Natural Home Remedies for Eczema

The Five Best Natural Home Remedies for Eczema

Red, itchy skin often with small fluid-filled bumps is one of the easily visible signs of eczema. Also known as 'atopic dermatitis', this irritating skin condition at its worst can make it difficult for individuals to sleep or perform their daily routine work. A doctor can prescribe the right medication for relieving the itching. However, there are quite a few natural home remedies for eczema that you may want to give a try as well.

Before we go on to take a look at some home treatments for eczema, let's find out what are the signs and symptoms of this skin condition and what its causes are.

What are the signs and symptoms of eczema?

Individuals with atopic dermatitis often have red to brownish-gray colored patches that itch, especially at night. There may be small, raised bumps. When scratched, these bumps may leak fluid and crust over. The skin may be thickened, scaly or cracked. Constant scratching can make the skin raw and painful.

Eczema can occur anywhere on the skin. However, it is most likely to appear on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, face, neck and the upper chest. It is also most likely to appear in the bend of the elbows or behind the knees. It may also appear on your eyelids.

The condition usually begins in childhood. In most people, eczema flares up from time to time and then subsides. Symptoms may disappear completely for many months or even years before these flare up again.

Severe itching results in scratching, which in turn increases the irritation of the skin. If the barrier of the skin gets broken due to constant scratching, the skin may also get infected with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. In fact, most people with atopic dermatitis have these bacteria on their skin. These can further worsen the symptoms.

Some people think that eczema is contagious and they keep the child away from other siblings. However, the condition is not contagious so you don't have to worry about other family members getting this condition.

Before we go on to take a look at the best natural home remedies for eczema, it is important to understand the causes of this skin condition and the factors that may worsen its symptoms.

What are the causes of eczema?

Although not much is known about the causes of eczema, it is considered that people with this skin condition may lack certain proteins in the skin. The lack of these proteins makes the skin hypersensitive, which in turn causes swelling and redness.

People with a history of asthma or seasonal allergies have been found to be prone to this skin condition. Children with family members with hay fever, asthma, or other allergies are likely to inherit genes that predispose them to atopic dermatitis.

Keep in mind that eczema may get worse when the person is exposed to certain triggers that cause allergies. However, allergies do not cause eczema.

Symptoms of eczema may get worse if an individual is exposed to pollen, mold, pet dander, or dust mites. Cold and dry air or contact with chemicals, rough fabrics and other irritants may worsen the symptoms. Colds or flu, dry skin, too much swimming, bathing or showering, and skin lotions or soaps may also worsen the symptoms. Certain foods such as eggs, milk, or wheat, stress, rapid changes in temperature, and pollution are also likely causes that can worsen this skin condition.

Now that we have an idea about the symptoms and causes of eczema, let's find out if there is any way to prevent this condition. We will go on to look at the best natural home remedies for eczema after a brief look at prevention.

How to prevent eczema?

Eczema is inherited, so it isn't really possible to prevent this condition. However, a few studies have shown that breastfeeding until the infant is 4 months old may prevent this condition from occurring.

Since dry skin is one of the major causes of an eczema flare-up, it may be worthwhile to keep the skin moisturized. Dry skin can be prevented by spending less than 15 minutes while bathing and using lukewarm water instead of hot water. Using bath oil may help in reducing the drying effect of bathing. Deodorant and antibacterial soaps cause dryness. Avoid these and use mild soaps instead. Use a thick moisturizer or baby oil immediately after taking a bath to lock the moisture in.

Since eczema may get worse when exposed to certain allergens, it may be useful to avoid things that can worsen your symptoms. This includes avoiding exposure to pollen and dander, dry winter air, harsh fabrics, foods that may cause allergies, skin care products containing strong fragrances, harsh soaps, excessive stress or heat and sweating.

Using a humidifier may prevent dry air from worsening your eczema symptoms. Avoid scratching as much as possible. Use cold compresses to reduce the irritation so that you don't scratch too much and damage your skin. Cool, smooth clothing is the best option to avoid a flare up of dermatitis or prevent the symptoms from worsening. Drink lots of water since this also adds moisture to the skin.

