Effective Natural Eczema Treatments for Soothing Relief

I would like to share my successful journey fighting a battle with eczema.

Eight months ago I began a low-carbohydrate diet (The Atkins diet) because I was overweight and this was causing my blood pressure to be high. My doctor wanted me to go on blood pressure medicine, but I told her I would lose that weight and see if that would take care of the problem. I had gained the weight over a period of five or more years when I was eating junk food instead of following a healthy diet. It took me only a few months of strictly following the low-carb diet to lose 30 pounds and get my blood pressure to normal.

Thankfully, I was able to avoid taking any blood pressure medication! Apparently the diet was working so well and so quickly that my body became overwhelmed trying to rid me of all those toxins I had accumulated during the years of eating an unhealthy diet. About four months after beginning my weight loss diet, I developed red, itchy and scaly spots - one on the back of my hand and a larger spot on my forehead and similar spots on my eyelids. I also had red blotches on my inner thighs, but these did not itch or become scaly. I believe all these various red inflamed spots to be eczema brought about by the toxins my body was trying to expel. In addition to the eczema, I experienced sore gums, tongue and lips. I believe these were all the result of toxins being released through my skin and mouth.

This was my first experience with eczema, so I immediately began researching natural ways of healing it. I soon learned from the experiences of other sufferers that the medical community might not be of much help, but that there are many natural ways to bring healing from eczema. I learned that eczema must be approached as a condition that is healed from the inside of our bodies rather than thinking that the condition only requires treating the skin. I gathered a lot of very good information, put it to use and have had good success. It took a few months to see a difference in my skin, but now all the redness and dry skin patches are gone ... only some slight redness on my inner thighs remains. The spot on my hand, forehead and eyelids have disappeared and the redness on my inner thighs is greatly diminished.

I've approached this problem in several ways and I wanted to share my experiences in hopes that it might benefit others. I treated the sore gums by rinsing my mouth with hydrogen peroxide diluted in water (3 to 1 ratio) and using only baking soda for brushing my teeth.

I rinsed several times a day and after about a month or so the soreness and sensitivity of my teeth and gums went away. My tongue still occasionally is tender but my lips are completely back to normal. Taking a zinc supplement seems to be taking care of the remaining sore tongue issue. From medical tests I had taken before beginning my weight-loss diet, I knew that my liver and kidney functions were not the best. When this eczema showed up, I realized that my liver function must be improved so that the liver can do it's job of eliminating toxins more efficiently. I began eating dark leafy greens each day and taking supplements such as milk thistle, B Vitamins, Vitamin E and C, and magnesium as well as taking a daily multi-vitamin. After a few more weeks of research into liver health, I added the following supplements which have really made a big difference. They are N-Acetyl Cysteine, L-Glutamine and Selenium. I highly recommend these three supplements.

To improve my kidney function, I began drinking more water each day. After a couple of months of this regimen, my doctor again checked my liver function and kidney function and they were normal. I was very encouraged and thankful! To improve my digestive system, I began adding lots of probiotics to my diet. I began making my own milk Kefir and fermented vegetables and consuming these daily. A healthy digestive system also greatly aids in removing toxins from the body.

My digestive system is now healthier than it's ever been! I plan on continuing the Kefir and fermented vegetables indefinitely. A note of caution when first adding probiotics to your diet .... begin very slowly; otherwise you may experience gas or bloating until your system adjusts to the healthy bacteria you are adding to your system. Begin by adding just one tablespoon of Kefir or the liquid from fermented vegetables each day and work up very slowly to where you can consume a cup or more each day. I believe warm mineral baths have also helped ... I add Epsom Salts, borax or baking soda to my bath water and soak for about 10 minutes before rinsing in the shower. I also find it helpful to apply a paste of baking soda and water directly to the splotches on my inner thigh and letting the baking soda stay on my skin for a few minutes before rinsing. When I had an especially irritated eczema splotch on my skin, I used zinc oxide cream and that was very helpful. In addition, I feel that taking baking soda internally is probably helpful to reduce the acid in my body, so when I remember, I take a half teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in water once a day, SUMMATION: I took immediate steps to improve my liver and kidney functions as well as my digestive health. This enabled my body to more easily deal with the toxins.

Perhaps that is why I only had a few eczema spots show up and no re-occurrences. My research has revealed that many eczema sufferers have skin breakouts over a much larger portion of their bodies than I did. I faithfully took supplements that aided my recovery ... particularly useful were the last three supplements I listed above.. I took major steps to improve my digestive health by consuming probiotics through my homemade milk Kefir and fermented vegetables. I bathed often in Epsom Salts, borax or baking soda. I used zinc oxide cream on eczema spots that were particularly irritated.

I've learned so much from other people about combating eczema and am so very grateful that my body responded this quickly. I also thank the Lord for guiding me and answering my prayers for healing.

