Eczema
Natural Remedies

Effective Natural Eczema Treatments for Soothing Relief

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Six (Phoenix, Arizona) on 04/20/2010
★★★★☆

Thank you so much for this website! After searching the web for a cure to my decades-long battle with self-diagnosed eczema, I have found that diatomaceous earth has shown great promise! For years I've suffered from diagnosed dertmitis nervosa. My skin would errupt in red spots that would itch almost nonstop, bleed, scab over, spread a bit and continue this pattern. The cycle would usually end with another trip to yet another dermatologist for stronger and stronger steroid medications (usually topical creams, but too often oral meds also).

Eventually the rash would turn from red to brown and begin to dry up leaving a very dark brown large area of discoloration. This would take months to clear up with the help of retin-a creams.

After searthing Earth Clinic's site for more natural cures, I found several entries noting 100% pure diatomaceousearth to cure fungal infections. I had about 2.5 pound of this stuff on hand and decided to try it. Well, the reviews suggested ingesting it. I'd done that in the past when dealing with other issues. This time I was trying Borax and baking soda as suggested by Ted and didn't want to mix it up too much. So, I tried applying the earth topically, straight from the bag. It's a fine powder just like talc. It immediately soothed the itch, and after a few hours the redness had decres by 50%. The eczema rash on my face has dissappeared!! My facial acne is history. The eczema is still on my neck but it is undercontrol and when I am diligent and apply it several times daily, it will go away. The dark blotches remain, and this is where I got into trouble last week, I began applying the retin-a much too soon and irritated my skin and the redness itch and rash returned. I'm back on the mend using the earth and will wait about one month after healed again before using the retin-a.

I hope this helps.
Six


Zinc
Posted by Lou-lou (Adelaide, Sa, Australia) on 04/17/2010

I have posted twice on this fantastic website before, so I will try to keep this one brief!

I have recently read that Eczema is mainly caused by deficiency of zinc in the body. Taking zinc supplements or foods rich in zinc will help in restoring the healing property of the body and treating eczema. Zinc promotes the synthesis of collagen, which is a necessary element of proper wound healing also.

Foods high in zinc are beef, lamb, pork, crab, lettuce, avocado, banana, cauliflower, cheese, egg, milk, yogurt, wheatgerm, seeds such as pumpkin, squash and watermelon, and oysters top the list. So if you are an oyster lover like me, dig in! :)


Apple Fast
Posted by Pondera (Juneau, Ak, Usa) on 04/14/2010

HI i wrote in about the 3 day APPLE Fast curing dyshidrotic eczema. Although my acne is completely gone. After 4 days it seems like my eczema is flaring up just the tiniest bit with introducing regular food to my diet. Just thought I'd let you know. I still recommend it for cleansing of heavy metals and toxins, however. thanks


Apple Fast
Posted by Pondera (Juneau, Ak) on 04/11/2010
★★★★☆

3 day Apple Fast cured Dyshidrotic Eczema

I developed dyshidrotic eczema on the palm of my right hand and in between my fingers in Sept/ 09. At first I developed a rash that weeped directly where I had a ring on my finger.. I thought maybe the nickel in the ring triggered it. Hydrocortizone cream did not cure it, although it provided immediate relief from the itching. The rash than spread to in between my fingers and on the palm of my hand. It was awfully painful.

I tried massage therapy for stress and repressed emotions and found that it started to heal directly after that. I also had three or four sessions of acupuncture and realized it was healing after that too. But it wasn't gone completely.

So I began a THREE DAY Apple Fast for persistant Acne problems. Hoping to clear up my face and in the process it COMPLETELY healed my eczema. You see it all starts on the inside, in the organs, in this case, the large intestine or colon.

Here's what you do:
For three days eat nothing but peeled Red Delicious apples or Golden apples. They must be peeled. And you can eat as much as you want all day long. (I ate about 6-10 a day)And drink a ton of water ! at least 60 oz. a day.

At the end of each day, you have to do an enema to remove all the apple you ate that day. The Pectin in the apple absorbs the heavy metals and toxins from inside the colon and then each day it needs to get passed or the results won't be as good.

You can buy a Fleet Enema from most drugstores, and just follow the directions. However, you have to use it 3 times. You do the first flush lying on your right side, then on the left, and then again in the knee-to-chest bowing position. For a total of three flushes. Remain in the positions while you're holding it in. (Since a Fleet enema only has solution in it for one flush, on the 2nd and 3rd flush you just have to refill it with warm tap water) After squeezing all the fluid in, you hold it inside you (for 2-5min) until the urge to expel it is very strong...then get on the toilet and let it go.

