WHAT ARE THE CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND NATURAL TREATMENT FOR ECZEMA?

WHAT IS ECZEMA?

Eczema is one of the most common chronic skin conditions affecting infants, children and even adults.  There are several types of eczema, but the most common is atopic dermatitis.  Eczema can be recognized from the condition where the skin gets irritated, red, dry, bumpy, itchy, inflamed and painful. Sometimes, eczema causes the skin to crack and bleed and as a result of this, skin infection is more prone to happen. Flare-ups can occur on any part of the body and itching, which may be severe, usually occurs at night. It is more common in children and often develops in the first 6 months of life. The condition can continue as the child gets older, or have significant improvement as they get older or they may even grow out of it.

Eczema affects males and females equally and is more common in people who have family history of asthma or allergies.  There are different kinds of eczema and the affliction varies from person to person. Regardless of the type, eczema can be a really challenging and distressing condition to live with. The psychological side is the visible symptoms make sufferers feeling self-conscious and sometimes it does have a big impact on physical wellbeing.

The typical approach to treating eczema is with diet change and medications. Though the rash is a real problem that needs to be attended to, however, eczema is actually an external symptom of an internal dysfunction.  We actually need to address the underlying issue that triggers this problem in order to heal and prevent further recurrences.

There’s no cure to it, but most people can manage their symptoms by getting treatment and by avoiding irritants. Thank goodness, eczema is not contagious, so you can’t spread it to another person.

COMMON SYMPTOMS

If you have it for the first time, you might be wondering if your itchy rash is a symptom of eczema? The way to know for sure is to confirm it with your doctor.  As there is no lab test for eczema, however medical history, physical examination and allergy testing can help pinpoint any allergic triggers. 

Eczema looks different for everyone. And your flare-ups won’t always happen in the same area every time.  No matter which part of your skin is affected, eczema is always itchy, painful and irritating. Sometimes the itch starts before the rash and scratching makes it inflamed.  

In infants or children, the itchy rash can lead to an oozing and crusting blistering condition, mainly on the face but can also happen on their scalp, arms, legs, back, and chest. For teens and adults usually will have rashes in the bending of their elbows, behind knees, ears, on their necks, or on their wrists or ankles.

For some adults, their skin will probably be very dry, thick, or scaly with red to brownish-gray patches, especially on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the bend of the elbows and knees.  Rashes tend to come and go and over time, they can get crusty and scaly. An infection or too much scratching can make your symptoms worse.

Recommended to consult a doctor when :

😟 You notice signs of a more serious infection than before

😟 You are feeling unwell and having a fever

😟 Your eczema suddenly changes or become worse

😟 Your medications are not working this time around

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ECZEMA

Atopic eczema is the most common type of eczema and the term that has the most public awareness and concern. The condition causes the skin to become itchy, dry, sore and cracked.  Though it is more common in children, however it may develop for the first time in adults.  It is usually a long-term or so called chronic condition, often quite worrying.  In some people, it can improve significantly as they grow older or they can come and go for years or throughout life, or can overlap with other types of eczema.

Contact dermatitis is related to specific irritants, such as chemicals and it happens when your skin comes into contact with such irritants that causes a rash.  It is red, itchy, and uncomfortable and normally settles down over some days providing the skin is no longer in contact with the allergen.

Dyshidrotic eczema happens when your skin doesn’t protect itself the way it should and it mainly appears as small, itchy blisters on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms and soles of the feet and it mostly affects adults.

Nummular dermatitis is usually caused by an injury to the skin such as an insect bite and is classified by multiple circular or coin-shaped.  These spots or patches can appear on the arms, hands, legs or body and they can be formed in clusters.

Seborrheic dermatitis usually happens in areas of your body with lots of oil glands and irritation from yeast.  This is a very common skin condition that causes redness, scaly patches and dandruff that affects the scalp, face, upper chest and back. For infants, this is known as crib cap and typically develops within the first few weeks of life and will gradually disappear over several months.

Stasis or venous dermatitis is related to poor blood circulation mainly in the lower limbs due to venous insufficiency. This type happens in people who have poor blood flow, usually in the lower legs and often seen in middle-aged or older patients who are associated with varicose veins.

Neurodermatitis can develop as a result of intense itching in atopic/contact dermatitis and it rarely clears without treatment. It is usually confined to one or two patches of skin, and the nerve endings can become irritated. 

WHAT CAUSES ECZEMA?

Experts are not sure what actually causes eczema.  They believed it may be linked to your immune system’s response to irritants.  If you have eczema, your immune system overreacts to small irritants or allergens. This over reaction can inflame your skin.  Even bacteria infection and viruses can be sources for the development of eczema.

