Eczema | What is it & How to treat it

What is Eczema?

Scientifically called "atopic dermatitis", eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes redness, itchiness, dryness, cracking and flaking. It is most common among young children however it can also affect adults with symptoms appearing on on the arms, hands, feet, ankles, wrists, face, neck, upper chest, or behind the knees. Eczema is usually considered clinical and can come in go. These comings and goings are called "flare-ups".

Eczema flare ups look like anything from broken skin, blistering, small raised bumps, leathery skin, and severe itching. In our culture, eczema is somewhat of an epidemic.  Almost all of us know someone who suffers from this condition.  Red, itchy, inflamed skin... possibly blistering or whelps. 

What causes Eczema?

Some in the medical community consider Eczema to be genetic. The other school of thought, however, is the reaction is  cause by the skin cells and their response to certain conditions or simply put, an allergy.  Eczema has many different types which are activated by many different variables or "reaction triggers".  The good news is that regardless of the type of eczema a person has, there is a basic regimen that will assist them in managing the symptoms and , in some cases, completely remove them.

What are you putting on your skin?  Shampoo, soap, lotion, perfume? Although these items may be organic or have really good marketing...what is really in it? If you wash your hair in the shower and synthetic shampoo chemicals are running down your body this could lead to a flare-up.

Read the labels, read the ingredients, and consult with our staff to educate yourself. What we put in our bodies could also be causing eczema. If you are suffering from eczema and have already eliminated synthetic products, perfumes, etc., then you will want to evaluate what you are consuming.

Dairy, eggs, nuts, soy, and wheat, can be triggers for some people, and especially in children. If you are unsure about what could be causing eczema, try cutting one or more of these items out of your diet for two weeks and measure your results. 

 

How to treat Eczema

1. Discontinue use of all synthetic chemicals.  Use a natural shampoo, natural soap,  natural lotions and natural perfumes.

2. Goat Milk & Oatmeal Soap: This soap is extremely moisturizing, made with all natural ingredients and can be very soothing to the inflamed skin.

3. Eczema Oil: This oil blend was specifically designed to treat eczema. When applied, this oil decreases the pain and discomfort of eczema the skin, immediately. The same oil blend can be used for treating hives. Our eczema oil is already blended with a carrier oil, jojoba oil, so it can be applied to the skin right out of the bottle.

Apply Eczema Blend to the affected area, keeping the dry skin moist.  The idea is to keep the affected area from drying out or cracking.  Apply as needed throughout the day.  Just a few drops (5 or 6) can cover an area like the back of your hand, elbow, or knees. You can increase or decrease this amount to suit your needs.  Patch test, always, as a general rule to observe any sensitivities.  After about 3 days this application can be reduced drastically.  Many people simply apply Eczema Blend after a bath to "maintain" their problem areas to prevent the flare-ups from returning.

3. Drink plenty of water first thing in the morning.  A few drops of Lemon essential oil in your morning water will not perform miracles, but it will, however, help digestion and provide small amounts of vitamin C.  It is a great energizer in the mornings.  Better digestion equals better nutrient absorption!

4. Use a humidifier to keep the air moist. Dry air can trigger an eczema flare-up so keeping the air most in your home, office, or bedroom is important. (Do not diffuse essential oils in a humidifier.)