By Dr. Chau Phan, Pharmacist and owner of Humaniti Beauty
Before I tackle the subject of organic treatments for eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis), I need to emphasize that there is no known cure for this disease. Researchers are not even clear yet about what causes eczema in the first place. So I caution you to be careful about online advertisements for products that claim to permanently eliminate this ailment. Disregard information that includes words like “cure” or promises to get rid of the disease forever. Not only are these claims baseless, the treatments themselves may make your eczema worse.
Notice that I cite the sources from which I gather information for my blog. The links are to reputable websites, such as the one published by the National Eczema Association. Look for the credentials of the sites you visit to be sure you are getting valid advice.
Natural treatments for eczema
Coconut oil. Several sites I looked at recommended application of coconut oil once or twice daily. The reason this seems to work in preventing flare-ups is because the oil decreases the number of staph bacteria on the skin, reducing infection and inflammation. The oil also functions as an emollient, moisturizing the dry skin eczema sufferers are prone to.
Be sure the coconut oil is labeled “virgin” or “cold pressed” because oils with these designations are processed without harmful chemicals that can worsen your eczema.
Sunflower oil. You may remember from my book (Age Gracefully: Make the Right Decisions for Your Skin) that I have described the skin as your first line of defense for your body’s immune system. Keeping the skin moist helps it do its job as a natural barrier, especially important for those trying to avoid eczema flare-ups. Sunflower oil applied two times a day (at least one of which should be when the skin is still wet from bathing) can help adults strengthen that barrier and has also been known to avoid inflammation.
Of course, this oil is not for people who are allergic to sunflower seeds.
Aloe Vera. The healing properties of aloe vera offer relief to many people who suffer from the pain and itch of eczema. It appears to work by increasing blood flow to the affected areas and by preventing the death of skin cells. Direct, gentle application of aloe vera two to three times a day until the eczema flare-up heals is recommended.
Colloidal oatmeal bath. The website healthyandnaturalworld.com suggests this remedy for the flaky, dry, itchy symptoms of eczema and reports that it is a safe treatment for all ages, even babies. The site provides the following 4 steps:
- Just before bed (eczema is often worse at night), put 2 cups of ground oatmeal into a clean pair of pantyhose or a sock and tie it to the faucet in the bathtub.
- Draw a bath, making sure that warm water is flowing through the oatmeal sock.
- Squeeze the sock occasionally to get more of the oat liquid out.
- Have the person suffering from eczema symptoms soak in the tub for 15 minutes and dab the oat sock onto the affected skin patches.
Vitamin D supplements. According to a paper published on the site of the US National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health, “Given the potential for vitamin D to suppress inflammatory responses, enhance antimicrobial peptide activity, and promote the integrity of the permeability barrier, supplementation provides a possible therapeutic intervention for a variety of skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis.” Translation? Taking vitamin D by mouth is a promising treatment for eczema because it helps strengthen the skin’s protective abilities, as well as counteract swelling and itchiness.
Probiotics. Taking probiotics (“healthy” bacteria) by mouth to balance the microbiome in your intestines has been known to be of some help in preventing eczema. According to the website of the National Association of Eczema, ingesting probiotics “…has limited effect in children and adults once they have developed eczema.” It certainly cannot hurt to introduce good bacteria (according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, specifically, Lactobacillus) to your digestive tract, especially given that disrupted bacteria has been found in the guts and on the skin of those who suffer from eczema.
Mind-over-matter techniques. Many medical professionals see that there is a strong connection between the mind and body. Although no direct causal relationship has been definitively established between periods of high stress and eczema outbreaks, still, dermatologists see that prolonged stress, anxiety and other emotional disturbances can be triggers. So, using methods to train the mind makes perfect sense in alleviating eczema symptoms and, perhaps, even preventing flare-ups. Three of the most popular types of mind training include:
- Hypnosis and self-hypnosis – Someone trained in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) can meet with eczema sufferers on a regular basis to help them use their brain (that’s the “neuro” part) and language (“linguistic”) to re-program how they respond to the things that happen to them in a more positive way, avoiding stress and, ultimately, flare-ups.
- Biofeedback – According to the website of the Mayo Clinic, “Biofeedback is a technique you can use to learn to control your body’s functions, such as your heart rate. With biofeedback, you’re connected to electrical sensors that help you receive information (feedback) about your body (bio). This feedback helps you focus on making subtle changes in your body, such as relaxing certain muscles, to achieve the results you want, such as reducing pain. In essence, biofeedback gives you the power to use your thoughts to control your body, often to improve a health condition or physical performance.”
- Meditation – An article in Psychology Today defines meditation as “…the practice of turning your attention to a single point of reference. It can involve focusing on the breath, on bodily sensations, or on a word or phrase known as a mantra. In other words, meditation means turning your attention away from distracting thoughts and focusing on the present moment.” Meditating regularly has been shown to help reduce stress.
Notice that all of these remedies work by reducing inflammation and boosting your immune system. In writing about them, I do not mean to imply that you should replace whatever treatments you and your dermatologist are using with these more organic approaches.
The National Eczema Association provides this piece of useful advice, “Finding a provider that has experience with eczema, is reliable, and is willing to admit when something is not working is critical to success, whether alternative or conventional medicine is being used.” I agree wholeheartedly!
Several of the products I offer on the humanitibeauty.com site may be just what you need to follow my recommendations in this article. If you would like more information about Humaniti Beauty’s products or about me, you can contact me at info@humanitibeauty.com or call me at 510.200.9984.
Sources for this article on eczema:
“All about Meditation.” PsychologyToday.com. Sussex Publishers, LLC | HealthProfs.com. www.psychologytoday.com/basics/meditation.
“Complementary and Alternative Treatments.” National Eczema Association. National Eczema Association. nationaleczema.org/eczema/treatment/complementary-and-alternative.
Dilts, Robert B. “What Is NLP?” NLP University. NLP University. 1999. www.nlpu.com/NLPU_WhatIsNLP.html.
“Eczema Home Treatment.” WebMD. WebMD. 2 Sept. 2015. www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/eczema_home_treatment.
“LACTOBACILLUS.” LACTOBACILLUS Monograph: Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=&s=ND&pt=100&sh=12&id=790&searchid=62221977&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
“Natural and Alternative Treatments for Managing Eczema Symptoms.” National Eczema Association. National Eczema Association. 14 Aug. 2017. nationaleczema.org/natural-treatments-for-eczema/.
Searing, Daniel A, and Donald YM Leung. “Vitamin D in Atopic Dermatitis, Asthma and Allergic Diseases.” Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Aug. 2010. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2914320/.
Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Biofeedback.” Mayoclinic.org. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). 14 Jan. 2016.
www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/biofeedback/home/ovc-20169724.
Stanley, Andrea. “10 Home Remedies for Eczema.” Health.com. Health Magazine. 26 Apr. 2017. www.health.com/eczema/home-remedies-for-eczema.
“The Ultimate Guide for Curing Eczema Naturally.” Healthy and Natural World. 19 July 2017. www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/natural-cures-for-eczema/.