Effective Natural Eczema Treatments for Soothing Relief

3 days after eating more zinc rich foods, ie. Liver, beef, pumpkin seeds and just eating more foods. I had been trying to do more anti inflamitory diet of green smoothies and more colourful produce. I didn't expect to get healed eating meats!!! I am looking into supplementing iwth zinc although there are a variety of different forms so I have to research which one is the most absorbable. I am 80% better and no longer have to wear gloves to work. Still have dry skin with a touch of redness, but am so relieved to know what caused this. Thank you so much for your comment as this was what steered me in the healing direction.

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

It looks like you are partly there in your treatment of your eczema. I have had various forms of eczema on and off SINCE I WAS 4 MONTHS OLD and have tried many things over the years to treat it (medically as a child and holistically as an adult). I agree that the hot water and the coconut oil treatments are great and have been using them for quite some time as required. I see you have also identified the current irritants and some of the nutrients to supplement your diet.

My greatest improvements came when I acknowledged the fact that the skin is part of the body's detoxification and elimination system along with the kidneys and liver. The skin is not the only thing reacting to surface toxins. The skin absorbs everything it touches and the blood quickly routs toxic material to the liver for treatment and/or elimination. Any skin issues are a reflection of the toxic build-up in the body which the liver is struggling to cope with. My first main skin improvement condition came when I realized that my food intake mix promoted an acid condition in my body and I changed my food intake mix to produce a more alkaline balance. This allowed the liver and kidneys to do their jobs more effectively. Also the severity of the itchiness ‘attacks' went down considerably.

Secondly, doing liver cleanses helped with the liver overload and reduced the frequency and severity of the eczema. I still have a way to go but hopefully you can find something useful in my story.

My eczema started at age 18, inside elbows and knees. Doctors and their steroids? Not a realistic long term solution.

Every case and effective treatment is as different as those who suffer from it.

At age 28, I decided to address my inner demons, addressing what I thought was emotionally upsetting, long story.... insecurities related to our culture and sexuality, self worth, seeking validation from others, too much to list, but alas, my skin started getting better.

Also, I also tried eliminating gluten from diet???I lost some weight, but nothing noticeable after 6 weeks, as far as eczema.

This was all while living in western WA.(Was born and raised in southern CA until I moved to Seattle at age 15 in 1984) One doctor early on (1995), suggested the humidity in this area was largely to blame. I moved to Chico CA for 3 years. 2000 to 2003, it got better. In fact, I moved back to Seattle in 2003 and don't recall it acting up again for a few years, even in the Seattle winters. Winters in AZ? (2013 and 2014) awesome. Back to WA and in one years it came back. With a vengence this winter.

Obviously food is a factor in all health, I haven't had the patience to overhaul my diet, but I am getting better at staying very far away form fast food and over processed food. In the mean time...... what has helped with this last bout?

Learning to not focus on how bad it is and be more proactive. treating the symptoms? I read for years about oatmeal baths, but also, making a paste of fine ground oatmeal (colloidial). I was at my wits end and while getting a bath ready, I made a paste with colloidial oatmeal and water, smeared it on my arms and legs, sat for 20 minutes listening to Abraham Hicks (youtube it) about skin disorders. then I soaked in the oatmeal bath. the next day, skin started to exfoliate a lot more.

DRY BRUSHING!!!! A stiff natural bristle brush. I thought it would tear up my skin but first I started with a softer brush to get used to it. Plus, it is a nice way to relieve itch without breaking skin. A few days later, I used a brush with stiffer bristles. WOW! Some suggest to brush from feet to heart area, then hands to heart area. Supposed to stimulate lymph system. help with circulation. Visible results....mass exfoliation! The amount of dead skin I swept off the bathroom floor was astonishing. makes perfect sense, moisturizing dead skin cells is not that effective.

So, the first week, I dry brushed morning and evening. Now once a day. MOISTURIZING? Many people say coconut oil helps. Not me. Just kept my skin itchy. Shea Butter? YES!

First I bought Shea butter with frankincense and myrrh. It seemed to actually help. I gave up on drugstore lotions like Euerin, and CeraVe. I then used plain shea butter, not so effective.... I read more about frankincense and myrrh. The first essential oil helps sooth the itch, the latter is said to help heal skin faster. It is the first moisturizer that has made a difference.

