What Is Eczema?

Eczema is the term used to describe a wide variety of skin conditions that are commonly manifested by dryness, redness, and itchiness caused by inflammation.

Eczema can affect any age groups. Eczema is believed to be caused by both genetic and environmental factors; as for treatments, there is no known cure for eczema. Treatments are used to control or manage symptoms, such as the itching and inflammation.

There are many different types of eczema, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, asteatotic or xerotic eczema.

Atopic Dermatitis or Atopic Eczema

Atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema is a skin condition or type of eczema, where the skin becomes dry, red and flaky. It can often be seen on the legs and arms, especially during the winter months or when a lack of humidity and heating dries out the skin.

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a skin condition due to contact with either an allergen or an irritant to the skin. 75% of contact dermatitis problems are due to irritants and has become a common disruption in some workplaces. This type of eczema can be treated by avoiding allergens and irritant causative agents.

Increased awareness and pressure from insurers has led to many workplaces providing and requiring wearing of industry-specific PPE (personal protective equipment) to help prevent this condition in their employees.

Asteatotic or Xerotic Eczema

Asteatotic, which means ‘lack of oil’, or xerotic, meaning ‘dry’ eczema occurs due to extreme dryness of the skin. The skin becomes like all eczema conditions, dry, cracked and very itchy.

Natural Treatments for Eczema

The first step in treating eczema is identifying the cause, as this condition can often be treated easily with simple changes to current circumstances. The most common causative agents of eczema are due to irritants that may be in the environment, in the products used on the body or in the clothes worn.

Therefore, the first thing to do is to avoid synthetic products and opt for milder, safer herbal alternatives for shampoos, soaps and detergents. Change your medicated topical creams to natural ones for sensitive skin. Choose effective oils such as aloe vera and virgin coconut oil.

A strong brew made from dried chamomile tea leaves will relieve many symptoms of eczema. Apply the brewed tea to the skin using a piece of cotton cloth or gauze, 20 minutes a day.

Take a lukewarm bath as often as needed to remove any skin irritants and bacteria on the skin. Pat the skin dry, rather than rubbing, to prevent further irritation. The skin absorbs water, so the water helps hydrate and soften dry skin.

Always apply a moisturizer or herbal oil to the skin after each bath to hydrate the skin and avoid further drying. Vitamin E is a known skin rejuvenator and many creams contain it.

The best remedy for eczema is a diet of fruits and vegetables that will help the skin to heal and rejuvenate. Regular exercise will help the body rid itself of toxins that may cause irritation to the skin.

Your next line of defense is to have an allergy test done to know which ingredients or products trigger your eczema, so that you may remove them from your life.