4 At Home Treatments to Combat Eczema Flareups
With the nation on lockdown and the rise of COVID-19 cases rising, we’re all coping with shifting our daily lives to being in our home all day long. The stress levels of what coronavirus has done to our economy and unemployment have surely skyrocketed and people with eczema are at a big risk of having huge flareups because of it.
With remedy to these eczema flareups only available with what’s at home, it can seem like a lost cause for relieving the pain and itch aside from slathering on the regular eczema lotion. However, eczema sufferers are in luck! We’ve compiled 4 at home treatments to combat eczema flareups so you can destress and not have to worry about your eczema on top of everything else.
Breaking Down Eczema
Eczema is a skin condition whereby an affected person experiences dry, itchy, red and scaly skin on parts of their body where the rash develops – usually the hands, elbows, knees, and feet. Clinically called Atopic Dermatitis (AD), some internal contributors to eczema flareups are dry skin, genetics, and a weak immune system. There is no found cure yet for eczema, only treatments and remedies to manage the flareups.
It’s been discovered that there are various external causes of what can trigger eczema, such as:
- Low-quality jewelry metals
- Alcohol in perfumes/fragrance
- Certain foods
- Seasonal allergies
- Latex
- Bleach
- Harsh skin care products
Seeing a skin specialist is the best way to get the right treatment but some mild eczema flareups can be managed at home naturally, which is what we are focusing on with this article!
The 4 At Home Treatments are:
- Apply Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is like liquid gold with a plethora of health and beauty benefits. It can be effective in treating eczema flareups due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. A study conducted on 14 adults with atopic dermatitis revealed that manuka honey is potentially effective in treating the skin condition.
Manuka honey is an effective treatment, for it offers intense hydration, prevents infection, relieves the itch, and can heal eczema scars from itching too much. You can try different kinds of honey on eczema flareups, although manuka honey is the most potent and has the highest antibacterial and antimicrobial levels.
- Eat More Anti-inflammatory Foods
Certain foods such as eggs, dairy, soy, and wheat can trigger inflammation in the body with could, in turn, trigger eczema flareups. Anti-inflammatory foods are mainly fruits, vegetables, spices, whole grains, and omega-3-rich foods.
In order for you to effectively manage eczema internally, load up on leafy greens such as spinach and turmeric, cinnamon, beans, and colorful fruits.
Aloe vera is an ancient medicinal plant with several health and beauty benefits, just like manuka honey. The plant has antioxidant, antimicrobial and wound healing benefits. One study concluded that the gel-like substance found inside its leaves can help alleviate painful eczema flareups.
If you have access to natural aloe vera plants, you can cut off a small piece and slice it in half to expose the gel. Rub it into the affected areas and reapply it twice per day. Alternatively, you can purchase organic aloe vera gel that has no additives or preservatives.
- Avoid Hot Showers
As mentioned above, dry skin is one characteristic of eczema and long, hot showers strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture. The National Eczema Association recommends that adults should bathe or shower in lukewarm water for 10 to 15 minutes instead. They also advise people with the skin condition to moisturize their body with a high-oil content moisturizer within three minutes of stepping out of the shower and additionally wait for a few minutes to let the skin absorb the moisturizer before dressing.
While maintaining eczema is a lifelong struggle, there are ways that can help reduce the severity and frequency of the flareups. With the help of these at-home treatments, making sure you have the best skin care tailored for its specific requirements. At Wild Naturals, we created a full line of eczema products that are brimming with manuka honey, aloe vera, coconut oil, and more!
Discover why our eczema creams are far superior to the drugstore ones and see the difference for yourself! We also just released a Manuka Honey Aloe Vera Gel as an alternative hand sanitizer, which would be ideal for people with eczema that can’t have their skin dried out further. Check it out here!
