Natural Eczema Treatments: 13 Home Remedies + Symptoms Causes

Is your skin red, dry, scaly and extremely itchy? These are common eczema symptoms, a skin condition affecting millions of Americans, leaving many seeking the best eczema treatment options. Eczema isn’t a single condition but a group of skin issues, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, hand eczema, neurodermatitis, nummular eczema, and stasis dermatitis. It often appears in young children, and while most cases improve with maturity, some may continue to experience symptoms throughout life. There’s no definite cause, but factors like genetics, a dry climate, nutritional deficiencies, adolescent obesity, low vitamin D levels during pregnancy, and allergies can contribute. Common symptoms include small, raised bumps that may ooze and crust, thick, dry, scaly skin that cracks, red, brown, or grayish patches on hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, chest, eyelids, and face and scalp of infants, swollen and raw skin from scratching, and a recurring rash with intense itching that can disrupt sleep. While there’s no cure, various non-invasive treatment options are available, such as light therapy/phototherapy, increasing vitamin D intake, moisturizing, treating the mind and body, using Dead Sea salt baths, applying cool, wet compresses, using itch creams, using licorice extract, taking omega-3 fatty acids, using probiotics, lavender essential oil, vitamin E, and witch hazel. Diet also plays a role, with foods like wild-caught fish, flaxseed oil, pumpkin or chia seeds, probiotic-rich foods, high-fiber foods, and vitamin A-rich foods beneficial, and avoiding additives, processed foods, allergens like gluten, dairy, shellfish, or peanuts, margarine and other non-essential fats, sugar, and fried foods. Eczema can lead to severe discomfort, sleep disruption, anxiety, depression, and skin infections, and people with eczema may be more prone to heart disease and stroke. For those struggling, seeing a dermatologist can provide further help. Remember to track allergens and flares, avoid common triggers, treat the mind and body, moisturize regularly, and use natural eczema treatment options.