Three year old Chloe suffers from Eczema! Her mom spends, hours together thinking of ways to stop Chloe’s tiny little fingers scratching her skin till it bleeds. She wraps her little girl in bandages and soaks her in moisturizers, but her scratching doesn’t go away!
Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition causing dry, red blisters to the skin. It is common among children, especially infants – reacting to pets, carpets, woolen fabrics, cigarettes, and perfumes. Most children are able to outgrow it as they get older, because they develop better immunity.
Eczema is a general term for Dermatitis that includes atopic, contact, dyshidrotic, nummular and seborrheic dermatitis. It makes the skin dry, cracked and leathery. For many adults, it can be chronic, and for others it could be seasonal. Eczema gets aggravated during winter, summer or with the changing weather.
Eczema usually occurs on the inside of the elbow, back of the knees, cheeks, behind ears, buttocks, hands and feet. Eczema may be caused due to an overactive immune system or a weak skin barrier allowing the germs to invade. Other factors causing Eczema include stress, irritation to synthetic material and extreme weather conditions.
Taking long term prescribed medication for Eczema, may have side effects. You could try using natural remedies to fight eczema. Using wet wraps as bandages around ankles and elbows, and cold compresses will give some relief to children. Trimming the finger nails will reduce scratching to some extent. One rule may not always apply with your child; think creatively to come up with different strategies.
Essential Oils for Eczema
Our essential oils for Eczema include Lavender, Geranium, Tea Tree, Clary Sage, and Avocado Oil. These essential oils have a unique anti-inflammatory property that heals and soothes the itching and dryness of the skin. Try different combinations to see which one works for you the best. If lavender is your personal favorite, combine it with avocado oil to find out if it really works for you. Apply twice a day on the affected area to fight Eczema.
Self-help Tips
- 1. Try changing your laundry detergent, to see if that is the one causing an allergic reaction.
- 2. Use mild soaps and body washes in the place of strong ones.
- 3. Woolen clothes aggravate dry skin. Instead, try using layers of cotton clothes to stay warm.
- 4. Wear gloves at night to avoid scratching.
- 5. Take quick showers instead of long baths, to avoid dry skin.
- 6. Sweating can aggravate dry skin. So take extra measures to wipe out sweat, and keep the skin fresh.
- 7. Blowing wind can cause dryness, so avoid the exposure to extreme conditions.
- 8. Central heating dries up the moisture from the skin, use a humidifier!
Even though not life threatening, Eczema is a serious issue that is capable of irritating and disrupting your peace of mind. If you have a child like Chloe or you yourself are suffering Eczema, don’t allow itching turn into a chronic problem!
For further reading: http://www.nationaleczema.org/