Natural Skin Care For Eczema
Ever had an itchy, scaly, rash on your finger that faded when you stopped wearing a new ring? Or caught poison ivy when you stumbled onto a previously uncharted patch of underbrush while walking your dog?
Eczema, or dermatitis, as it’s also called, covers an entire range of red, itchy, scaly skin irritations. Some types of eczema are temporary, like poison ivy. Other types, like atopic dermatitis (AD), are more persistent.
But whether your eczema’s caused by a run-in with a poison plant or a chronic skin condition like AD, you can ease the itch and-in many cases-clear your skin with quick, easy remedies. Even better, you can minimize AD flare-ups by taking simple preventive measures and speed healing with by-prescription only relief.
All the eczema’s tend to overlap. If you have one type of dermatitis, your skin is going to be more sensitive to others.
The three most common types of eczema are AD, contact dermatitis and nummular dermatitis. While they share the same surname, it’s virtually the only thing these skin conditions have in common.
Your skin seems to get riled every time you pop a peanut into your mouth or dunk your Oreo into a glass of milk. Is it your imagination? No. Food allergies play a significant role in eczema flare-ups. What’s more, just touching-let alone eating-the food can do a number on your skin.
Most dermatologists agree that the six worst eczema triggering foods-also called the big six-are:
Eggs
Milk
Peanuts
Wheat
Soy
Seafood
You should call your doctor if you experience an allergic reaction after eating any of these foods.
It just has to be treated symptomatically. People over 60 with nummular dermatitis, however, often have a history of dry scaly skin, especially in winter.
Because prescription drugs used to treat eczema can cause serious side effects, they’re often the remedy of last resort. Prednisone can cause brittle bones and cataracts. Cyclosporine, used to treat psoriasis as well as AD, can led to kidney problems and eczema usually flares up when you go off the drug.
Researchers are working to find new drugs that treat eczema without the damaging side effects. Gamma interferon, a natural body product that reduces the body’s inflammatory responses, may lessen AD’s severity and provide the best hope for the future.
