Natural treatments for Eczema
My daughter’s experience with bleeding eczema began when she was barely a year old. Since then, it has been my focus to find a treatment that gave her relief from her discomfort and was as natural as possible. This search for a natural eczema treatment has taught me quite a bit about eczema, its triggers and its treatments.
What is Eczema?
Eczema is a non-infectious skin condition which may be aggravated by allergens such as animal dander, foods and some of the chemicals in soap and body care products. An outbreak is usually characterized by red, inflamed skin that is scaly and itchy. Sometimes the outbreak may lead to bloody, oozing lesions which eventually heal over to thickened, darker skin, especially in African Americans. In many cases, the eczema can be found on the backs of knees and the insides of the elbows. In my daughter’s case, the most severe appearance of eczema was on her calves and ankles, where the skin was rough and dark after the bleeding of an outbreak would cease.
Treatment Approaches
I can say from experience that I have used treatments such as petrolatum jelly, Crisco and Eucerin looking for that “magic bullet” that would help alleviate her itching and the outbreaks that made ME wince. Unfortunately, I found that either the treatments would work, but only for a short time. I did not want to use steroid creams or hydrocortisone, but it was truly difficult watching my daughter crying and scratching at her legs. Therefore, I began my research.
In my research, I discovered that there is no one treatment for eczema and that it is the type of condition that must be treated both from inside and the outside. Because the skin is the largest organ in the body, what one takes in often manifests itself through the skin.
The goal for treating eczema, of course is to eliminate or at least greatly reduce the occurrence of outbreaks. Or, if that is not possible, then to at least reduce the severity of the symptoms. Fortunately, childhood eczema often lessens in occurrence when the child gets older.
Note: I am not a doctor, nor an herbalist. I make no claims about this information except what has worked for me and my family. This is no way is meant or implied as medical advice. Please seek the advice of a medical professional for a personalized diagnosis.
Internal Treatments:
Flax Seed Oil (not to be confused with flaxseed or flaxseed powder) – Flax seed oil is high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which is an omega-3 essential fatty acid. There is some evidence that taking flaxseed oil will raise the level of ALA in the body, which in turn will help to relieve symptoms such as itching, flakiness and rough skin. In addition, omega-3 fatty essential fatty acids can reduce inflammation and promote skin healing. Inflammation is the cause of the discomfort with eczema breakouts.
Flaxseed oil may also be used in foods such as smoothies, or mixed as a salad dressing.
Because this is a natural product, the recommended dosage depends greatly, depending on where you look. Dosage amounts range from three grams to fifteen grams daily. I’ve also seen dosages by weight – 1 TBS per 100 lbs of body weight. A tablespoon is 14 grams and the capsule form of flax seed oil is usually 1000 mg = 1 gram. However, please see your health care provider to ensure that you are taking the right dosage and that there is no interaction with other medications you may be taking. Flax seed oil may also be applied to the skin to heal the dry scaly patches.
Canola Oil – This is a cooking oil that is freely available (right next to the corn and vegetable oils) in your local supermarket. Canola oil is 11% omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid) and is low in saturated fat. This oil may be a good choice to “sneak” a few more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Use it to cook, to sauté, to make salad dressing, etc.
Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) – Taking a supplement of evening primrose oil may also lessen the severity of outbreaks. According to the Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.com) the recommended dosage of EPO is .5 g (500 mg) per kilogram of body weight. The overall dosage is 3 g (3000 mg) per day for children under 18 and 8g (8000 mg) for adults. Consult a medical professional before undertaking any dosing.
External Treatments:
Shea butter – In my experience, a single application of unrefined shea butter was enough to visibly improve my daughter’s eczema rash. It also alleviated some of the itching. Shea butter is high in oleic acid, which is an omega-9 fatty acid and close in composition to human sebum. Oleic acid assists in skin repair and shea butter is good for healing rashes, eczema, dry skin and may also be helpful in reducing the appearance of stretch marks and scars.
Flax Seed Oil – Flax seed oil, as written above, is high in an essential omega3 fatty acid and can be topically applied to the skin.
Hemp Seed Oil - Hemp seed oil is a great source of essential fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6 as well as linolenic acid, all of which are good for the skin. Hemp seed oil is an excellent skin emollient and nourishes the skin and helps to regenerate skin cells. Because hemp seed oil is absorbed into the skin rather than just coating the skin, the essential fatty acids are able to penetrate the epidermis and “go to work”. These essential fatty acids can play a preventative role in minimizing aging of the skin and to assist in maintaining a healthy moisture balance in the skin.
These are some of the treatments that I’ve used with success for my daughter’s eczema. In addition, the supplements of the extra oils and benefits have helped the entire family’s health. Again, please consult with a medical professional as this lens is not meant at medical advice.
