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- What is eczema?
- Symptoms of eczema
- Causes of eczema
- Prevention of eczema
- Risk factors for eczema
- Complications of eczema
- When to see a doctor about eczema
- Diagnosis of eczema
- Conventional treatment of eczema
- Alternative/complementary treatment of eczema
- Living with eczema
- Caring for someone with eczema
Management of eczema is achieved best by avoiding the allergens/irritants, reducing incidence of flare-ups, reducing symptoms and supporting the immune system to prevent recurrence:
Reduce severity of existing symptoms
- Apply a cool compress - use plain cotton fabric which has been moistened with cold water to the area on the skin which is inflamed with the eczema. This simple remedy can provide a great deal of immediate (albeit temporary) relief, but enough to reduce the worst of inflammation and itchiness
- Avoid having hot baths or showers - very hot water can aggravate the eczema symptoms by creating further inflammation and should be avoided. When eczema symptoms are visible on the skin, have a lukewarm bath or shower and bathe as quickly as possible, as the warm water will dry the skin out further and this can make the symptoms of eczema worse
- Avoid scratching the eczema - by scratching the itchy patch(es) of eczema, it only makes it worse and increases the likelihood of developing worse symptoms and spreading the eczema over more area of the skin. Use one of the methods advised to reduce the symptoms to help avoid scratching the itchiness
- Eat more fish - the diet should include 3 portions of oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines or trout) each week. These types of fish contain the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation and this may assist in reducing eczema symptoms
- Moisturise the skin - it is very important to reduce the dryness of the skin, especially after having a bath or shower. Moisturise the skin every day with a gentle, mild moisturiser that is as natural as possible (most organic skin care products contain less chemicals and are less likely to irritate the skin, but try to use one without too many perfumes as they can irritate the skin)
- Omega-3 fatty acids - many studies show that the omega-3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA (in fish oil) and the omega-6 essential fatty acid GLA (in evening primrose oil) are very beneficial in helping to reduce the severity and incidence of symptoms in people with eczema. Always discuss supplementation with your doctor before trying it
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Support the immune system to reduce flare-ups
- Antioxidant minerals - there are several minerals which have a potent antioxidant and immune boosting function and they also boost the healing process to occur more quickly. The best minerals for this are: selenium and zinc. These minerals enable the immune system to function more effectively and this may prevent and reduce flare-ups and reoccurrence of symptoms. Seek advice from your doctor before trying them
- Antioxidant vitamins - there are several minerals which have a potent potent antioxidant and immune boosting function, plus they may help to prevent the skin from drying out. The vitamins most beneficial are: bioflavonoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E. A multivitamin is the best way to provide adequate intake of these vitamins. Seek advice from your doctor before trying them
- Avoid the allergens - it is advisable to avoid the known allergens which can trigger eczema symptoms and cause flare-ups. Avoiding known allergens reduces incidence of flare-ups. Commonly known allergens to be avoided are: pollen, dust mites and animal dander
- Avoid the irritants - avoid the known irritants which can trigger the eczema symptoms and cause flare-ups. Avoiding known irritants reduces incidence of flare-ups. Commonly known irritants to be avoided are: certain fabrics (especially wool), perfumes, cosmetics, cleaning products, soap, shampoo, environmental chemicals, cigarette smoke
- Identify the allergens - it would be most beneficial for the immune system to identify the allergens which cause the eczema in order to avoid them so that the immune system has a break from constantly working to remove them from the body
- Identify the irritants - it would be most beneficial for the immune system to identify the irritants which cause the eczema in order to avoid them so that the immune system has a break from constantly working to remove them from the body
- Other supplements - there are a number of other supplements which have antioxidant properties that boost the function of the immune system or which have other functions to remove toxins from the body that help the function of the immune system. The nutrients most beneficial are: alpha-lipoic acid, co-enzyme Q10, glutamine, probiotics. Seek advice from your doctor before trying them
- Reduce exposure to stress - research suggests that stress can aggravate eczema flare-ups, so it may be beneficial to engage in stress management techniques. This is beneficial in a number of ways, as stress reduction helps to boost the function of the immune system
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< 10: alternative treatment 12: caregiving > Last reviewed: 10 November 2007 || Last updated: 3 January 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
