The Kalam Effect

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Home Remedies for ECZEMA

Home Remedies for ECZEMA
ECZEMA
Eczema also called as dermatitis, is a group of skin disorders. Atopic eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, infantile seborrhoeic eczema, adult seborrhoeic eczema, varicose eczema and discoid eczema are different types of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. It mainly occurs among infants and small children. In more than 90% of cases, eczema is found to occur in children below 5 years of age. It is a non contagious disease.
Eczema is a skin condition characterized by redness, cracking, oozing and scaling of the skin. This may be caused by the extremes of heat and cold and even emotional stress. The patient usually complains of itching and burning in the skin, especially at the night. Sores appear on various parts of the body, but most often on the hands, feet, ears and legs. Eczema may come on at any time of life and in either sex. The commoner manifestations are erythema changing to papule, vesicle, crust, scale and fissure, with serous exudation. In chronic cases, thick scales accumulate. This is the effect of local irritation by chemical, thermal, or mechanical agents in a hypersensitive individual, subject of an allergy or constitutional disabilities such as gout, chronic nephritis, rheumatism, local sepsis, dyspepsia, alcoholism, uterine disturbances also teething .in some cases heredity may be found. Papules, vesicles and pustules with some degree of local oedema are found; exudation, crusting and scaling with inflammation of varying severity may be present. These tend to spread to the contiguous areas. One or both cheeks of an infant or the ear, limbs or trunk are occasionally involved. In adults also similar papulo- vesicular eruptions appear. Sensations of burning, smarting, throbbing or itching are present, according to the acuteness of the process and severity of the inflammation. When chronic the discharge diminishes or disappears, leaving a thickened, irregular, scaly patch, fading at the margins. The best way to take care of eczema at home is to keep dry, patchy skin moist and well lubricated. Children with eczema are most often allergic to eggs, milk, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish and tree nuts, although a child is usually allergic to only one or two of those foods.
Eczema Symptoms
Following are the symptoms of eczema. Itching, Redness on skin, Dry and flaky skin, Itchy blisters, Inflammation on skin, Small bumps on forehead, neck and cheek, Rough and thickened skin. Symptoms of eczema are more severe on the folds.
Heredity
Eczema is considered to be hereditary. Studies reveal that a person is prone to eczema if his family has a history of closely linked conditions like hay fever and asthma.
Causes of aggarvation
Eczema could be aggravated by irritants like smoke, chemicals, detergents, solvents and so on. Even weather conditions could aggravate the condition. Excessive stress, heat and emotional stress also aggravates the symptoms of eczema.
Other Causes
Cause of eczema depends upon the type of eczema the person is suffering from. Sometimes blood circulation problem in the leg can also cause eczema. Deficiency of vitamin B6 causes eczema.
HOME REMEDIES FOR ECZEMA
Oatmeal bath is useful for patients suffering from eczema. For the bath, pour 2 cups of colloidal oatmeal into a tub of lukewarm water. This is very effective home remedy for eczema.
Cotton clothing is the best for the skin and is much better than either wool or polyester, especially wool. Avoid synthetics or itchy fabrics, as well as tight- or ill-fitting clothes.
Daily bathing is not necessary, as it tends to make alreadydry skin even drier. Instead, you can sponge bathe the parts of the body that really need it--the hands, face, neck, armpits and (for babies) the diaper area.
A moisturizer or soap should be avoided as they can contain fragrances that will trigger a flare-up of eczema. Look for products that are fragrance-free.
Avoid overdressing your child unnecessarily at night, because getting too hot can make the rash worse.
Stress can trigger eczema or make it worse. Try to reduce the stress.
Make a paste by adding 1 tsp camphor to 1-teaspoon sandalwood and apply on the affected eczema areas. This is also very effective home remedy for eczema.
Make a paste by rubbing a nutmeg against a smooth stone slab with a little water and. Apply to affected eczema area.
Apply Crisco 2-3 times a day is said to not only make you greasy, but eczema free.
Coconut oil may be applied to the areas with eczema.
For eczema treatment add carrot juice and spinach juice and apply to the affected area.
Drink plenty of water and take fruit juices like orange.
Make a paste by adding 1 tbls turmeric powder to a tbls of bitter neem leaves. Apply to the affected areas.
Deficiency of vitamin B6 may also cause eczema. So increase your intake of vitamin B6.
Evening primrose oil can also help. It contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is helpful in curing the eczema.
Take watercress every day. It helps to cure the eczema, along with a daily drink of parsley, spinach, celery, and wheat grass.
Add 1 Tbsp. Vinegar,1 Tbsp. Honey. Mix together with water and drink all at once. This is very effective home remedy for eczema.
Neem has been used for treating all sorts of skin problems for centuries. It contains Nimbidol and Gedunin, which have excellent fungicidal properties. Crush some neem leaves and apply to the affected area. It will immediately give relief.
Basil (tulsi) is extremely effective in treating skin disorders as it is a blood purifier and kills bacteria.
Crush the garlic clove and mix it with half a cup of hot water in a pan. Soak a clean washcloth in the solution and then apply to the affected areas only.
Add five drops of castor oil in half a cup of any fruit or vegetable juice, or plain water, and take on an empty stomach in the morning, is beneficial for any kind of skin disease.
One or two bananas a day are useful for those who are allergic to certain foods and who consequently suffer from skin rashes, such as in eczema.
Foods which should be excluded from the diet are tea, coffee, chocolate, cola drinks, alcohol, sugar and products made from it, refined cereals, meats, fish, chicken, tobacco, milk, cheese, butter, smoked and salted pickled foods, and foods containing any chemical additives, preservatives and flavorings.
For eczema treatment try to do some prevention techniques such as relaxation, exercise, meditation, and mind control.
Apply a mixture of 1 teaspoon camphor and 1 teaspoon sandalwood paste on the rashes. Apply nutmeg paste to the affected areas. Put natural vitamin E on the affected skin, it will relieve you of itching. Zinc taken orally and applied directly on the affected skin is effective. Both shark cartilage and lotion of blueberry leaves reduce inflammation. Use pine tar soap to wash the affected skin. Drink tomato juice daily, it will cure the symptoms in a few days.
Avoid dairy products
Diet never causes eczema. Food only causes allergy, it does not cause eczema. It is the genes of a person that cause eczema. If you are allergic or sensitive to certain foods then try avoiding them, because they can trigger eczema. Dairy products, eggs, nuts, preservatives and citrus fruits are more likely to trigger eczema.
Other Suggestions for Eczema
Always avoid substances you are allergic to. Wear cotton clothes as they do not irritate your itchy skin. Exposure to water for a long time can lead to skin dryness. Use good quality moisturizer.