How to Treat Eczema Naturally

Coconut oil

Virgin coconut oil is a proven natural option for your symptoms. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it ideal for people with eczema. Whenever you feel your symptoms flaring up, just rub a dollop of the coconut oil into your skin. This will help your skin retain moisture, and it should soothe any obnoxious symptoms you’re experiencing. Regular coconut oil is made by steaming and heating the coconut ingredients to bleach and filter them. Virgin coconut oil is made straight out of dry coconuts, so it’s actually the purer and “more natural” product. Since all of the studies on eczema have pointed to the efficacy of virgin coconut oil, you’re better off picking that fancy stuff up instead of using regular coconut oil.

Sunflower oil

This is an inexpensive and natural way to help repair your skin. Like virgin coconut oil, sunflower seed oil can help decrease inflammation, which may give your skin a boost when it comes to repairing the eczema damage. This should help you feel a lot better. Just work a dollop of the oil into your skin whenever you feel the urge to scratch. Beyond sunflower seed oil and virgin coconut oil, there is no evidence that any other natural oil will help improve your symptoms. Olive oil in particular, which is a popular home remedy, may actually exacerbate your problem.

Honey

Work some manuka honey into your skin to get rid of lesions faster. Believe it or not, manuka honey naturally fights off inflammation and bacteria. If you’re looking for a totally holistic treatment, pick up some manuka honey from your local organic grocer or farmer’s market. When your eczema flares up, work a small scoop of the honey directly into your skin. Your lesions should go away much faster than they would otherwise, and you may get some relief from the scratching. You can also use medical-grade honey if you prefer. Unfortunately, the standard honey you buy in a regular grocery store probably won’t provide any relief. It has to be 100% manuka or medical-grade honey.

Aloe vera

For some minty relief, work a dollop of aloe vera into your skin. Any aloe vera treatment should relieve some of the symptoms you’re experiencing. Whenever your eczema flares up, rub a small dollop of aloe vera into your skin. The mentholated feeling should shut down the urge the scratch, and aloe vera is an anti-inflammatory so your skin should heal faster. Some people don’t like the minty sensation of aloe vera. If you’ve never used it before, try testing a small drop on your wrist when you’re at the store before you buy a bottle. If you’ve been scratching a lot, wait for your skin to heal a bit before applying aloe vera. The minty sensation combined with scratched skin may actually make you feel worse.

Calendula ointment

Try calendula to soothe itchiness and revitalize your skin barrier. Calendula is an oil extracted from marigold flowers, and it’s full of antioxidants, which are great for your skin. Pick up any calendula ointment from your local pharmacy and read the instructions on the label to apply it to your skin. The ointment should reduce the appearance of any lesions, and your eczema breakouts may disappear a lot faster than they’d normally would without the ointment! Calendula and aloe vera appear to be equally effective when it comes to soothing irritating skin. If you don’t like the mentholated feeling of aloe vera, this is a great alternative!

Licorice extract

Licorice extract is a proven performer when it comes to reducing itchiness. It has anti-inflammatory properties, so it may soothe your skin and reduce your urge to scratch. Look for a topical moisturizer that contains licorice extract at your local pharmacy or skin care store, and read the label carefully. Apply the moisturizer, cream, or gel to your skin by following the instructions on the product. You can also mix a pure extract with a carrier oil like sunflower or coconut oil to make a 2% solution at home. It’s typically going to be safer to buy a regulated product with licorice extract in it, though.

Colloidal oatmeal

An oatmeal bath is a relaxing and calming way to soothe your symptoms. Pick up a package of colloidal oatmeal from your local pharmacy or beauty supply shop. Fill your bathtub with water and pour in a grape-sized amount of oatmeal into the bath. Stir the ingredients until they’re mixed together, then soak for 10-15 minutes. Once you’re done bathing, cover any affected skin with your moisturizer of choice. Colloidal oatmeal is unseasoned, flavorless oatmeal that’s been finely ground. This isn’t the same kind of oatmeal you eat for breakfast though, so don’t pour that Quaker Oats into your bath!

