NATURAL WAYS TO SOOTHE ITCHINESS
Is your skin red, dry, scaly and extremely itchy? Have you been diagnosed with eczema skin disease?
Are you searching for ways to relieve your itching as it disrupts your daily routine?
Natural ways cannot cure skin eczema, but they can help to get relief from itching and can also minimize relapse.
Thorough skin care is very important in cases of skin eczema.
So, let’s look at some easy ways that can ease itching and skin eczema and minimize your symptoms of eczema.
1. Aloe Vera Gel
You can easily find aloe vera gels in the market or else you can simply take out the gel from an aloe vera plant at your home and use it fresh. It has antibacterial and antimicrobial effects which can prevent skin infections, which are more likely to occur when you have dry, cracked skin. Aloe vera will soothe your broken skin and promote healing of skin eczema. Start by applying on a small area of your skin to check sensitivity and then proceed to apply it well over your skin.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is very good for skin diseases. Vinegar is highly acidic. The skin is naturally acidic, but people with skin eczema may have less acidic skin than others. This can weaken the skin's defenses. Applying diluted apple cider vinegar could help balance the skin's acidity levels. Apple cider vinegar also fights bacteria. Using apple cider vinegar on the skin can help keep your cracked skin from becoming infected.
Always dilute apple cider vinegar before applying it to the skin. Undiluted vinegar can cause chemical burns or other injuries.
You can also use the vinegar in wet wraps or baths in the following way:
- Mix 1 cup of warm water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar.
- Apply the solution to cotton or gauze.
- Cover the dressing in clean cotton fabric.
- Leave it on the area for 3 hours.
Another option is apple cider vinegar bath soak:
- Add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to a warm bath.
- Soak for 15–20 minutes.
- Rinse the body thoroughly.
- Moisturize within several minutes of leaving the bath.
3. Colloidal Oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal is made from oats that have been ground and boiled to extract their skin-healing properties. It can help with -
- skin dryness
- scaling
- roughness
- itch intensity
Add powdered colloidal oatmeal to a warm bath and soak. Lotions and creams that contain colloidal oatmeal are also available
4. Baths
Bathing provides the skin with essential moisture. It is an important part of eczema treatment. When a person has a skin condition such as eczema, their skin needs extra moisture because the outer layer of their skin is not functioning as it should.
Washing your skin too many times can dry out the skin and make symptoms of eczema worse. This can occur when you are:
- using water that is too hot or too cold
- using the wrong soap
- not moisturizing after taking a bath
Some tips to keep in mind with regards to bathing are:
- Avoid bathing too frequently
- Bath or shower at least once a day
- Use lukewarm water
- Limit bathing time to 10–15 minutes
- Avoid scrubbing the skin
- Use gentle cleansers instead of soaps
- Try different types of medicinal baths, such as those with baking soda, vinegar, or oatmeal
Take shorter showers and keep the water at a warm, not hot, temperature. After bathing, moisturize within 3 minutes of getting out. Gently pat the skin dry with a towel and apply an oil-based moisturizer before the skin has fully dried.
5. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains healthful fatty acids that can add moisture to the skin, which can help people with dry skin and eczema.
Apply cold-pressed virgin coconut oil directly to the skin after bathing and up to several times a day. Use it before bed to keep the skin moisturized overnight.
6. Honey
Honey is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, and people have used it to heal wounds for centuries. Apply it on affected areas.
7. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is great for skin eczema. Always dilute essential oils before using them on the skin.
8. Dietary Changes
Skin eczema is an inflammatory condition, which means that it causes inflamed, red, sore skin. Certain foods can cause or reduce inflammation in the body, and making a few key dietary changes could help diminish eczema flares.
Examples of anti-inflammatory foods include:
- fish
- leafy greens
- beans and lentils
- colorful fruits
- turmeric and cinnamon
9. Gentle Soaps And Detergents
Use gentle, no-lather, fragrance-free cleanser. Avoid products with rough particles for scrubbing or exfoliating, as these can further irritate the skin.
10. Avoid Strong Heat Sources
The hot, dry air can dehydrate the skin and aggravate the itchiness of skin eczema.
11. Wrap Up In Cold Weather
Keep the skin covered when temperatures are low. Also, consider covering the face with a scarf if eczema occurs on the face.
12. Relax
Stress is a common eczema trigger. Although it’s unclear exactly why, it’s believed that stress plays a role in developing inflammation. Learning to cope with stressful situations using relaxation techniques may help reduce eczema flare-ups.
Relaxation techniques that may help include:
- meditation
- deep breathing
- music therapy
- yoga
