Home Remedies for Eczema and Dermatitis
Eczema is a form of dermatitis or inflammation of the skin. Eczema is actually more the skin conditions caused by dermatitis such as dryness and skin rashes with symptoms including redness, edema or swelling of the skin, itching and flaking, blistering, cracking or bleeding. There may be temporary discoloration of the skin due to healed lesions.
Government statistics show that close to nine million Americans suffer from some form of dermatitis every year. The most common type of dermatitis is nickel dermatitis which occurs ten times more often in women than in men. Nickel dermatitis is often triggered by ear piercing and can cause rashes in parts of the body besides the ears such as the neck and wrists where skin comes into contact with jewelry.
Experts say the best treatment for the itching of eczema is to keep the skin moist and lubricated thus many of the home remedies suggested here will be remedies for dry skin. Some suggested remedies include:
-Oatmeal baths by pouring 2 cups of colloidal oatmeal like Aveeno into a tub of lukewarm water. Colloidal oatmeal is simply oatmeal ground to a fine powder so that it remains suspended in water.
-Avoid antiperspirants that contain metallic salts such as aluminum sulfate, and zirconium chlorohydrate. These salts have been known to cause skin irritation in many people with sensitive skin.
-Try to avoid clothing made from synthetics such as wool or polyester. Cotton clothing is considered the best to wear to avoid skin irritation.
-Use calamine lotion for itchy dry skin and rashes. Beware of using baby lotion as it can cause the skin to dry.
-Try to avoid colored toilet paper and go with white. Colored toilet paper has been known to cause irritation because of the dyes it contains.
- Dietary items can sometimes trigger eczema including dairy products, coffee (caffeinated and decaf), eggs, nuts, and soybean. Cutting these items out or minimizing intake of them can help to control flare ups.
There are many good books on treating eczema and dermatitis and I have listed a few below.
Understanding Skin Problems: Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis and Related Conditions
Bacteria for Breakfast: Probiotics for Good Health
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and I offer this information not as medical advice but for general purposes. You should seek professional medical help before trying any of the above home remedies.