12 Natural Remedies For Eczema, Rashes and a Range of Persistent Skin Conditions | Dr. Dragan Jovanov

Eczema covers a wide spectrum of skin disease that result in skin irritation and inflammation. Statistically speaking, it affects over 5% of adults and children and 20% of infants. Even more disturbing is the fact that these numbers are on the rise as a result of environmental and dietary factors.

Traditional treatment of eczema includes corticosteroid creams. But, there’s a huge drawback in relation to topical creams or immunomodulators, which only relieve the symptoms without eliminating the root cause. Plus, they are often related to cancers.

Not only do corticosteroids and immunosuppressants fail to solve the skin issues, but they also create dependence in patients who use them. Thus, a vicious circle is created as eczema returns when patients stop using them. Even worse, this can eventually lead to a need for even stronger corticosteroids as a patient’s body becomes resistant to the ones previously used.

When it comes to this, most doctors will tell you that they cannot track the exact cause of your eczema, which is true as eczema can be triggered by many different factors. Some of them include fragrances in cosmetic products, laundry detergents, dust, processed foods and diet, and last, but not least, environmental pollutants.

Allowing your body to heal itself with the help of dietary plans and natural health remedies is the best thing to do when battling against these skin issues. The following recommendations are highly beneficial for stimulating your immune system into self-healing.

Foods to cut out of your diet

- All refined sugars (since they are highly inflammatory); cut down on cane or white sugar, agave, or high fructose corn syrup, as well as chewing gums and diet products, because they all contain toxins.

- All artificial sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame, saccharine, sorbitol and many more).

- Other foods containing poisons, mainly acquired through pesticides that overload your immune system – tomatoes, eggplant, paprika, all peppers, goji berries and white potatoes.

- Also avoid fried foods, yeast, alcohol, smoking, smoked foods, peanuts, and shellfish.

- You must reduce stress too.

Some efficient natural remedies that are highly beneficial for severe skin conditions are recommended in this article.

1. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has proved extremely efficient in many people in treatment of their eczema or even their baby’s eczema without any additional medication.

However, bear in mind that your coconut oil must be obtained from sources which are organic and virgin, not refined, bleached or deodorized. Virgin Coconut Oil, for example, contains lauric acid, which accounts for 50% of the fatty acids and also has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. This miraculous oil is also rich in Medium Chain Fatty Acids or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). Virgin Coconut Oil offers proper nourishment for dry eczema skin.

The application of virgin coconut oil is very simply and is done with very little touching or rubbing.

2. Kelp

Also known as seaweed, kelp grows in ocean kelp forests and is used as food and medicine in many cultures. These brown algae have a therapeutic effect on your skin and body and they significantly improve the skin condition. They stimulate the eczema-affected skin cells to self-heal and rebuild. It can be obtained in both pill and capsule form, as a concentrated liquid, or included in other products. Kelp use can be oral, when ingested, or topical, when applied directly on the affected skin.

3. Fermented Cod Liver Oil

The modern and traditional preparations of cod liver oil are quite different. The modern preparation of cod liver oil includes extracting the oil from the fatty tissues of cod fish while cooked, and this cooking and the subsequent refining remove some of its bioactive components.

In contrast, the traditional production of cod liver oil offers a more nutritious and medicinal oil since the process includes fermentation rather than cooking.

Still, both EPA and DHA have anti-inflammatory properties. Omega-3 fatty acids can lessen certain symptoms of eczema such as red and inflamed skin by contributing to the reduction of inflammation in tissues. Except for these anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3 fatty acids are also integrated into the skin cells.Thus, when the blood levels of omega-3 acids falls, the skin can be easily irritated, and it appears dry and flaky. Studies prove that omega-3 fatty acid deficiency also increases the keratinization of skin cells. As a result, destruction and accumulation of dead skin cells ensue.

4. Colloidal Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-itch and protective effects which make it an excellent cleanser and moisturizer that calms and protects damaged skin.

This is attributed to the vast chemical composition of oats: for one thing, the high concentration in starches and beta-glycan creates a water-holding barrier on the skin and the cellulose and fiber content of oat create emollient, or skin-softening, properties; the variety of phenols make it a powerful UV absorber, and the saponins function as cleansing agents.

Its versatile use can be explained as follows:

When combined with a liquid, this special form of oatmeal is similar to a colloid, i.e. its molecules spread through another medium (i.e. the bath water), permanently changing consistency of that medium.

The great thing about colloidal oatmeal bath is that the oatmeal particles don’t all sink to the bottom of the tub.

What enables the grain to readily absorb liquid is the fact that for the production of colloidal oatmeal, the oats are very finely ground, actually, pulverized. So when the colloidal oatmeal is added to bath water, it almost immediately gives a milky, slimy consistency to the water, which then coats your skin, providing protection, moisture and softness.

In 2003 the Food and Drug Administration decided that all products claiming to relieve the irritation and itching of eczema must contain colloidal oatmeal.

5. Burdock Root

Burdock root has proved highly successful in reducing inflammations and destruction of inulin, linked to eczema outbreaks. This beneficial herb root contains some valuable minerals such as iron, manganese, magnesium, along with small amounts of zinc, calcium, selenium, and phosphorus.

Plus, burdock root has small quantities of many vital vitamins, including folic acid, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, vitamin-E, and vitamin-C, which is crucial for optimum health. Both vitamin C and E are powerful natural antioxidants that help the human body stave off infections.

In case you prefer tea, burdock root tea is easy to make.

6. Olive Leaf

Olive leaf traditional remedies are famous for their antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects as well as their ability to improve the immune system.

Olive leaf extracts possess polyphenols which are potent antioxidants. Actually, the fresh olive leaves liquid preparation has proved to have double antioxidant capacity than green tea and 4 times the antioxidant capacity of vitamin C.

This plant is an excellent antiseptic which means it can help ward off infection and bacteria. In cases of eczema, when you tend to scratch that itch, if the skin breaks, you become susceptible to infection.

Moreover, olive leaf has its contribution in the prevention of damage to the gut caused by harmful free radicals, ensuring that foreign substances such as pathogens and toxins that trigger inflammatory reactions never get into the bloodstream.