Now let's take a look at the five best natural home remedies for eczema.

The Top Five Natural Home Remedies for Eczema

Virgin coconut oil

Coconut oil is considered to be one of the best natural remedy for eczema. This oil provides enough moisture to the skin to prevent it from drying. It also contains vitamin E which also helps promote healing of the skin.

Buy virgin coconut oil and apply it on the skin immediately after taking a bath. It will not only reduce itching but also prevent flare-ups of eczema. 

                                                            

Oatmeal

Another "delicious" home remedy for eczema is oatmeal. Yes, not only can you eat this one but also use it on your skin to soothe dry and irritated skin. The best way to use it is by taking an oatmeal bath. Oatmeal baths will soften your skin, prevent drying, and reduce the itchiness.

Take whole oats and grind it in a food processor to turn it into powdered form. Add the oatmeal to tepid water and allow yourself to soak in the bath for about 10 to 15 minutes. Some people find that adding full fat milk or honey is further beneficial to leave the skin moisturized for a long time. Pat dry with a soft towel and do not rub your skin. You can take this bath three times a day to reduce itchy and irritated skin. 

                                                                 

Tea Tree Oil

An essential oil known for its benefits to dry and itchy skin is tea tree oil. You can add 10 drops of tea tree essential oil to your lukewarm bath water and soak the affected areas for about 20 minutes. Tea tree oil has antiseptic and soothing effects on the skin. It will relieve the itchiness and dryness on the skin. Add a few drops of virgin coconut oil to the water and your skin will end up being moisturized as well.

Tea tree oil can also be combined with olive oil or almond oil and applied directly to the skin. Make sure to test this preparation before the actual application to assess any possible allergies to tea tree oil. 

                                                               

Shea Butter

Another wonderful natural home remedy for eczema is shea butter You will find shea butter in many skin care products. However, what you should look for is raw shea butter since it is the best possible moisturizer for your dry, itchy skin.

Shea butter can either be added to your bath water or applied directly to the affected areas. Test this natural home remedy before the actual application to make sure that you are not allergic to this product. 

                                                              

Neem Leaves

Neem, or Azadirachta indica, is a popular Indian natural home remedy for eczema. The leaves, oils, and flowers taken from this tree are used to treat a range of health conditions including urinary disorders and diabetes. It is especially useful for skin conditions.

Neem oil can also be purchased and applied directly on the affected area. However, since the smell of this oil is quite strong, some people may not like applying it on their skin. 

                                                               

You can take a neem bath as well. Allow neem leaves to soak in warm water for about 30 minutes. Take a bath using this water. Do not use a towel. Allow the water to dry on its own. Taking this neem bath will relieve the itching and also cure the rashes.

                                                               

Other tips for eczema relief

Now that you know about the five best natural home remedies for eczema, let's take a look at a few other tips for eczema relief:

• To prevent yourself from scratching at night, try wearing gloves.
• Since sweating can cause your eczema symptoms to worsen, avoid rigorous exercising during a flare-up.
•   If you just can't stop yourself from itching, try using calamine lotion to soothe the irritated skin.
•  Take omega-3 three fatty acid supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory and soothing properties and may relieve itchy and irritated skin. You can get your daily dose of this essential fatty acid by consuming fish oil, replacing your regular cooking oil with flaxseed oil, or by consuming a mackerel or tuna at lunch.

What to do if these natural home remedies for eczema do not work?

While these home remedies for atopic dermatitis are usually quite useful, you may want to see a doctor if your symptoms are getting worse and making you lose sleep. A painful or infected skin is another reason why you may want to consult a doctor for treatment of your eczema symptoms.

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Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn

Five Best Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn

Red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch is the main symptom of sunburn. While there are quite a few natural home remedies for sunburn that can help ease the pain and tenderness, the best thing to do is to prevent it from happening.

Before we go on to look at the best natural home remedies for sunburn, let's learn what sunburn is exactly, what causes it, and how you can prevent it from occurring in the first place.

What is sunburn?