It may also be caused by a combination of genetics, environmental triggers and also stress.  Eczema often happens in people who have a family history of asthma or allergies. Allergies such as food intolerance can trigger eczema flare-ups.  Environmental factor which can irritate your skin includes exposure to tobacco smoke, air pollutants, fabrics such as wool or polyester and some skin products such as harsh soaps or detergents. Humidity can also be another irritant.  Cold climate may cause dry and itchy skin, whereas too high humidity may cause sweating and making itchiness even worse.  Stress levels and tension can cause or worsen your eczema especially emotional stress which can be the prime eczema trigger. 

IS IT POSSIBLE TO PREVENT ECZEMA FLARE-UPS?

To deal with chronic skin ailment, prevention is always the key aspect of managing the symptoms in order to minimize the impact and frequency of flare-ups.  Some recommendations for prevention include:

Moisturize – Eczema sufferers’ skin is prone to dryness and dehydrated, thus moisturizing is essential. Make sure to moisturize your hands at least twice a day. Especially now with the Covid 19 pandemic which is ongoing and we are told to wash our hands as often as needed, this will lead to water loss and dryness in our hands which can then trigger eczema flare-up.

Avoid over washing – You are not encouraged to bathe with hot water as this can dry off your skin. Do not bathe too frequently as this can also strip moisture from the skin.  Even if you do, try to apply a good moisturizing cream to your hands and body several times a day.   For eczema sufferers, you are advised to use mild hair and body shampoo with natural ingredients minus off all the fragrances and artificial foaming agent.

Identify irritants – Very strong detergents with harsh chemicals can irritate the skin. Try switching to hypoallergenic or fragrance-free detergents to avoid these concerns. Laundry detergents formulated for infants is ideal because if these products are safe for the babies, they should be safe for eczema sufferers.  Even your skincare products, try switching to those made from natural ingredients and you will be safe. And certain fabrics, like wool, polyesters or synthetic fibers, can irritate skin and lead to eczema flare-ups. Do stick to 100% cotton or soft acrylic. You need to discover what are your specific triggers so you can avoid a flare-up.

Avoid scratching – We do understand that when skin is irritated by eczema, it can be tempting to itch but remember, this will just make the problem worse. Scratching and rubbing will break the skin and cause bacterial infections and worsening symptoms.  Consult your doctor or pharmacist for mild medications to keep yourself from itching. You may try using an antihistamine to cut down on itching or placing cool compresses on the irritated area.

Build up your immune system with protective vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Recent studies demonstrated that gut flora (microbiota) may have a role in preventing allergies. Gut flora is the microbe in our intestines, and has many functions, including immune defence. By reducing the number of microbiota can decrease the effectiveness of the immune system and trigger allergies. Therefore, it is important to support your immune system and gut flora with immune protective vitamins, minerals and nutrients such as :

DIY ECZEMA SOAP

When it comes to preventing dry skin and eczema, less soap is always better.  But we cannot avoid using soap in our daily lives. So, instead of using commercial products with harmful ingredients, you can make homemade soap for eczema to reduce your symptoms.

At Green Herbology, we have a homemade eczema soap recipe for anyone suffering from dry or sensitive skin who wants a gentle and soothing soap which is free from fragrances and preservatives and this soap is most suitable for eczema relief. All the ingredients are obtainable from Green Herbology.  We will walk you through the process and hopefully you will find this simple, useful and definitely this is for keeps.

🌺🌻🌷💐🌸💮🌹

HOW TO MAKE ❓❓

Cut 240g soap base into small cube

Add 20g cocoa butter

Add 20g shea butter

Melt all the ingredients by using microwave

After melting, add in neem powder. Mix well

Add in 5 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil

Add in 5 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil

Add in 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil

Mix well until fully combined.

Carefully pour the soap into mould

After hardening, unmould the soap and it is ready to use !

^{For healing eczema, it is recommended to use along with our Eczema Cream: https://greenherbology.com/product/eczelief-natural-eczema-intense-healing-cream/}

Do follow our tutorial video below for the above DIY Eczema Soap 😍🤩

OUR NATURAL TREATMENT AT GREEN HERBOLOGY – ECZELIEF ECZEMA CREAM

As our product tagline says “It can penetrate deep into skin to quickly calm and soothe cracked, itchy skin and stay long without greasy”. EczeLief Cream contains oil to stay on the skin and is very good at sealing in moisture for longer hours. With the additional pure and natural plant-based ingredients below, it makes the perfect treatment for eczema.

Olive Wax –  a natural lipid wax derived directly from pure Olive Oil. Due to the Olive Oil backbone being similar to human sebum, it offers significant improvement in both moisture and conditioning of the skin, through moisture barrier improvement.