Finally eczema is disappearing fast after three years of trying most of the natural remedies recommended here. I realise that it is slightly premature to post my good news but there has been such a remarkable change for the better in the appearance of my skin that I wanted to tell other eczema suffers about my success. Even if it does not cure the eczema 100% (which I hope it does) the condition seems to be fading fast. Recently I started to eat lots of sauerkraut with my main meal of the day and have been spraying the eczema patches with transdermal magnesium twice a day. The improvement is outstanding and although the condition has not completely disappeared I have only been on the sauerkraut regime for just over two weeks now but hallelujah the itch has gone and most of the dead skin and inflammation too!

Concerning ACV in my case it calmed the itch because it sloughed off the dead skin. Moisturising the eczema helped create the itch because the dead skin was soaking up the creams and oils and they probably discouraged my skin from producing its own moisture while I plastered it with lotions and potions. I have had a modicum of success with Lugol's oil too as it obliterated the dead skin and tamed the itch.

The first and only other bout of eczema that I have experience was 17 years ago and I managed to clear that up immediately thanks to four treatments of colonics but that did not work for me this time round. There was no marked improvement after three sessions whereas the previous time, the eczema cleared up overnight after the first session but I had been recommended to have a minimum of four sessions so I completed the treatment.

Let food be thy medicine! Good luck!

I found relief with multiple remedies.

1. Hot water rinse
2. ACV
3. Thyme essential oil
4. Coconut oil

I'll explain the routine. If I skip any part of this routine I will be obsessively scratching my skin until it bleeds and weeps. My type of eczema is from winter dry skin, and cleaning chemicals in my food service job -- such as the blue dye in the dish soap, and vinyl and latex in gloves, and the Sterilox that we soak vegetables and fruits in.

First, to explain the hot water rinse. This is a remedy that my midwife told me, for poison ivy or poison oak, and it works great for eczema itching, too. She said to hold the rash under hot running water -- as hot as you can stand -- and it will feel like the hot water is scratching the itches out of your skin. It's either pulling out the irritants, or the histamines, or both. Your skin will feel a huge relief after this.
The ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) is self explanatory. It's one of the top remedies on this website. I apply it after the hot water rinse -- I use the raw ACV from the health food store, that has all the brown stringy stuff in it. I pour it into the cap, and then pour the cap-fulls onto my rash and rub it in, undiluted.

After the ACV has dried and stopped stinging I apply single drops of thyme essential oil, and rub each one in, until the rash is covered. Thyme essential oil is miraculous! They found in studies that it has more anti-inflammatories than any other essential oil. It has a warm sting, at first, but it is a healing and cleansing type of sensation.

Lastly, I apply the coconut oil, to moisturize my horribly dry winter skin. Having done all four of these steps, my skin is at complete peace.
Now! All of that was for relief of the rash. But what about healing the source of the problem? Of course, I try to avoid the irritants, as much as possible -- for example, not exposing my wrists or the backs of my hands to the blue dye in commercial soap -- but it is safe to expose my palms and fingertips to this dye in the soap.

But what about the nutritional deficiencies? Vitamin D deficiency is linked with eczema. But, living up in the Chicago suburbs, I am already taking 8000 IUs a day (10,000 IUs is borderline overdose). Well, I found a website from a fellow eczema sufferer that talks about an enzyme deficiency. The website is softress dot com. Basically, to make the enzyme called delta-6-dehydrogenase (D6D) which makes a protective oil for our skin, we need zinc, magnesium, and selenium + vitamin B6.

Softress dot com says, "A healthy body produces natural oils that form a skin barrier that keeps skin soft and slightly acidic (pH between 4.5 and 6, depending on age, with an optimum at around 5.5), helping skin to resist infection by disease-causing bacteria. When the body is unable to produce these natural oils, the skin becomes very dry and the skin barrier is damaged, exposing the skin to infection.(4) To make matters worse, the body's immune system may overreact to common substances, causing inflammation and further damaging the skin.

Current research focuses on why the body is unable to produce these natural oils. Central to this research is an enzyme called delta-6-dehydrogenase (D6D), which converts the linoleic acid in dietary vegetable fats into gamma linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid necessary for maintaining healthy skin. In both eczema and diabetes, the D6D enzyme may be impaired--it may not function properly. Levels of the specific vitamins and minerals required for D6D to function are often very low in people with eczema or diabetes. Nutritional supplementation to increase the levels of these nutrients may reduce or eliminate the symptoms of eczema and help stabilize insulin and glucose metabolism."

I think that the vegetable oil they are talking about is Omega 6, and that the best source of that is sunflower oil.

Also, I remember that I used to drink a tablespoon full of ACV in a glass of water, and there was no stiffness in the skin of my hands and face, but when I stopped drinking it the stiffness came back, and I could feel it in the skin of my hands, when I clenched my hands. I stopped drinking ACV because someone on this website said that ACV wipes the iodine out of our bodies -- but now I am thinking this must be nonsense -- and I am drinking it again, starting today.