Pink or red skin that feels hot to the touch is the most visible sign of sunburn. You may experience pain or tenderness. There may also be swelling. The skin may develop blisters that break and ooze out pus. There is basically no part of your body that is protected from experiencing the effects of sunburn. Sunburn can affect your earlobes, scalp, and even your eyes.

Signs of sunburn will begin to appear within a few hours of sun exposure and the body will begin to heal in a few days time. The healing is characterized by peeling of the skin's top layer.

There are several natural home remedies for sunburn that can help relieve the pain. Before we go onto these, let's look at the causes of sunburn.

What are the causes of sunburn?

Exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) is the reason for sunburn. UV radiation is a wavelength of sunlight and it can be divided into three bands - UVA, UVB, and UVC. While UVC is not able to reach you, UVA and UVB rays definitely can cause harm.

When your skin is exposed to the UV light of the sun, it increases the production of melanin, a pigment responsible for giving the skin its normal color. This increase in melanin production is what gives you a suntan. However, there is a limit to which your skin can produce melanin when exposed to sunlight and this is determined genetically.

This means that when you are moving around in the sun, the UV light gets to the epidermis (outer layer of the skin) and begins to damage the living cells present there. These living cells are present just below the outer layer of dead skin cells.

Now, during sunburn, these living cells get damaged or killed. So, your body will notice it and react to it. Your immune system will begin to act by increasing blood flow to the exposed area. It does this so that the white blood cells can remove these dead cells from the skin. This increased blood flow makes your skin red and hot. The damaged cells also send signals to the brain which is why your skin is so sensitive and painful.

Most people think that they can't get sunburn on hazy or cloudy days. This is not true. Even on these days, UV rays are passing through the haze and clouds and reaching your skin. This is why dermatologists advise using a sunscreen even on cloudy days and even in winters.

We will take a look at the best natural home remedies for sunburn. However, as mentioned before, the best thing to do is to prevent sunburn. Let's take a look at a few tips on how you can prevent sunburn.

How to prevent sunburn?

·            This might sound funny. However, the best way to avoid sunburn is to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Of course, not everyone can do this. The right thing to do here is to try your best to stay out of the sun from 10 am to 4 pm.

·            Estimate your UV exposure with the help of your shadow. If your shadow is longer than you, it means that UV exposure is low. If it is shorter than you, UV exposure is high. Avoid stepping out when UV exposure is high.

·            If you do have to go out, try to find shade as much as possible. Make sure to wear protective clothing. This means use a wide-brimmed hat which covers your eyes and neck as well. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Clothing should be loose and should cover your arms and legs.

·            If you are fond of using tanning booths, avoid it. These may cause skin damage as well.

·            Always use a sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Sunscreens should have an SPF of at least 15 and should be applied at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun. Don't forget your lips, ears and neck. Keep in mind that sunburn can happen even in these body parts. If you are outdoors, apply the sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours. Take a look at some of these sunscreens that will surely help.

           

·            In the hot summer days, eat foods that are rich in antioxidants. Include foods such as leafy green vegetables, mangoes, melons, and carrots. These are rich in beta-carotene which offers some protection from the damaging effects of the sun. The lycopene in tomatoes can also help prevent sunburn. The polyphenols present in green tea are also compounds that may provide protection from the UV rays.

Now, let's take a look at some natural home remedies for sunburn.

The Five Top Natural Home Remedies for Sunburn

Aloe Vera

We have all heard how good aloe vera is for the skin and this is why it is always good to have it in your own garden. It is also the best natural home remedy for sunburn. It soothes the sunburned skin and relieves the pain and tenderness. The best way to use aloe vera is to use it fresh from an aloe leaf. Just cut a small piece from the top, take out the gel, and apply directly to the affected area. Apply it five to six times daily for as long as you want. It will heal the sunburn in no time and also leave your skin soft and smooth as well.

If you can't find fresh aloe gel, you can buy it at the below link. 

                                                       

Milk and Yogurt

You may love your milk or your favorite yogurt, but did you know that these could actually be one of the best natural home remedies for sunburn!. Milk can be applied directly to the affected area. Slightly cold milk will be the best thing to use here. You probably know that cold compresses are very effective sunburn relief remedies. Instead of using cold water, you can use cold milk here. Do it as often as you want throughout the day.