It is very important to remove the apples each day, but only do the enema flush once in a 24 hour period. On the first day you may not see a lot come out, but the 2nd and 3rd days you will. If you have really severe cramps you can do it earlier in the day.

On the third and last day, you may have two tablespoons of olive oil and a couple glasses of Welch's grape juice in the evening to prepare your digestive system to be eating again the next day. You will want to start out with easy food, like soup and crackers, don't run to McDonald's or something. And do an enema on the fourth day as well, just to make sure you got everything.

This apple-fast is done primarily to treat acne, and the results should last for months. My skin is cleared and softer than ever! And my eczema is gone for good too! You will notice things changing by the 2nd day. Sometimes your acne can get worse for a bit, but that just means your body is detoxying. Stay with it. And NO CHEATING whatsoever. You may have a few cups of green tea throughout the day.

Be easy on yourself. Don't exercise a bunch, or stay up late, or what's really great is if you can get work off. Take a hot shower if you get a headache (normal) and just be good to your self. When you're hungry, distract yourself, go for a nice walk, watch a movie, play music. LOTS OF WATER AND LOTS OF APPLES and say goodbye to eczema!

There is a body-mind connection with all things. The Colon is the organ that allows us to literally "let go of crap" so sometimes when we are emotionally plugged up we experience problems with our colon, that end up showing up on our skin. It is our body's way of talking to us. Let me know if you have any questions.. and good luck...you can do it! God Bless

Ted's Eczema Advice
Posted by Neal (Easton, Pa) on 04/07/2010

Thank for Ted, finally an intelligent response amidst the inter-nets :P The solution you suggest should come in handy while going out to sea with the U.S. navy.

As a side note for those interested:

-18 years of age
-Diet for the past 14 years composed of high amounts artificial foods, composed mainly of sugar, extremely little greens consumed. 20:1 ratio for sugar to greens servings consumed.
-Lead to minor bouts of eczema located on face, hands, forearms, legs, and wrists.
-As daily stress heightened so did the bouts.
-The bouts only added unto the stress, thus producing a never-ending cycle.
-Deep-breathing exercises for a year, used consistently throughout the day stopped all signs of eczema.


Vitamin D
Posted by Carol (Charlotte, Nc) on 04/01/2010
★★★★★

First off - I love Earth Clinic. Thanks to all of you who write in and offer advice. This site has helped me on many occasions. Concerning my eczema - I suffered from eczema all over my hands for 5-6 years after the birth of my son. It was extremely embarrassing, itched like crazy and made me absolutely miserable. I wish I could have enjoyed those early years with my son, but I did not because of the horrible itch, pain, and embarrassment. I know it was very much stress related. I tried all kinds of remedies - watch my diet, omega 3's, and multiple vitamins, etc... When my son went to kindergarten, the stress level went down and my hands got better, but still aggravated. It was not until I went to have a physical and had my Vit. D level checked that I believe I found the answer. Optimal Vit. D level should be over 50, and mine was 20. So I started to supplement with Vit.D and my hands immediately cleared up. Interestingly, so did that "redness and heat" within my body that I always felt was with me. I haven't had my level checked again but I am still on higher than usual doses. I also learned that if you are overweight, you require more Vit. D because the fat cells absorb a lot of it. Most folks supplement with 1000 a day but I take 5 - 6,000 a day. Also, I learned that going outside can work but you have to live where the sun is just right in relation to your location, has to be the right time of the day, and need 15 minutes of that sun on large parts of your body - like arms and legs. And in the winter in most of the USA, there is no way to get enough Vit D. from the sun. Also, there is a huge deficiency nationwide of Vit. D. And this causes all kinds of illnesses. There is a major epidemic of Vit. D deficiency. I found that when I got my Vit. D. level up, my hands cleared up, and I stopped getting colds, flu, etc... Actually, quite amazing. This is especially true of elderly who hardly ever get any sun and have lower immune function anyway. Bottom line: If you don't know your Vit. D, get it checked. If below 50, supplement or make intentional effort to get nature's Vit.D - the sun most every day.


Iodine
Posted by Lana (Flushing, New York) on 03/04/2010

hi i have a question... what % did you use for the iodine? I have one at home thats 10%... is that too low? thanks


Olive Oil
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, France) on 01/15/2010

Nice to read that someone else also uses olive oil in the bath water.... Due to the age my skin is a lot drier and nothing seemed to help. I am now using olive oil but I wonder whether it really works. When I get out my skin is very moist but then during the night if I wake up I start noticing that my hands are very dry. Does the olive oil only work on the surface?


Ocean Water
Posted by Bunny (Santa Ana, Ca) on 01/13/2010

Any time you have a skin issue that improves in the sun it could indicate an inability to produce enough fumaric acid. A doctor can test for it. I'ts a genetic glitch, so you will need to supplement forever if this is the problem.