So, here's the nutritional remedy for my type of eczema, caused by dry winter skin that is exposed to workplace chemicals.
1. Balanced B vitamin complex (too much of one will make you deficient in another, and physical or emotional stress will deplete you of all).
2. Vitamin D3 (the amount you need will be based on your skin color, plus how much sun you get -- website page from the Vitamin D Council will tell you how much you need.)
3. Zinc supplement
4. Sunflower oil supplement, or some form of Omega 6
4. Selenium gave me ovarian cysts, but maybe you can take it.
5. ACV
6. 500 mg of magnesium, at bedtime. It is better to take magnesium and vitamin D at different times of day.
7. Vitamin B6 supplement

Hi, I have had eczema since I was 18 years old and now I am 26 years old. Its been 6 years since and I have had the horrible itching, oozing, red random spots all over, and the yellow crusts that are just disgusting.

I have tried zinc, supplements, no soap, juicing, modifying my diet, reading numerous websites on how to cure eczema. Just like a maniac and surfing sites late at night, wanting to get this eczema gone.

What worked for me was -

1. Stop the steroids creams that were given to me for easing the eczema - I discovered if I stopped using it, the eczema would come back after some time, but it came back worse. And my skin after using steroid creams, had an addiction to the cream, if I stopped using it, my skin would go crazy, and more eczema patches. I had to stop relying on it, you may wish to read more on steroid addiction for eczema.

2. Modify my diet - If you have been a maniac like me reading on site, you would have seen eating healthier food. I cut out dairy, wheat, processed food, and food with colours, addictives. I ate mainly natural cooked food, with good fat to moisturise from within. E. G. salmon

3. Vaccuum my room and bed - I vaccummed daily to prevent myself from getting paranoid about dust or bed. It worked in getting a nicer sleep though I still woke up late at night due to the itching.

4. Moisturise, moisturise

When I stopped the steroid creams or prescribed ointments, my skin grew worse as it was addicted to it. It's like going through cold turkey. It was way hard, but its worth it, seeing the result. The patches grew larger, I had a swollen foot, itching at night continuously (itching is when your skin is trying to expel the bad stuff, healing from inside). I cried, I prayed, frustrated about everything. It took roughly about 6 months for me to see something different. I could sleep better, the oozing decreased and stopped entirely, the patches grew smaller and it disapperead entirely.

Now, I don't have eczema all over my body in random spots or patches. I had two big patches near my ankles, and behind my legs, plus random spots all over. All is gone unless I eat something bad or if skin is too dry.

Its not easy to go through this, it would be good for anyone going through this to have emotional support like a forum. I believe there is one for steroid addiction which causes eczema, you have to search it. :)

Hope this infomation is useful. Do note that the skin will experience flares up now and then as it heals, but slowly with time, it will lessen. It may seem you have healed entirely, but if there's a flare up again, dont be dismal, for it will heal again but in a lesser time frame.

All the best!

Olive oil, Almond oil, Jojoba oil, Pesco Neem Soap, Shea Butter, one or all of them worked finally after 30 years!!!

Hi there, I was suffering from this debilitating condition (discoid eczema) for nearly a year. I had being to four doctors two of them "specialists" to no avail. I had to cure it myself which I did in six months. It's a very simple cure really. I experimented with a few different methods but looking back on it now the solution is very simple.

Shower twice a day. After the first shower spray apple cider vinegar to the wounds. Dilute to the amount of pain you can handle. Second shower at night apply shea butter or raw organic coconut oil. Use Dr. Bronner organic soap. Drink about 150 mills of ACV to bring the PH balence of your blood. Then consume Cellfood, Cellfood DNA/RNA, and Cellfood Silica and if you can afford it Cellfood multivitamin as directed daily. Your discoid eczema will be gone in 6 months. I have video evidence to back this up and I will send this to anybody who needs help with this terrible infliction. This is all you need to do people. It will cost $80 a month for six months... But trust me you will have your life back as I thankfully do now. Feel free to ask me any questions.

Hello Everyone! I have suffered from Hand Eczema for about one year and have gone though several types of lotions and dr. perscriptions, nothing worked. Then I came across this website!

So I tried some remedies, and they worked! I do this three times a day, in this order: Apply Apple Cider Vinager to hands and let it dry, then apply warm olive oil. Then at night before bedtime, I also soak my hands in chamomile tea. In addition to this I take a dietary supplement, it is a blend of Omega 3-6-9 complex. I found this blend at a grocery store.

My daughter who is 5 years old,recently broke out with eczema on her face. I'm applying the ACV and olive oil 3 times a day. I diluted the ACV, because it was too strong. In the morning before school I just apply a little lotion, so the kids do not make fun of her having oil all over her face. I'm also going to start having her eat half a apple a day. Hopefully this will work for her! And I hope this helps others.

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.