I ordered raw pure organic unrefined shea butter and mixed frankincense and myrrh essential oils with it, about 20 drops of each to a pound of shea butter. seems to be helping. After the first week of dry brushing 2x a day, the pile of dead skin cells on the bathroom floor reduced drastically.

The eczema on my wrists was the worst so I have been applying triamcimilone to help, and it does, several times a day. and my face was getting bad too. There is a steroid, desonide? Sort of worked for me on my face. Remembering a doc who gave me Elocon (brand name, generic is good, not recalling name now) Worked even better than desonide for my face. and cheaper!

Eczema is torture, and add the depression that comes with it, extra torture when one is too depressed to even make an effort. Again, everyone is different and what worked for one person didn't work for me (i.e. apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, drug store lotion.) Yes, the shea butter is a little "greasy", but, take the time to let it soak in before getting dressed. and wear cotton!

A big help is a psychological approach.... remember that you are worth taking care of!!!! I was too depressed to do this. But instead of getting frustrated by the time it takes to rub dabs of steroid on all the little lesions, and then to warm the shea butter in hands so it can spread, on every square inch of my skin.....I tell myself that I am worth taking care of myself and taking the time to do it. Its not a chore or a burden, but a treat I am worthy of. I believe much of eczema is physiological, but the rest is emotional.

I hope this helps someone!

Exfoliate with dry brushing and oatmeal paste. (Store bought colloidal oatmeal can get spendy. I put about a cup of oatmeal in blender for a few minutes, easing the upper outsides down with a fork, but dont put fork in too deep or it hits the blades....get it as fine as you can. I then put it all in a double layer cheese cloth, tie up end with a rubber band. Put it in bath water, squeeze the dissolved oatmeal from cheescloth repeatedly into bath water as it runs. Open cheesecloth in a mixing bowl with a little water to make a paste that is stiff enough to stick to skin, not too watery. the first time I got it just right. The second time I did not grind the oats fine enough. You cant get it too fine. It will take about 5 minutes with a blender.

Moisturize with shea butter infused with frankincense and myrrh ( I blend it all with a hand mixer in a bowl, then scoop it into glass mason jars. )

and most importantly.....

BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE WORTHY OF SELF CARE AND SELF LOVE!!!!

I bought the brewer's yeast flakes at a health food store and I sprinkled them on the food I ate at meals. Sorry I can't say how much flakes were used at each meal, they covered the food. Oh, I also took a very good multi vitamin mineral cap with each meal. ( 50 milligram strength of each vitamin except folic acid). The vitamins had a calming effect on me.

The test to know when your body is full of good iodine is when a swath of iodine, make it big and dark, on an arm, leg, tummy (any hidden area) is still slightly visible 12 or more hours later. After that, a small swath at day keeps it intact.

I have kept old iodine bottles for application. A drug store should have, possibly for free, an orange container for the iodine. I usually make about 90ml at a time. I got my two mixers from a drug store (I2-dark crystals) and a chap who supplies chemicals to science teachers (KI-white powder). You can also get them on line.

Check out Walter Last's article "The Borax Conspiracy"?nothing on eczema but a worthy study.

Walter suggests the following for eczema & skin ulcers: vitamin C, B2, B6, zinc, magnesium, EFA, allergy test, internal cleanse

I had not taken my supplements for about three+ months (lazy) and my eczema came back in a flurry.

Namaste and care, Mhikl

~Mama to Many~

I have been using 1/3 Apple Cider Vinegar and 2/3 water 2-3 times daily soaking the eczema area in this with a cotton swab. It has been slowly drying up and since my skin is getting used to the ACV I increased the concentration each subsequent day starting from 1/3 Apple Cider Vinegar and 2/3 water then 1/2 Apple Cider Vinegar and 1/2 water and then today 2/3 Apple Cider Vinegar 1/3 water however as I said the eczema has been slow to dry up.

The day before yesterday, in the evening I saw on this website diamatameceous earth listed as a cure and since I had some lying round I just put some of the powder on my eczema and it really dried it up so much and the redness really diminshed after one application for two hours.

I find getting water on my face is a big no-no when I have eczema especially not on the eczema patch, it makes it worse!!

So I have learnt to not get my face wet at all in the shower (where the eczema is), what I do is not use soap and water like I normally do, instead I clean the normal skin with lotion (cream-based) and toner (rosewater, Apple Cider Vinegar with water or other) and then just cleaned the eczema skin with the 2/3 Apple Cider Vinegar to 1/3 water solution.

