If your skin is constantly plagued by rashes, extreme dryness, incessant itching and major inflammation, chances are you have Eczema. There are various types of Eczema, with the most common being Atopic Eczema (chronic and often hereditary caused by stress and hormonal changes) and Contact Eczema (typically from irritants or allergens in the environment).
As Eczema is such a rapidly changing condition, with natural periods of flares and remissions—it can drive you crazy to try to figure out what’s helping and what’s hurting.
Today we’re exploring some holistic methods that are often highly effective at offering relief and managing eczema, sending it into remission for the long term.
1. Moisten and relieve the skin with natural ingredients
- Reducing inflammation and enhancing the skin barrier function are two important goals of managing eczema.
- Botanical oils and holistic ingredients can come in handy.
- Botanical oils are natural emollients that insulate against water loss, an important aspect of preventing itch.
- Nature-derived ingredients such as those in our Chickweed and Calendula cream can have an anti-inflammatory, restorative effect on skin and help protect its barrier function.
- Before applying anything to your skin, be sure to spot-test each ingredient individually to ensure it doesn’t trigger any further flare-ups.
2. Avoid hot showers
- The National Eczema Organisation recommends bathing or showering in lukewarm (not hot) water.
- Avoid scrubbing your skin with a washcloth or loofah and use a gentle cleanser (not soap).
- During severe flares, try to limit the use of cleansers to further avoid irritation.
3. Go fragrance free
- Using dedicated fragrance free skin care and personal care products suitable for eczema-prone skin can help with flare ups of mild forms of eczema.
- Eczema on the scalp may be managed by using shampoo that doesn’t contain harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances that can strip the skin of its natural oils or cause irritation.
- Using an oil, such as our nourishing body and hair oil once a week can replenish much needed hydration to your scalp.
- Avoid applying synthetic, alcohol-based perfumes directly on the skin if you can.
4. Take herbal or dietary supplements.
- You might want to explore traditional Chinese or herbal medicine as an alternative medicine option.
- Alternative medicine seeks to treat the patient both internally and topically with customised herbal formulas together with topical washes, compresses, creams, and ointments made from herbs and botanical ingredients as well as herbal and dietary supplements.
- Make sure to find a practitioner who specialises in dermatology (whether it be western medical dr or a holistic specialist) and has a lot of experience in the specific treatment of eczema.
5. Steer clear of chemical nasties
- Just like the gut, the skin has a microbiome of millions of cells of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other microorganisms that need to coexist in harmony to be healthy.
- Products with mineral oil and petroleum and other harsh parabens can damage the skin’s microbiome.
- Opt for natural creams and ointments to help skin breathe.
6. Adopt healthy habits
- Removing offending foods and working on healing and restoring digestive function can bring lasting improvements to eczema.
- Keep it simple with a clear, bland, hypoallergenic diet that incorporates plenty of fruits and vegetables that encompass all colours of the rainbow.
- Try to avoid from inflammatory food like sugar, wheat, dairy, gluten, alcohol and anything that moulds.
7. Stay positive
- It can be difficult to pin down precisely what causes eczema flare-ups but keep positive and hang in there!
- A healthy mindset can make a huge difference at lowering stress levels, reducing cortisol in the bloodstream and in turn improving the condition of the skin.
- Incorporating relaxation techniques such as meditation or a daily stroll can make all the difference in balancing your stress levels.
Thinking about including our products in your skincare routine? Our Ultimate sampler pack is perfect to get you started.
Top Image via Unsplash
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