Tag: Skin Inflammation

5 Plants Used for Eczema Treatment

You may not know it yet, but a natural eczema treatment may be right in your garden or kitchen. The following has been used for many years now in relieving the symptoms of eczema.

Aloe Vera

We all know the many wonders the gel from aloe vera leaves does to the skin. It is no surprising that many skin care products have aloe vera gel as one of their ingredients. You can cut the leaf and apply the gel directly onto the skin with eczema. The gel works by moisturizing the affected area the skin will become softer and the healing of tissue will become faster. Many people who have tried the aloe vera plant noted reduced eczema symptoms and improved skin quality.

Chamomile

There are two distinctive popular chamomile plants: German and Roman. They both look like small daisies and, by tradition, used as herbal remedy for almost the same problems. Chamomile has been found to have anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties, therefore it is one of the many known natural treatment for eczema. The German variant is commonly used as a remedy for this skin condition. You can use chamomile tea as a compress on eczematous skin. Also, chamomile essential oils and topical creams may be used to massage the area with, and achieve similar healing effects.

Rosemary

Rosemary has been used for many centuries now because of its cleansing and anti-oxidant properties. You can purchase rosemary essential oils, bath soap and topical creams at aromatherapy and natural bath and body products stores. It is good at reducing skin inflammation and helps improve blood circulation. The camphoraceous smell also helps relive stress and invigorate you. Heres how to use this wonderful herb: as an essential oil, you can add a few drops onto your bathwater and soak yourself in it for minutes; as a soap and topical cream, massage onto the eczematous skin.

Walnut Leaves

The walnut tree leaves have been used for thousands of years now because of their medicinal properties, especially for treating various skin disorders. Their anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and astringent properties make them an effective remedy for scabies, skin ulcers, eczema and many others. You can utilize infusions and tinctures made from the leaves of a walnut tree to protect the eczematous skin from infection. A decoction may also be prepared as a compress on the affected area. To do this, cut 2-3 grams of dried walnut leaves into pieces. Place them in 100 mg cold water. Bring it to a boil then let simmer for 15 minutes. When cooled, apply on skin.

Turmeric

Turmeric belongs to the ginger family and is used worldwide for cooking as well as medicinal purposes. Yes, it is that yellow substance that adds color and flavor to curry. It has been found that curcumin, an active substance found in turmeric, has a wide variety of therapeutic actions, most especially its anti-inflammatory effects.

This works because of the substances ability to lower the bodys production of histamine, and possibly stimulate the production of cortisone a steroid hormone. You can purchase turmeric in pill form at natural food stores and take 500 mg of it daily. You may also apply it topically when bought as oil, cream or ointment. Mixing turmeric powder with water is also great for washing eczematous skin with.

A natural eczema treatment is definitely less expensive than conventional medications prescribed by doctors these days. They have been around for many years now and are used as a treatment for different conditions.

Eczema in Children

When a skin rash cannot be blamed on poison ivy or chicken pox, the culprit is eczema. In this condition, the skin turns red, scaly and develops sores. The itching is beyond the limit and the skins starts to shed in the form of scales. Dermatitis is the other name for eczema. Dermatitis actually means inflammation of the skin and the skin turns pink and sore. Eczema is a common child problem as out of ten kids at least one kid gets eczema and majority of them get it before they turn five years old. Children who are above five years are also at a risk of developing eczema, but once they become teenagers, the chances are negligible.

Not only does eczema dries the skin, it also makes it itch horribly. The skin break out can even take the form of rashes. Eczema is a condition which comes and goes frequently and therefore it is chronic. When any foreign bodies come in contact with the skin, a special kind of cells present in the skin will react to them. Basically, they inflame the skin as a measure of protection. The harmful foreign objects trigger the reaction and make these special cells to over react. This turns the skin itchy, sore and red. Children, who get eczema frequently, have a larger quantity of these special cells.

Usually, people who have family members with asthma, hay fever or any allergies are more prone to getting eczema. It is in their genes to get eczema and this problem is passed over to them by their parent. Some scientists say that people, who as children have had eczema, are at a higher risk of developing asthma or hay fever later in their life. Allergies can only make eczema worse. The good news is that eczema is not contagious, so children can be happy about not catching the infection. The first symptom of eczema is rash development. These rashes may seem to go away in the beginning, but will return back. Although eczema itches badly, not all rashes will itch. Eczema will start to develop behind the knees and inside of the elbows. It will slowly spread to the face and other body parts.

Because rashes can be caused due to many other reasons apart from eczema, the doctor will examine the rashes and its cause very carefully. If eczema is confirmed, the child may have to use a moisturizing cream or lotion to stop the itchiness and drying of the skin. In serious cases, the patient will be recommended corticosteroids. It is a steroid cream or ointment which needs to applied to check skin inflammation. If the itching is really irritating, antihistamine can be taken in either liquid or pill form. And if the scratching had resulted in an infection, antibiotics will also be prescribed. The problem doesnt get solved forever, but it makes the condition better for the time being.

There are certain things which trigger eczema and should be avoided by children who get eczema frequently. Perfumes, detergents, soap, dry air in winters with very little moisture, and sweaty and hot skin. Also when coming in contact with dust mites and scratchy fabrics can increase skin irritation. The child must abstain from scratching even if the skin is itching badly, as that will make the skin itch more badly. The skin can also get infected with bacteria because of skin breaking and bleeding. A washcloth can be dipped on cool water and placed on the area of itchiness. The parents should cut the nails short of the child so that he/she doesnt hurt himself while scratching. Lastly, lots of water should be consumed to provide moisture to the dry skin.

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