Yesterday in the morning I waited for that to dry off then dusted more diatamaceous earth on the eczema sores.

I repeated the same no water washing and acv/water topical treatment again in the evening before I went to bed and then put diatamaceous earth on the sores and this morning I am really surprised by the improvement. Diatamaceous earth added to the Apple Cider Vinegar treatment really speeds up the recovery time impressively! Could some eczema be parasitic or other tiny creatures, I wonder? Since I know diatamaceous earth is used to kill insects in the garden and parasites in the tummy, who knows? Or is the drying effect plus the wealth of minerals the property of this earth, the thing that helps the skin? Whatever the case it really really works so well for eczema I am so relieved to see this huge patch of eczema diminsh and dry up so rapidly!

Cortisone cream is rubbish compared to this ACV diatamaceous earth treatment!

I hope this helps lots of people suffering from this horrible condition and thanks again to earth clinic for allowing us to all help each other!! Best site ever for health ailments!

Another thing I'd like to add which for me are things that help with eczema:

eat a really clean, pure diet, all organic if you can afford it. Eliminate dairy (except occasional goat products), no eggs, no red meat, no gluten and no sugars.

Supplement with vitamin D (4000iu at least), the best source is pure sunshine, I never have eczema in the summer! During the winter try to find a UVB safe tanning bed if you get eczema, it will also dry it out. Lots of people say tanning is bad and maybe it does dry out the skin but I would rather run the risk of having one more wrinkle than having a huge patch of eczema permanently across my face!

It really really helps my eczema no end and I think vit D deficiency is to blame for many ailments. The sun has been scapegoated for so many things but if you do scientific research, so much depression, MS, skin ailments are actually caused by a lack of vitamin D and although you can take tablets, the bodies' best way of absorbing it is through external exposure.
As long as you are sensible with it and only take what you need medicinally and when you need it, you can safely absorb vitamin D. Interesting when you consider the fact that people living in the North of Europe have much more MS than those in the south due to lack of sunlight.

I always feel better and look better during the summer when I get my fix of sunshine.

Do not use water or soap to wash the eczema infested area. Do not get it wet. Only clean it with Apple Cider Vinegar and water. If you can try to not wet the whole part of the body where the eczema is occurring, clean with lotion and toner or some organic wipes.

Be well!

I hope this can be of help to any of you who have suffered a long battle with this problem as I have.

stumbled across this site and saw the apple cider vinegar remedies. I ordered it online and it actually does work if you apple it more so then drink it. just get some Apple Cider Vinegar with same amount of water. soak it in cotton. Apply it on affected areas. it will sting at first but the sting dies soon.

Another thing I did to improve my eczema is drink plenty of water and take cold shower! Oh yeah and also try to avoid foods that flare up your eczema! Curry is a big no-no for me! The cold shower is the best method for me! It is ver effective and seems to me like my uncurable eczema is cured.

Just sharing with you guys because what it can be like having eczema..

hope u guys beat eczema!

Supplement with Borage, or Evening Promrose and Flax Seed Oil and Carnitine.

Totally Cured.

Eczema and dermatitis can be confused and be misdiagnosed, so forgive me for posting this here. This may help someone.

Symptoms: red, flaky skin, lifting off in very large flakes with white pustules like small cysts, forming rapidly under the skin. I did not have just the redness and broken veins that some people have.

It was diagnosed by my Dr. As "perioral dermatitis". It was a mess, and I had it for approximately 8-9 months before I figured out what it was.

This is for people who have tried everything. Believe me. I tried everything listed on this website and more.

I treated it as: a pathogen (like a bacteria like strep or staph), a fungus, mites, (yes, I drank the damn borax), scabies, leishmania, malessezzia, (seborrhea), acne, I tried three different antibiotic gels from the Dr, (metrogel, ciclopirox, clindamycin). I would get excited, because some things seemed to work for a few days, or a week but the condition always returned and got progressively worse. A fatty acid metabolism disorder will mimc the symptoms of Dermatitis with few other noticeable symptoms. My only clue came after I took a big dosage of Cod Liver Oil and I saw what looked like chicken skin under my eyes the next day. I knew something was really wrong. Started Flax, and Borage Oil capsules the next day. Took L-Carnitine on an empty stomach, (just happened to have it, and knew it was good for fatty acid metabolism disorder from a study I saw on the web regarding Acidura and Carnitine). The Acidura, (a condition of acidity in the body) interferes with fatty acid metabolism processes in the body. This, combined with a genetic predisposion called kryptopyluria and six cups of coffee a day meant I was not able to process fish oil of any type. This also explains why some of the other remedies like vinegar and baking soda, alkalinizing the body, liver cleanses, and the digestive enzymes seem to work for some people also. You will know within three days if this will work for you.

