Eczema is a skin condition where patches of your skin can become itchy, inflamed, red in color, rough, and cracked. Almost 31.6% of the population in the country is affected by eczema. While some patients may outgrow this condition, others have to battle it throughout their lives.

Things to know before you treat eczema

It is important to understand that there are some foods like dairy products and nuts which may trigger the symptoms of eczema. The symptoms are likely to change from one age group to another but everyone complains of dry, scaly, and itchy skin patches. Some environmental factors may worsen the condition, like pollution and smoke.

Can eczema be treated?

You may try out natural treatments for eczema but the condition cannot be cured completely. The treatments primarily focus on making sure that the damaged skin heals fast and the symptoms go away. But there is no complete cure; it can only be managed. The good part is that eczema is not contagious.

Some natural treatments for eczema:

It is possible to keep eczema controlled through some home care remedies. These are:

• Apple cider vinegar: This is believed to be a popular natural cure for eczema and other skin disorders. However, this needs to be used carefully as the acid in the vinegar can end up damaging soft tissues. Apple cider vinegar is acidic and people suffering from eczema tend to have less-acidic skin which makes the skin weak. So, apple cider vinegar may help to balance the acidity levels in the skin.
• Aloe vera gel: This is obtained from aloe plant leaves and can cure a variety of illnesses. One popular use is for treating eczema. Researchers say that it has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, wound-healing, and immune-boosting properties.
• Bleach bath: Bleach is known to kill bacteria present on the surface of your skin. Bleach baths may be able to do away with the need for antibiotics and topical corticosteroids for treating eczema.
• Regular baths: Bathing will give your skin the moisture it needs and this makes it one of the best eczema natural treatments. For people with eczema, extra moisture is needed since the outer skin surface fails to function as desired. But, when you wash your body, the water must not be too cold or too hot. You must also use the right kind of soap and moisturize the skin afterwards.
• Colloidal oatmeal: This is manufactured from oats which are ground and boiled. These oats have skin-healing properties. Since oatmeal lotions have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory advantages, it can improve the dryness and roughness of the skin along with the itchiness and scaling.
• Coconut oil: It contains healthy fatty acids which give the skin extra moisture and therefore helps to treat eczema and dry skin conditions.
• Honey: This is a naturally-occurring, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial agent which people have always used for healing purposes. When applied to eczema-affected skin directly, it can stop infections and keep the skin moisturized which accelerates healing.
• Tea tree oil: This is derived from Melaleuca alternifolia tree leaves and used for treating skin conditions, even eczema.
• Diet changes: Since eczema is a type of inflammatory disease, you can make some changes in your diet to reduce any chance of a flare-up. For instance, you could include more fish, leafy greens, vegetables, lentils, fruits, cinnamon, and turmeric to your diet. Inflammatory foods like eggs, dairy, soy or wheat should be avoided.