Natural ways to soothe and treat eczema

More than 30 million American are effected by the itchy, irritating condition known as eczema, reports the National Eczema Association. People who suffer from eczema know the exasperating pain of a skin condition that sometimes causes the skin to flake off and other times results in a red rash.
The most common areas to be affected by eczema are the elbows and behind the knees. While many people grow out of the condition in adulthood, it can be frightening and terribly sad to see a baby or child suffer. Their rashes typically appear on the cheeks, chest, and scalp. So what can you do? Luckily there are a number of home remedies that can soothe the itch and treat the rash. Continue reading to find out more...
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1. Oatmeal bath. Oatmeal is wonderfully restorative. It has anti-inflammatory properties and contains saponins, which work as a mild soap. It is also moisturizing and is known to treat skin conditions like eczema, says One Good Thing By Jillee. To treat eczema, fill a small cloth bag or an old sock with oatmeal and use it in the shower as a gentle exfoliating soap. If you prefer a soak, hang a clean sock filled with oatmeal over the faucet as you fill the tub. The water will turn milky. This is good! Your bath is now infused with all the good relief oatmeal has to offer.
2. Honey bandage. Nature's natural sweetener is anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and helps heal broken skin, says Everyday Roots. When your skin is particularly itchy, resist scratching and soothe the pain by applying a thin layer of honey over the inflamed skin. Loosely cover the area with a bandage and relax. After 20- 30 minutes, remove the bandage and rinse with cool water. Repeat 3 times daily for the best results.
3. Homemade sea spray. If you live near the ocean, you're in luck. A soak in the sodium and magnesium-rich ocean can do wonders for eczema. If you're landlocked, Wellness Mama has a solution for you. Stir 1 tablespoon sea salt and a pinch of Epsom salts in warm water until completely dissolved. You may want to add essential oils like lavender or mint if you find their scent soothing. Pour the cooled mixture into a spray bottle and keep it handy for when you feel a scratch coming.
4. Coconut oil. This moisturizing antibacterial oil is a favorite among cooks and doctors alike. It's good for you, whether used as a substitute for butter or applied topically. Simply spread it over the affected area or make a coconut lotion bar, as recommended by Wellness Mama. Her quick and easy home recipe uses nothing more than coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax.
5. Sunflower seed oil. According to the National Eczema Association, sunflower seed oil has a remarkably high success rate in reducing itch and inflammation. Pick some up from your neighborhood grocery store and simply dab some onto your skin using a cotton ball or soft cloth.
6. Vitamin D. Some studies suggest that taking Vitamin D supplements can help treat eczema, says the National Eczema Association. If your eczema prevents you from getting too much sun (most people's main source of Vitamin D), you may want to try taking a daily Vitamin D supplement.
7. Chamomile soak. You likely know chamomile as something you drink before bedtime. The soothing effect chamomile has on your brain and body to lull you into sleep is equally as calming to your irritated skin. Everyday Roots recommends filling a muslin or cheesecloth with 4 tablespoons of dried chamomile flower and tying it to the end of the faucet so as to infuse the bathwater with chamomile.
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Eczema is painful. And it is common. If it does not effect you, it likely effects someone you know. So get talking and help your friends and loved ones. SHARE this article and tell us which eczema treatments work for you!
RemedyDaily.com does not give medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.