What Is Eczema?
The Causes Of Eczema
Eczema is commonly found in people with a history of atopic diseases such as asthma, hay fever and other allergies. Usually 90 % of the patients develop the condition before reaching 5 years of age. The rashes begin on face, scalp, hands and feet. In adults the rashes are seen inside the knees and elbows, neck, hands and feet. Though the exact cause or the eczema attack is not known, it can flare up when exposed to certain triggers like- Allergens- this includes pet hair, dander, pollen, mold, foods such as eggs, nuts, dairy products, wheat, shellfish etc. These allergens also trigger asthma and hay fever.
- Skin Irritants- perfumes, household chemicals, harsh soaps, alcohol containing skin- products, tight clothing, wool are the main skin irritants.
- Climatic Conditions- excess heat and low or high humidity triggers eczema. The dry skin conditions during winter also triggers the flare-up.
- Water- hot baths and hard water trigger eczema.
- Cold Or Flu- infections of the body triggers eczema
- Stress- when the stress increases the dryness of the skin and itching increases.
- Foods –certain foods cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. The food items which may cause allergy includes cow’s milk, eggs, nuts, soya, wheat etc.
- Hormones – there are reports that eczema symptoms in women worsen during the menstrual cycle. About 30 % of the women have flare ups in the days preceding the periods. About 50% of the women with eczema experiences worse eczema symptoms when they are pregnant. This shows that the hormonal changes affect the symptoms of eczema.
The Symptoms
When the person is having eczema and there is no flare up the symptoms are as follows- The skin feels dry
- Some areas of the skin appear cracked
- The skin in particular areas becomes itchy and may appear as raw if scratching is uncontrollable
- The itching increases at night
- Thickened areas of the skin due to scratching
- Some areas of the skin become red and inflamed
- Some of the inflamed areas of the skin develop blisters and starts oozing liquid
- The skin develops red, brown or gray colored patches
- There will be bumps appearing on the skin
- The skin becomes extremely itchy
- The itching and scratching makes the skin appear redder, raw and more sensitive
- The skin becomes more scaly and drier
- The affected areas become hotter
- Skin develop blisters
- The raised bumps will become more prominent and may leak fluids
- Bacterial infection o0f the affected areas occurs
How Does Eczema Affect Your Life?
Eczema is a frustrating condition and causes stress.- In people with severe eczema the daily life will be challenging and very uncomfortable.
- The intense itch cause loss of sleep and keep the children off from attending school and the adults from work.
- The person will not want to mingle with others as they are embarrassed about the skin condition.
- They won’t be able to enjoy the pool or sports activities as chemicals in the water and sweating can trigger flare-ups.
Goals Of Managing Eczema
You need to make smart choices and follow good routines to manage eczema effectively. The main goal of managing eczema includes
• Maintaining healthy skin
• Avoiding flares of the symptoms
• Relieving the symptoms quickly when the flares occur
Managing Eczema
Good skin care is the most important thing needed to manage eczema. Some things which help to manage eczema includes- Regular Bathing- this helps to keep the skin hydrated and removes the crusts of the inflamed skin. It also removes the germs and dirt from the affected area. Do not use harsh soaps while bathing. Do not scrub or wipe the water aggressively.
- Use Moisturizers- moisturizing using natural items to reduce dry skin. This is one of the best ways to keep eczema under control. Hydrating the skin reduces itching and irritation.
- Cotton Dress- using cotton dress reduces itching
- Cut Your Nails- this will do less damage to the skin when you scratch the skin
- Keep Hydrated- drink at least 8 glasses of water to keep your skin hydrated.
- Temperature Changes -Avoid sudden changes in temperature and humidity.