Olive Oil
Posted by Felirose (Destin, Florida) on 01/12/2010
★★★★☆

Olive Oil Helped my Eczema

I've had eczema for several years now. Originally, I was told that it was ringworm, so I tried putting Apple Cider Vinegar on it (that was not organic - it was the brown/amber color it was supposed to be, but was diluted, a generic store brand). That only made it much, much worse.

After getting a second opinion, I was told it was eczema and put on 0.05% steroid cream. It helps a ton, but is expensive...

So I started using Olive Oil. I filled the bathtub up with hot water, and put about a 1/8 cup (perhaps a little less - you do not need much at all) of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in it. Then I just relaxed in the bathtub for an hour or so. I also put a 1/4 cup of epsom salt in there, to help me relax.

After I got out, I patted myself dry with a terrycloth towel (be careful getting out of the tub - and don't towel dry like normal, because you'll rub the oil off your body) and got dressed. My Eczema looked much better, not to mention, my entire body felt like silk!

Ocean Water
Posted by Jim (Ipswich, Sd Usa) on 01/06/2010
★★★★★

Hey Doug, I suffer from eczema on my ankles, when I went in the Navy I snorkeled often. I noticed the seawater and sun would clear my eczema right away. I try using a tanning bed now and it helps, but the combination sun and seawater worked well. The ACV stops the itch for now till I can get back to the sea.


Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Sp (Nashville, Tn) on 01/02/2010
★★★★★

Tea tree oil is the only thing that worked for my eczema. I have eczema on the back of my neck, chest and on my legs. I have tried using virgin coconut oil, honey, apple cider vinegar, cleaning it with borax, .... no of these methods worked for me. I even have a prescription cream that worked only when I used it every day. When I don't use the cream the eczema comes back.

The only thing that truly worked for me is the TEA TREE OIL.

I mix a a couple of drops with almond oil or olive oil in the palm of my hand and rub it on the spots every night. My condition cleared up within one week of this treatment. The irritation, itchiness, redness is gone. It has been one month now and I am eczema free. I still do use the treatment weekly to keep eczema at bay.


Niacinimade Powder, Vitamin E
Posted by Chammo (Bimingham, West Midlands, UK) on 12/08/2009
★★★★☆

I had eczema when I was 1 years old, it cleared when I was 5. It started again when I was about 11 and I have had it since. At the moment its on my arms, face, behind my knee joints, on my chest, neck and part of my back. I have been oil pulling three times for the past two days, today I read about the Apple Cider Vinegar applied topically, I have just had a shower and put the ACV on my chest, arms, face and behind the knee joints. It was itching awfully but I clenched my fist and th eitch went away after about 10-15 seconds.

Please can you tell me if what I am doing it right and how to cure my eczema and the scars. At the beginning of the year, I made my own cream. I used Niacinamide powder, mixed with a little bit of water, I added vitamin E, afew drops of rosehip oil and added my daily moisturiser. That helped my skin alot. I am going to order all the products again.

I also tried covering my body in normal yoghurt, then washing it in tepid water after it had dried, about half an hour, this was to be done for a week and then i had to apply malt vineger, but I was abit worried in case the vinegar scarred my skin.

Please can you urgently advise.

Multiple Remedies
Posted by Teya (Winnemucca, Nv) on 12/06/2009
★★★★★

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.


Neem Oil, Baking Soda
Posted by Cynthia (Auckland, Nz) on 12/06/2009
★★★★☆

Recently I have had an outbreak of eczema reminiscent of childhood - hot band like rashes, worse in bed at night, sometimes weeping - pretty much everywhere -all the joint areas of body even nipples. So I have tried two new things lately = NEEM OIL - few drops in bath and spray on baking soda. The neem takes the itch away and the redness. The baking soda spray - 1 tsp in bottle of water stings like buggerey at first but I sprayed it on my foot and it was all raised up and the next day it was flat. It's not cured yet but is better. Neem takes the itch out but don't overdo it. I leave my skin to dry after - it's quite dry but I can't put creams on as they make me itch.


