Similar to many other skin problems, Eczema can get really itchy. One of the best ways to defend yourself is by staying away from water as much as possible. By that I mean try to avoid dishwashing, frequent hand wash, and long showers. If you discover certain foods are triggering the condition, then avoid it completely. Most important of all try to gain control over your scratching instinct.
Why do you have eczema?
There are several types of Eczema and each of it has its own set of reasons for its occurrence. One of the most common type is Atopic Eczema, it has its roots in the genes. If you have a family history of allergies and Asthma, then there is a high probability you can have Eczema. This type of Eczema usually occurs before the age of five and it can happen periodically thereafter well into your adulthood. Usual symptoms include reddening and itching. When you get too excited about scratching the affected zone, it can cause small patches of thick skin layer which appears scaly. Damaged skin areas become more vulnerable to bacterial infections. Another common type of Eczema is called Contact Dermatitis. As the name suggests it occurs when your skin comes in contact with certain chemical substances found in detergents, metals, ornaments, soaps, and cosmetics.
Heal the Rash
- Take a clean cotton cloth or washcloth and soak it in ice cold milk. Wring it and lay it over the affected area for 3 to 5 minutes. This will bring down itching and also help the rashes to heal faster. You can repeat the process multiple times a day.
- If you have an oozing rash then make use of a calamine lotion. Lather some lotion over the affected region before going to sleep or whenever you feel severe itching sensation. This will help to bring down the itching, and also dry out the rash.
Soothe the itching
- Fill your bathtub with warm water and add some colloidal oatmeal to it. This oatmeal will float over the water and will have a soothing effect on the itchy skin. Soak yourself in this bath for 5 to 10 minutes every day. Aveeno is a recommended brand by most Doctors for this.
- Try to spend the least amount of time in the shower (less than 10 minutes). If you can take bath every other day. Soaps tend to dry out your skin of its natural oil content. When you take bath more frequently or spend too much time showering yourself, you will dry out your skin. Eczema gets more severe on a dry skin.
- Use lukewarm water or normal water (if you can) for taking bath or shower. Hot water dries out your skin very rapidly. Dry skin is the last thing you want when you have Eczema.
- Make use of cream-based moisturizer after a bath or shower to keep away the itching and to protect your skin. Do not use water-based moisturizers and moisturizers that have added fragrance.
Fight it from the inside
- Omega 3 Fatty acids: Eat foods that are rich in vital and essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 fatty acids, as it tends to reduce inflammation and prevent allergies. Some of the common sources are Walnuts, Salmon, avocados, and nuts.
- Flaxseed oil: This is another rich source of Omega 3 fatty acid. Take one or two teaspoons of flaxseed oil directly. If you do not like its raw taste, you can add it to your salad, sandwich or any other food items. But avoid heating it.
- Vitamin-E: This vitamin is particularly very effective against dry skin and itchy skin. However, if you are using a blood-thinning drug for your heart condition, then you should only take it with Doctors advice. The recommended dose is 400 UI a day.
- Vitamin-A: Whenever you feel that there is going to be an imminent outbreak of Eczema, then you should immediately try to counter it with Vitamin-A supplement. Take 25,000 UI of Vitamin-A every day for 10 days. If you want to continue taking it after 10 days, then you should only do it with a Doctor’s advice. Long-term use of Vitamin-A supplement is known to cause osteoporosis. So it is never meant for longterm use.
- Our skin naturally needs zinc. It is this mineral that will make our skin heal faster by making use of essential fatty acids. Doctors recommend taking 30 milligrams of zinc supplement every day when you have Eczema outbreak. Sometimes zinc intake can nullify the copper absorption by your body. If you plan to use zinc supplement for an extended time period, then try to supplement 2 milligrams of copper each day to make up for the loss.
When to seek Doctor’s help?
If your condition keeps spreading to other regions, and you are having more frequent outbreaks of Eczema, then consult a Doctor. Additionally, you would need Doctor’s attention when your affected skin areas start to develop an infection. Some common symptoms of infection include severe pain, severe itching, pus formation, red streaks, swelling, and fever.
Gotu Kola
- The Gotu Kola herb is traditionally used to treat dry skin and skin allergies. It is very effective in bringing down the itchy sensation and make you feel better when you have Eczema. There are many creams available in the drug stores that use Gotu Kola. You can also make use of its extract, which again is easily available. Lather some cream to the affected area to ease down itching. If you want to make use of its extract then mix one part of the extract with five parts of water, soak in the washcloth into the solution and use it as a compress.
- You can also make a tea out of this herb, by adding one teaspoon full of dried herb to 1 cup of hot boiling water. Let the water boil for 10 minutes, strain out the herb and use the extract for compress. Do not drink it.
- If you cannot find a cream that contains Gotu Kola, then look for alternative creams that contain Chamomile, licorice, or witch hazel. All of these creams have a similar effect and are very good at reducing skin inflammation.
Never Scratch
- Most of us tend to keep scratching Eczema whenever it appears in a more accessible place such as the wrist, neck, and your neck area. But, scratching only makes the condition worse. So keep reminding yourself not to scratch it. Make use of any creams or other home remedies mentioned above to reduce the itchy sensation.
- While you can consciously refrain yourself from scratching during your wakeup hours, however, it is really hard to control your subconscious while you are asleep. To avoid scratching or to reduce the damage caused try to wear cotton gloves over your hands at night.
- Do not have long fingernails, trim it down to reduce the damage caused due to scratching.
Most Powerful Medicine
If you are frequently suffering from this skin condition, then I have good news for you. There is a new and more effective drug that was developed for Eczema in December 2000. It was even approved by FDA. This drug is called Tacrolimus, it is available as a prescription ointment. Studies have revealed more than two third of the people who used this cream has impressive results in just a week’s time. If none of the home remedies is found to be effective then consult your Dermatologist and ask him for a prescription for this new drug.
Avoid this
Popular over the counter creams, like hydrocortisone, can help to bring down and heal Eczema. But the repeated and long-term use of these creams can thin down your skin and lead to irritation and skin damage.
How to Prevent?
- If you are allergic to certain food items then it will most likely trigger a skin condition. These type of skin allergies are very common among children under two years of age. Some of the common allergy-inducing foods include eggs, dairy, peanuts, soy, wheat, and tree nuts. If you have a frequent occurrence of Eczema, then try to avoid these foods and see if it is helping.
- Your skin can easily dry out during the winter season. To avoid, keep the humidifier running in your bedroom at night. This will help your skin from getting dry.
- Excessive sweating during summer can make the Eczema worse as well. Keep the air condition running in your room to avoid sweat. Or take necessary steps to keep yourself from sweating.
- Avoid direct contact with dishwashing soaps or detergents, and make use of a dishwasher to do the dishes.
- Wear a thin pair of cotton gloves and over it wear a part of rubber gloves when you want to do wash your dishes.
- Make use of fragrance-free and dye-free detergents for laundry. Refrain from using bleaches, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets.
- Rinse your clothes thoroughly by using a generous amount of water to entirely remove the traces of detergents that might be sticking on to the fabrics.
- Sometimes an object you frequently come in contact can trigger eczema like ornaments, furniture, perfumes, latex, etc… If you discover any object that is triggering a skin allergy then try to avoid using it completely.