I saw healing within one day, the flakes stopped in three days and the redness went away in a week. My skin is perfectly clear and has been for two months. I still continue with the Carnitine, Flax and Borage only because I'm afraid to stop. Please note: I did topical applications of Sulfur, (sublimed pwder mixed into mayonese as a carrier) and bought MMS, (chlorine dioxide) previous to trying the Flax, Carnitine and Borage. The sulfur may have lessened the white pustules, but I still had the red, flaky skin. If the pustules don't go away, you made want to try the sulfur or the MMS.

Best Wishes.

As we knew of the side effects of using these creams over large areas of the body, we refrained from using them completely although the situation was very bad. I developed a cream using natural ingredients that was so effective, it has brought about a major turn around and now, am so glad to say, his skin has recovered completely and is back to being normal in every sense of the word. I would like to share this recipe along with the protocol he followed with all other sufferers of this condition with a sincere wish that it will be just as effective for you and help you lead a normal life as I can totally empathise with this, having seen my husband go through all the pain and agony of having eczema.

- one 450g tub Wellskin Glaxal Base moisturizing cream (for sensitive skin)

[I used this cream as the base for preparing the cream]

- 100% Aloe Vera gel (edible variety)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- vegetable glycerine (100% pure)
- Neem oil
- Calendula oil
- Tea tree oil
- Vitamin E oil (40, 000 I. U. )
- Evening primrose oil softgels - 500 mg (GLA 50mg)

Except for the cream base, I got all the other ingredients from wholefoods market.

To half the cream base, I added about 1/4th cup aloe vera gel, 1/4 to 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 to 1/2 cup glycerine, about 2 tblsp vitamin E oil, around 20-30 drops each of neem oil, calendula oil and tea tree oil and squeezed in about 10 evening primrose softgel cap contents. Mix thorougly and store in a clean jar in a cool, dry place.

To use, apply generous amount of this cream to the affected areas of skin like a face mask and leave on for 1 to 3 hours, if u can. By this time, most of the cream would have been absorbed. Either dab off the excess or leave on over night. Please do not cover with plastic wraps as it can result in further inflammations. Apply morning after shower like regular moisturizer and more intensively in the evening ( as mentioned above) an hour to three hours before going to bed. The key here is to let the cream sit for 2-3 hrs in the evening and atleast 1/2 to 1 hour in the morning. Within 2-3 days , we noticed a dramatic change in the skin condition and on the fourth day, his skin had completly recovered!!

At the same time, my husband stopped using soaps of any kind and used only cetaphil. As for diet, we decided to have only fish, vegetables ( no tomatoes, potatoes), wholegrain brown rice and a berry smoothie using organic unsweetened coconut milk for breakfast (no eggs). Avoid sugar and all simple carbs atleast for the duration of this treatment. And drink loads of water too.

Wishing all of you a speedy recovery, one that's free of medications and all its unwanted side effects.

Our current remedy which does work on the spliting of the skin is either a bandage or plaster with a small amount of pure honey next day the spliting has healed and most of the soreness gone. What we have not tried yet because she cant stand the stuff is eating it to see if it eases her by internal. Could I ask that if anyone has eczema and likes pure blossom honey please try it and publish your findings this will help all other sufferers out there.

Remark: I noticed that when I regularly use ACV, even when I don't have an itching episode, the spread of the "bumps" stop and the infected area gets better.

It is this: right after washing with mild cleanser and/or sodium bicarbonate, and before applying tea tree oil, I dabbed all effected areas with hydrogen peroxide. Let this dry, or pat it dry before applying the tea tree oil.

H2O2 bleaches everything it touches, so if you have dark hair, you might be concerned about that.

The smoothies may help with your asthma and tame your eczema. From what I know - dairy products are a huge trigger w/ eczema. But one other thing to consider for your asthma is Mullein tea. It is an expectorant and helps strengthen the respiratory system. Many blessings!