Wet wrap

Wet wraps can soothe your skin and alleviate your symptoms in a pinch. Grab a clean towel or washcloth and soak it in cool water. Wring the excess water out and lay the wet wrap directly on your skin for however long you’d like. This should provide effective and immediate relief. Moisturize your skin when you’re done to keep it from drying out! You can also use cold compress wrapped in a cloth if you prefer. Some people get more relief from the wetness while other get relief from the cold, so try both to see what works for you! You can also rub a lotion or cream of your choice over the affected skin, then tie a moist piece of gauze around the eczema. This is a good way to attack your symptoms using two solutions at once!

Hydrocortisone cream

Anti-itch creams containing hydrocortisone should provide fast relief. Pick up any anti-itch cream that contains hydrocortisone. Follow the directions on the label to apply it to your skin. Usually, you just rub a dollop of the cream into your skin after you get out of the shower or dampen your skin. Use it twice a day to get the best effect from it! Low-dose hydrocortisone creams are available over-the-counter, but if you want stronger stuff, you’ll need to see a doctor to get a prescription. Hydrocortisone may sound inorganic, but it’s actually a natural hormone your body produces in the adrenal glands. The hydrocortisone you find in medical creams is often made synthetically, but it’s identical to the hormone your body produces. The ingredient in your cream may not technically be natural, but it’s a naturally-occurring compound.

Humidifier

Eczema causes your skin to dry out, so a boost of humidity may help. It’s hard for your skin to repair itself if it’s super dry, so naturally moisturizing your skin by hydrating it is a great way to fight eczema over time. Buy a portable humidifier and set it in your home office or bedroom. Keep it running to ensure that the air in your home is humid. This should help improve your symptoms over time. If your eczema is triggered by certain foods or stress, this probably isn’t going to help that much. It certainly can’t hurt anything though, so it’s still giving it a shot. Ask to borrow a friend’s humidifier if you want to see if this helps and give it a weeklong trial run to see how your skin feels.

Vitamin D and B12

Taking a vitamin D and B12 supplement may curb your symptoms. An over-the-counter daily vitamin may help your skin repair itself and prevent it from drying out. Pick up a daily vitamin D supplement, and a daily vitamin B12 supplement. Take them with food once a day to make sure you meet your daily requirements. While vitamin B12 may help, vitamin B6 appears to have no impact whatsoever. Just keep that in mind when you’re shopping for supplements. This may be counterintuitive, but topical vitamin creams—while they’re helpful for a lot of other skin conditions—may actually cause eczema to flare up. Unfortunately, as of right now, there aren’t any commercial B12 products that are 100% natural. These creams are often mixed with emulsifiers and preservatives to maintain the compounds in the cream. Still, these B12 creams are harmless, so you really shouldn’t worry about it. The vitamin D may be more efficient if you take it alongside a vitamin E supplement as well.

Relaxation

Stress and anxiety can trigger eczema and make it worse, so take a load off! Treat yourself to a warm bath after a long day, engage in hobbies that help you calm down, or start meditating once a day. Evaluate your weekly schedule and try to pinpoint the most stressful aspects of your life. Brainstorm ways to lessen or get rid of these stressors altogether, as stress can make your eczema symptoms worse. Want a proven treatment for eczema? Take a vacation! Studies have actually shown that spending a relaxing weekend to yourself in a foreign country can actually combat your itchy skin.

Prevention

If you have any triggers, staying away from them is the best treatment! Certain foods can trigger eczema, so if you have a food insensitivity, stay away from those dishes. Strong fragrances, household cleaners, and cigarette smoke are irritating for a lot of people with eczema, so keep your home as odor-free as you possibly can. Use unscented soaps and moisturizers to avoid irritating your skin. Avoid wool and polyester clothing. Instead, opt or loose-fitting breathable fabrics, like cotton.