Treatments And Medications For Eczema
The treatment to be provided for eczema depends on the severity of the condition. For minor conditions home remedies for eczema scars are helpful. There are various topical creams available for treating mild eczema condition. Severe eczema results in scars which are difficult to remove. It may require strong –cortisone products to treat severe eczema conditions.Home Remedies For Eczema Scars
There are many home treatments which will provide you relief from the itch and pain associated with eczema. They also help to reduce the unsightly scars. Here are 12 effective home remedies for getting rid of eczema scars.Oatmeal Bath
Oatmeal bath is very effective in reducing the scars of eczema quickly. Take 1-2 cups of ground oatmeal add to warm bathing water. Use this water to soak your body for 20- 30 minutes. Pat dry the skin, after 30 minutes. Use this remedy two- three times a day for better results.Honey
This remedy has excellent ability to remove all types of scars. The antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties to help you reduce any skin problems. Wash the area with rashes and apply honey directly on the rashes. You can also make a body scrub using honey and sugar and scrub the affected areas of the skin. Rinse off the honey or the scrub after 20-30 minutes with cold or warm water. Repeat the treatment daily to heal the scars of eczema.Shea Butter
Shea butter contains vitamin A and vitamin E. These vitamins help to maintain the health of the skin. This remedy moisturizes skin and rejuvenates the skin when applied on the affected areas. This will make the scars to vanish. For getting quick results apply the remedy at least twice a day. You can also use Shea butter along with lemon juice. Mix 2 parts of Shea butter with one part fresh lemon juice and apply this paste on the affected areas. You can leave it on the skin overnight.Aloe Vera
Take the gel from the fresh leaves of aloe Vera and apply it on the scars. This will reduce the dark scars of eczema. You can alternatively use it with vitamin E oil. Apply the remedy on the skin and leave it overnight. Next day morning use warm water to wash it off. Apply this remedy regularly to make the scars vanish.Lemon
Lemon juice has acidic properties and kills the bacteria that will infect the skin. They also act as bleach and lighten the color of the scars. The vitamin C present in the lemon juice will help the skin to produce new cells. You can use lemon juice for the treatment of scars in different ways. You can either apply the fresh juice directly on the skin or you can mix the juice with sugar and use it for exfoliating the skin. This will remove the dead scar cells. Drinking water with lemon juice added to it helps to remove the toxins from your body. This makes healing of scars faster.Apple Cider Vinegar
The antifungal and antibacterial properties of this home remedy help to prevent the flare up of eczema and also help to reduce the scars. Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and two teaspoons of honey in one glass of water and drink it thrice a day. This home remedy will increase the immunity of the body and helps in reducing inflammation and scarring. You can also apply apple cider vinegar on the affected areas by diluting it with 1 part water the dryness and itchiness of the scars can be reduced by this method.Fish Oil
If you want to minimize the scars caused by eczema, you should regularly take fish oil capsules. The fish oil contains omega 3 fatty acids which help to reduce inflammations in the body. This helps to reduce the eczema scars. It is necessary to take a daily dose of 1200 milligrams three times a day to fade away the scars left by eczema attack. You can also consume foods enriched with fish oil to treat the scars.Olive Oil
This is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and it reduces the inflammations caused by eczema. It softens the skin and reduces the skin color. It is necessary that you use extra virgin olive oil to get the proper result from the remedy. Apply the extra virgin oil directly on the scars. Leave it on the skin for a few minutes. Wipe away the oil using lukewarm water.Coconut Oil
The virgin coconut oil has antiseptic properties and it also moisturizes the skin. Rub virgin coconut oil on the affected areas many times a day. This is one of the most effective home remedies for eczema scars.Nutmeg Powder
Add water to powdered nutmeg and make it a paste applies the paste to the affected skin. Repeat the treatment regularly to lighten the skin.Vitamin E Oil
Break open Vitamin E capsules and apply the oil contained in them on the affected skin. Avoid synthetic vitamin E. Read the labels of the capsule before buying it. You can also make a paste of vitamin E rich nuts like almonds and walnuts and apply it on the calloused skin. This remedy helps in itch reduction and removal of inflammation. The oil present in the nuts softens the skin and the granules exfoliate the skin removing the dead scar cells.Cocoa Butter
This natural remedy helps to restore the damaged skin and get rid of the scars. Use pure cocoa butter and avoid beauty products containing the cocoa butter. The other ingredients in the product may aggravate your eczema. The cocoa butter moisturizes the skin when applied daily on the scars.Baking Soda
Make a smooth paste of baking soda with water apply it on the affected skin and gently massage for two minutes. Rinse of the mix with lukewarm water. You will find an instant reduction in the redness and inflammation around the scars.Sea Salt Bath
Take a bath with water having sea salts added to it. This offers the perfect cure for eczema scars. Soak yourself in salt water for at least 20 minutes. Salt helps to heal the cracks in the skin and will help to remove the infections and inflammations. Regular use of this remedy will remove the dirt scars from your body.Apart from these home remedies, take measures to prevent the flare up by changing your diet, soaps and detergents and the clothes you wear. Apply Vaseline on the affected areas after the bath this will prevent dryness of the skin.
Are you worried about the dirty scars caused by eczema on your body? Are you on the lookout for best home remedies to treat the scars? Then, try the above said remedies and find the difference it makes to your skin.
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