Cod Liver Oil
Posted by Jules (Houston, Tx) on 11/13/2009
★★★★★

Absolutley COD LIVER OIL!! Cured me as a child of eczema and cured me as an Adult. A family doctor when I was an infant in diapers, took one look at me and told my Mother..."Take her off cow's milk, give her goat's milk and Cod Liver Oil !"...and ALMOST instantly I was cured! As an adult I had bouts of adult acne off and on for years. Every remmedy in the book including Accutane...but the thing that cured it was to commit myself to Cod Liver Oil every day and my skin is CLEARING UP! My nails are growing, THE CUTICLE SOFTENED, no longer dry looking....... Absolutley COD LIVER OIL!!!! And... Mother knows best!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Almond Oil
Posted by Saphi (Toronto, Ontario Canada) on 10/25/2009
★★★★★

I was reading everyone's testimonials and it gave me hope that ACV would clear my eczema that I've had for so long (since when I was 14, I'm now 21)and was irritated that my doctor couldn't help clear it and all he ever gave me was steroids to slow it down...What I did was pour of ACV on a cotton ball (soak it) and rubbed it on the places where the eczema was. Because it stings so bad I had a bottle of Sweet Almond Oil and rubbed it on the same spot where the eczema was to immediately stop the stinging and help with the healing of the skin. You can get a small bottle health food stores for around $6, I know it's expensive but it's worth it. I did this for about a week and it cleared up my eczema. I also drink 2 tbsp. of ACV in bottle water daily (tastes bad but bear with it!) to kill the eczema bacteria inside my body.


Supplements
Posted by Danijel (Minneapolis, Mn) on 10/15/2009
★★★★★

I had problem with my skin excema for years. I started taking vitamin B5 and superoxidants and and my skin started clearing after two weeks. Now I do not have any facial and back skin excema! It is worth a try! Good luck!

EC: B5 is also known as Pantothenic Acid.

Diaper Rash Cream
Posted by Rich (Boca Raton, Fl) on 10/10/2009
★★★★☆

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". :)


Ocean Water
Posted by Rob (Manhattan, New York) on 10/09/2009

Hi Doug, good to hear you found a cure... I have a friend with severe Psoriatic Arthritis and for him the only really effective treatment is a trip to the Dead Sea. He said buying the bath salts just didn't do it. I wonder if it could be a combination of the sun and sea water and stress relief. Tout ensemble!


Ocean Water
Posted by Doug (Cucamonga, Ca, Usa) on 10/08/2009
★★★★★

I have had a large patch of eczema on the back of my leg for about 10 years. Sometimes it doesn't itch much, other times it itches so bad that I scratch it until it's raw. I have tried a number of topical treatments, all of which helped...but none of which were able to cure it completely. So finally, after 10 years, it's gone! And what, you ask, is the reason? Ocean water. Several months ago I went to a 2 week training in San Diego and noticed that after snorkeling a handful of times in my spare time, the itch was lessened and the skin on the back of my knee felt softer. I loved snorkeling (not for eczema reduction, but simply because I enjoyed it) and I recently decided to get Scuba certified. After a dive I would notice, like with snorkeling, that the itch was lessened and the skin on the back of my knee felt softer. Well, over the past 2 months I have done about 15 dives and the eczema is gone! Ten years of various natural and unnatural salves/creams/pastes couldn't fix what the ocean could after only several "treatments".

It's worth noting that (I believe) one would have to actually go to the ocean and be in the water to get the benifits. That is, I do not believe mixing salt and water would work. Nor do I believe you could bring home some ocean water and apply it and get the same results. It is my belief that the ocean water needs to be "alive". Meaning, it needs to be full of all the bacteria/microorganisms/fresh plant particles etc. that are present in the water's natural state. I realise that not all eczema sufferers live on the coast, so for many sufferers this may not be helpful info--but for eczema sufferers living near the beach, they would be well advised to take make as many beach trips as possible...it could very well be the miracle cure they're looking for.

Also, I had the thought that maybe fresh "ocean" water from a salt-water aquarium could be effective. Since, in the aquarium, the water contains many of the same bacteria etc. that would be found in the natural ocean it seems at least possible that this water could be used to treat eczema (i.e. dipping a cloth in the tank and applying it to the affected area. In theory, at least, this seems more likely to be successful than, say, transporting ocean water from the beach since many of the living organisms in the water will be unable to survive for more than a couple of hours.

Sincerely,
Doug

Oregano Oil
Posted by Suzanne (Kansas City, Mo, Usa) on 09/29/2009
★★★★☆

On the subject of Eczema - I have been giving my teen Oil of Oregano in capsules (one in the morning and one at night) to help with her Eczema; this has helped trememdously with the itching and some of the redness. We have tried the cortizone cremes from the doctors and that did not help her at all. I've been reading here today on the suggstions of using Apple Cider Vinegar and plan to try that. I can remember as a small child my grandma taking vinegar to help with her ailments so maybe there is something to this.

As a side note I personally am taking the oregano capsules as well for sinus relief (have been for three years). I used to have a large problem with my sinus passages closing up when I laid down for the evening. I was taking a ton of OTC medications to just be able to go to sleep. I started taking this after reading up about the many health issues that are related to what is in our blood stream and that this herb can help with this. I do belive that this herb has helped us a lot.



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