Eczema is characterized by inflammation of the skin, and can also exhibit swelling, crusting, scaling, oozing, red bumps and itching.
There are several types of eczema and they are: Atopic eczema, which shows up in people with family histories of allergies, asthma, vitamin b12 deficiencies, and respiratory/allergic problems such as hay fever; contact eczema is characterized by allergy-causing agents, chemicals, certain perfumes and exposure or contact with the skin will create a rash; seborrhieic eczema, is found mainly on the face, scalp and face; chronic eczema is seen on the hands or feet and can get quite severe; nummular eczema, this is seen as coin-shaped chronic red spots that will cause scaling and crusting and usually seen in those of 35 years or older; stasis eczema, occurs in the lower legs and is associated with poor blood flow and a tendency for the skin to turn brownish; generalized eczema, shows up with widespread inflammation over much of the skin; localized scratch eczema, this shows up as patches usually on arms, legs, ankles and genitals, often with whitish areas and surrounded sometimes by areas of increased pigmentation or color, and mostly affects those who are 50 and older.
Eczema is often called Dermatitis, and may be a symptom of a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids.
It can also be brought on by allergies, digestive disorders and a hydrochloric acid deficiency, can cause rashes, genetic metabolic disorders and nutritional deficiencies in vitamins B3, B6, and other B vitamins.
Aromatherapy can be helpful to sooth and help with healing: Bergamot, lavender, neroli, chamomile, melissa, eucalyptus, juniper and/or geranium.
You will want to change your diet to an organic, wholefoods diet and avoid allergy-causing foods like, wheat, dairy (including yogart), and sugar.
In addition to this avoid excess consumption of fruit, especially sour and citrus, as these can make the symptoms worse.
Flower Essences to use are Rescue Remedy®, for stress and Rescue Remedy Cream® on the affected skin areas.
Herbs that will help are cleavers, yellowdock, nettle, or red clover tea or tinctures.
You can also combine them with relaxing herbs like linden flowers, skullcap or chamomile.
One combination to try would be equal parts of nettle, chamomile and cleavers - drink 3 times per day.
For a stronger mixture uses the tinctures of burdock, cleavers and figwort in equal parts and take only one teaspoon of this mixture 3 times a day.
To help with the itching soak the affected areas with lukewarm or cold chickweed infusion.
For dry, cracked skin, use a salve that is made from St.
Johns Wort leaves and calendula flowers.
Goldenseal used externally is also helpful.
Homeopathy use: Dulcamara, Sulfur, Thus tox.
, and Graphites, you can take them alone or in combination with each other and this will speed the healing.
These following juice combinations will also help with the healing process: black currant and red grapes; beet, cucumber, spinach, carrot, parsley; and wheat grass juice.
The nutritional Supplements to use are: Vitamin A and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 essential fatty acid which is found in high quantities in evening primrose oil - both have been shown to ease and improve the symptoms brought on by eczema.
Other useful supplements are vitamin B complex, E, B6, magnesium and zinc.
You can also apply the evening primrose oil directly to cracked and sore areas of the skin.
And still another option is to make a paste from licorice root extract and ginkgo, applied directly to the affected areas.