Soothing Eczema with Homemade Relief Cream
I remember the first time I spotted eczema on my daughter. I just couldn’t believe it! I breastfed her until she was 14 months old, fed her all natural and organic food and now she had eczema! I was dumbfounded to say the least and went on a hunt to fix the problem.
There are several types of eczema, but the most common is known as atopic dermatitis. This is a chronic allergic condition in which the skin develops areas of itchy, scaly rashes.
Symptoms of eczema include:
- Red itchy patches most often located on the hands, elbows, knees and ankles
- Dry leathery patches
- Blisters that often ooze or scab over
- Inflammation around the affected areas
Eczema often occurs in infants and children, many of whom grow out of the symptoms. Yet, some people battle eczema breakouts their entire lives. Some believe certain substances like soaps, animal dander, and environmental allergens trigger eczema. However, many times people with eczema can’t identify an actual cause behind their flare-ups.
Primarily, moisturizing the skin not only treats, but also prevents eczema. Eczema on the hands, in particular, is often caused by frequent hand washing without proper moisture replenishment. Those in the medical field often struggle with this form of eczema due to constant hand-washing and the use of alcohol-based sanitizers.
Unfortunately, most lotions and creams for treatment of eczema are petroleum-based. In researching eczema cures for my daughter, I was disappointed to discover that the creams recommended by dermatologists contained this by-product of the oil industry. That’s right! Petroleum jelly, otherwise known as Vaseline, is made from the same original source as gasoline! Petroleum based products may give the illusion of moisture, but they merely provide a barrier on the skin. This barrier clogs skin pores, traps in dirt and keeps sweat, salts, and other products of human metabolism from evaporating.
If you like the consistency of Vaseline and hesitate to switch, I encourage you to try a product called Un-petroleum Jelly, available HERE. I have used it for years and believe it is the best all natural alternative to Vaseline. Beeswax, cocoa butter and shea butter also act as natural petroleum alternatives by sealing in moisture, but without clogging the pores.
When treating eczema and other skin conditions you should always use creams and lotions that are formulated with all natural oils. These oils are less likely to aggravate the skin because of their similarity to our skin’s own oil.
The following oils are the best for skin. These oils help heal, replenish moisture and soothe irritation and itching.
- Rosehips
- Almond oil
- Carrot seed oil
- Hemp oil
- Argan oil
- Sesame oil
- Coconut oil
Artificial fragrances can also irritate sensitive skin and worsen eczema. The best products to improve skin hydration and barrier function are fragrance-free or are scented with essential oils. For commercial cream, I recommend Skin Food by Weleda, available HERE. It is a blend of sesame oil, almond oil, and beeswax with a wonderful citrus essential oil fragrance. It is the perfect hand cream and is easily thrown in your purse or bag for travel convenience. My daughter keeps a tube at school to use during the winter months to prevent chapped hands and other potential eczema outbreaks.
However, what I found to work best for my daughter was a homemade eczema cream. This combination, along with some dietary changes, helped to clear up her eczema in just 2 weeks!
This powerful cream is just as effective for psoriasis and other skin rashes and irritations.