-15 (formaldehyde-releasing preservative -- this is found in (or a similiar preservativ) in all most all liquid soaps, cleaners, and many cosmetics.
Once I elimanted these things (cloth diapers and compeletely switched to "greener"/natural products) my symptoms have imporved. I'm still having a slight problem and trying to find the final thing I am reacting to. We have figured out it is something in our house. (We just returned from a 3 week trip back home to visit family and the eczema had completly cleared up (except for 2 small outbreaks -- occured after holding my nephew and friends baby and sleeping on sheets that I had not washed in safe detergent!)
Meanwhile I found ACCUPUNCTURE really helped to make the symptons bearable with no side effects (very impoortant since I am nursing. Although it didn't eliminate the symptoms it did relieve horrible parts like patches that had become so inflamed as to become "weeping" or cracked and bleeding. It also helped to manage the itch and burning -- which was welcome relief since I had spent 3 months just trying to ignore it while trying "normal" medicial treatments that didn't work.
Currently we are investigating our water supply.
If anyone has anyother suggestings I'd love to hear them."
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1 YEA
1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 08/18/2009: Cat-Eye Blink from Melbourne, Australia writes: "Emu Oil cured my son's eczema rash. I have a new baby son. He nearly four months and a lovely organic baby, smiley, outgoing and chubby. He did have cradle cap and I found this fantastic site probably a bit too late. It got out of control and spread, turning in to an eczema-style rash all over his head, belly and arms, and behind his fat little knees. It wept and scaled. Pretty gross.
I tried the usuals to start off with back when his skin was still lovely; olive oil to soften and a comb/soft brush to remove the cradle cap (I tried that so many times and couldn't get to the end of it); my partners 'old' dandruff shampoo (I eliminated his dandruff a couple of months ago with ACV much to our mutual surprise and delight); and ACV itself, both diluted in purified water, and straight, regularly and not so regularly. ACV seemed to halt the worst of it including the scratching for the first half hour or more, but was followed by bright red patches which after a while dried and flaked and itched. I suppose I burned my baby's skin- NOT what one intends to do as an alternative to petrochemical junk...
So as it stood this afternoon: an ugly, weepy, scaly rash both sides of his face and down his neck area; an itchy, hot and dry eczema-ish rash all over his belly; violent red and cracked/chapped areas anywhere his arms and legs bent; skin dry and rough on arms and legs.
I rubbed calendula oil here and there again (which seems to work temporarily on the itch and dryness but that's all) and we walked to the pharmacy where I saw a last bottle of emu oil (not THAT cheap be aware, but fair considering its source and manufacture), bought it (not what the pharmacy woman suggested at all- ) and applied it straight on to his skin as soon as home because he'd woken up and was scratching and going nuts. Within half an hour he looked like a new baby- the redness was completely gone, a little yellowy blistery skin was still visible close up but he chatted away to a toy with hands finally occupied with each other again rather than sneaking a scratch. His skin is soft and lovely. It strikes me as extraordinary because it's been so long since I've seen it that way.
I don't know if it'll eliminate the rash altogether but I'll certainly write back sooner or later to let anyone in the same situation know.
He went to bed after a bath with quarter of a cup of ACV in it, and a massage/rub down with emu oil and he hasn't made a whimper. He's been restless the last two or three nights, not settling at all, waking three or four times, wriggling and mad with itch and irritation at all hours. Hopeful. Not counting on it but it seems pretty amazing so far.
Poor little emu's. R.I.P. : )"
10/20/2009: Cateyeblink from Melbourne, Victoria Australia replies: "Me again, finishing the emu oil post. His skin is beautiful, we still use emu oil around/ behind his ears for mild teething issues (he's almost 7mnths now), and I've found the eczema culprit; cows milk products and tea tree products, incl. the popular (in Ozzie) tea tree mattress. Once we got these out of his system his skin began to glow. It's truly beautiful. Eating sheeps milk yoghurt, goats cheese and coconut cream as stand-ins till he weaned.Good-o.
: )
"
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[YEA] 02/09/2008: marybeth from volcano, hi writes: "I have tried everything for the eczema on my face. Nothing seemed to help altho it would come and go on it's own. I tried Emu oil last night and the eczema is almost gone. Already the itching, redness, raw-ness is much, much better. I got the oil at my local health food store but I think you can get it online."
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