Shea Butter – Shea Butter contains lots of fatty acids, which can help to heal scars, eczema, burns, sores, dermatitis, psoriasis, dandruff and stretch marks. It has antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory properties. When applied topically, it can increase moisture retention by acting as a protective layer over the skin and at the same time preventing water loss and maintaining moisture.

Aloe Vera Oil – Aloe Vera is known as a ‘healing plant’, contains over 75 nutrients as well as vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, it has anti-microbial and anti-oxidant benefits which can reduce and prevent infections and calms itchiness.  Aloe Vera can hydrate and soothe eczema-damaged skin and with its wound-healing properties it helps patches of broken skin to heal faster.

Lavender Essential Oil – Lavender is versatile and has a host of medicinal benefits and is good for dry skin or eczema. The oil has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties which benefit mild cases of eczema and an all-around restorative agent. It is ideal for treating irritating skin ailments, wounds and burns and is especially rich in aromatic molecules called esters.  Research shows that it can kill Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that may cause eczema.  Lavender is also good at reducing inflammation and speeding up the healing process.

Tea Tree Essential Oil – Tea tree is one of the most useful essential oils for the treatment of eczema.   The anti-inflammatory properties can relieve and lessen painful irritation, anti-fungal properties can help to reduce itching while the antibacterial properties prevent infection caused by too much scratching and also helps to reduce infection and stop it from spreading.  Further to this, its antiseptic and antioxidant properties can soothe and protect the skin from free radicals.  Tea Tree oil is actually very safe, and you can apply it direct to the affected areas.  A known fact is that this oil can also get rid of Demodex mites, the likely culprits in skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea

Do click on this link https://greenherbology.com/product/eczelief-natural-eczema-intense-healing-cream/  to learn more about Eczelief, a natural and effective cream to bring great comfort and relief to your eczema problem.

HOW OUR ECZELIEF WORKS SO EFFECTIVELY?

Our therapeutic formula eczema cream protects and soothes inflamed skin and reinforces the skin barrier. Our formula forms a waterproof barrier to protect your skin even when your skin is exposed to water. Immediately upon application, the cream penetrates into your skin and eliminates any bacteria and fungi that may cause infection and irritation. Eczelief begins its work by calming inflammation and relieve itching, redness and pain almost instantly. 

Eczelief is formulated with natural healing ingredients to relieve and reduce eczema symptoms and rapidly promote skin repair, while at the same time creating a barrier to prevent future flare-ups. Eczelief has been developed to provide relief from flare-ups and help to strengthen the skin barrier. Noticeable improvement will be felt and seen in your eczema symptoms within a few hours.

HOW TO APPLY TO ACHIEVE OPTIMUM RESULTS ?

The best time to apply Eczelief is after a shower.  It will be better to wash and clean the affected area with an Eczema Soap before applying the cream. Do not rub the cream in. After pat dry the affected area, just apply by smoothing the cream into the skin along the line of the hair growth.  This will provide a more effective absorption to your skin. If you have severe Eczema or itchy and very dry skin, apply 1 – 2 layers of cream every 3-4 hours.

  

 

HOW TO TREAT BABY ECZEMA WITH ECZELIEF?

Daily bathing with a mild cleanser or Eczema soap is important when treating baby eczema. Use lukewarm water to bathe your baby and rinse completely, gently pat your baby dry.  Apply Eczelief on the eczema affected areas gently including diaper rash area if necessary.   You may apply at least twice a day, best during diaper changes. To prevent baby from scratching the rash, it is best to apply again during bedtime.

ECZELIEF – OUR BEST SELLER !

Eczelief is one of our best seller !  We have helped many customers with eczema issues and the feedback from them were very positive, convincing and encouraging.  We would like to share a short video clip here from our customer who had used it on her daughter’s eczema condition which has healed tremendously after using Eczelief.

ECZEMA ON THE POSITIVE NOTE

Although eczema is not a very serious or life-threatening disease, however it does have an impairing effect on the sufferer, their partners and their family’s quality of life. If it is very serious this can even cause devastating impact on mental health of the sufferer. And when it flares up at night, this can cause episodes of insomnia and therefore affect the health of the sufferer which might also lead to absenteeism from work and school.

Since there is no cure for eczema, but symptoms can be effectively managed with the right treatments. These may include a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. It is sad to know that people who are struggling with eczema report feeling embarrassed and self-conscious about their skin and this truly affects their social life and daily activity. Right now, receiving proper treatment and getting stress under control can only help calm and alleviate the symptoms and prevent recurrences.

LONG LASTING TREATMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED

BY USING GREEN HERBOLOGY ECZELIEF,

THE BEST ECZEMA CREAM

– PROVENLY SAFE AND 100% EFFECTIVE