Eczema is a term that covers a group of conditions that cause irritations, itchiness, and redness of the skin. More than 30 million Americans suffer from this skin condition, so it is actually very common.
It can be of several types, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis.
Dr. Jeffrey John Meffert, MD, explains this unpleasant condition and its symptoms:
“Medical professionals sometimes refer to eczema as “the itch that rashes.” Usually, the first symptom of eczema is intense itching. The rash appears later and is red and has bumps of different sizes. The rash itches and may burn, especially in thin skin, like the eyelids. If it is scratched, it may ooze and become crusty. In adults, chronic rubbing produces thickened plaques of skin. Some people develop red bumps or clear fluid-filled bumps that look “bubbly” and, when scratched, add wetness to the overall appearance. “
He adds:
“Painful cracks in the skin can develop over time. Although the rash can be located anywhere on the body, in adults and older children, it is most often found on the neck, flexures of the arms (opposite the elbow), and flexures of legs (opposite the knee). Infants may exhibit the rash on the torso and face. While the skin behind the ear may be involved, the outer ear itself is usually spared. The eyelids are often puffy, red, and itchy. The itching may be so intense that it interferes with sleep. “
Hence, living with it can be an ongoing struggle, and the flare-ups can range from mild, moderate, to severe.
Severe eczema was the life-long battle of a 26-year old British girl, Victoria Jinks, and this inflammatory skin condition caused blistering, scaling, redness and thickening of her skin, that made her to often reject leaving her home out of embarrassment.
During the summer, Victoria covered the irritated skin areas and even skipped work when they bled.
She says that being a child with such a health issue wasn’t easy:
“I remember lying down and my mum having to grease my entire body every night. I hated having cream put on me constantly and now I’ve developed a phobia of being greasy.”
She also says that people around her criticized her as well:
“People would always say “stop scratching!” And that would aggravate me more than the constant itch on my body.”
Victoria used steroid cream to treat eczema, but it failed to provide effects.
Yet, after her sister’s fiancée persuaded her to try and treat the issue from within and follow a vegan diet, she decided to give it a try.
In 2017, she gave up meat, and in late spring this year, she went entirely vegan.
Her vegan diet healed her eczema after 10 years and she is finally a happy, “normal” girl.
She says:
“My skin is completely clear, almost cured. It took around two months to be eczema free but I would never turn back. Just try it! You will feel amazing after the results.”
Our diet is hugely linked to our health, and in the case of eczema, certain foods trigger the flare-ups.
Yet, what you must remember is that eczema and its symptoms are different for everyone.
Therefore, if you suffer from eczema, in order to relieve the symptoms, you need to discover your personal food needs and the foods that lead to unwanted reactions, such as gluten, nuts, fish, eggs, cow’s milk, shellfish, or soy.
Additionally, we encourage you to try the following natural, topical eczema remedies:
-Aloe Vera: The leaves of this plant have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and antimicrobial agents that will relieve the swellings and redness
-Apple Cider Vinegar: It has strong antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that will calm the itchiness and treat the inflammation
-Epsom Salts: A warm Epsom salt bath offers soothing, anti-inflammatory properties
-Cannabis Oil: Cannabinoids prevent the accumulation of dead skin cells and treat the eczema symptoms
-Cucumbers: They hydrate the irritated skin since they are 96% water
-Oregon Grape: It slows down the production of skin cells and thus prevents inflammatory responses
-Colloidal Oatmeal: It soothes the itching spells and regulates the pH levels of the skin
-Coconut oil: This oil is ideal for dry and cracked skin since it is rich in vitamin E and lauric acid
-Primrose oil: Being high in fatty acids, this oil will treat the inflammatory process
The journey you need to take in order to heal eczema might be easy and quick, but until you you’re your perfect remedy, do not be afraid to experiment with these natural cures. Moreover, consider making the needed dietary changes, as they will eventually be worth it, and you will experience amazing results.