You can also use yogurt. Homemade yogurt with no added ingredients is one of the best natural home remedies for sunburn. If you are buying it from the store, make sure to get plain yogurt. Just apply it on the skin and leave it on. It will cool the skin and reduce the burning sensation.  

Tea

The tannic acid in tea is quite a wonderful natural home remedy for sunburn relief. You can use tea bags for this. Used tea bags may work as a good cold compress. You just need to place them in the refrigerator and use as often as you want.

However, the best way to do this is to steep a large pot of strong tea. Once the tea is ready, just refrigerate it. Apply this in the burned area using small towels.

Potatoes and Cucumbers

We all know how soothing potatoes and cucumbers are for our eyes and skin. These are also quite useful as natural home remedies for sunburned skin. You can grate the potatoes or cucumbers and apply on the skin.

Another way to use these two wonderful foods for sunburn relief is to blend them in a blender till they are in liquid form. Apply the juice on the sunburned skin and leave it on till it dries out. Take a shower after that. You can add mint juice to your potato or cucumber remedy as well.

Baking Soda

Take a bath in bathing soda for sunburn relief. Add about one to two cups of baking soda to your bath tub and take a soak for about 15 minutes. Avoid overdoing it since it may dry your skin.

If you like taking baths, then just add it to your bath water. Don't dry your skin with a towel after the bath or else you will just remove all traces of the baking soda from your sunburned skin.

Other Tips for Sunburn Relief

While these natural home remedies for sunburn are quite effective, you may want to take an over-the-counter medication for quick pain relief. You can take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin for this.

If you have blisters, avoid opening or bursting these. Do not cover these and avoid wearing clothing that may irritate them. Apply honey or white vinegar on the blisters since these have anti-bacterial properties and may prevent an infection.

What to do if these natural home remedies for sunburn do not work for you?

If the sunburn is severe, use calamine lotion or milk of magnesia to relieve the burning and tenderness. These products may be able to help here.

                                                

If these natural home remedies for sunburn and the above products do not provide relief, make sure to consult a doctor. This is especially necessary if you have fever, severe headache, large amount of blisters, or if you are feeling faint and dizzy.

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Natural Home Remedies for Acne

The Five Best Natural Home Remedies for Acne and Pimples

If you are a teenager, the chances are that you are here looking for a natural home remedy for acne and pimples. Of course, you don't like the look of that zit on your face and you want to get rid of it as fast as you can. No one likes a pimple on the face and it doesn't matter whether you are a teenager or an adult.

Before we go and look at some fantastic natural home remedies for acne and pimples, let's have a brief look at what is acne and what are its causes.

What is acne?

Acne refers to those bumps on your face. If you are a teenager, these bumps are mostly caused due to hormonal changes characteristic of puberty. You are also more likely to get acne on the face if your parents had it when they were teenagers. So, blame it on your genes!

Most teenagers and even adults get acne in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts on their face, neck, upper back, chest and shoulders. If you have consulted a skin specialist for your condition, you probably have heard the name 'acne vulgaris'. The word 'vulgaris' means 'of the common type' and it is exactly as it means, that is, this is the most common type of acne.

Now, let's have a look at how acne occurs.

What causes acne?

The pores or the hair follicles that you see on your face contain oil glands. These oil glands are medically called the sebaceous glands. These oil glands produce a substance called sebum. This substance moisturizes your skin and hair and is quite useful for the skin. However, when you are a teenager, the hormones stimulate these glands, thus, increasing sebum production.

As more sebum is produced, the pores tend to get clogged. These pores get infected with bacteria. The result is quite obvious on your face. There is swelling and redness indicating that acne has just hit your face.

Now, before we have a look at some natural home remedies for acne and pimples, let's find out the difference between whiteheads, blackheads and pimples.

What is the difference between blackheads, whiteheads and pimples?

As mentioned above, increased sebum production causes the pores to be clogged. A whitehead occurs when the pore closes. However, you can still see it in the form of a white bulge on the skin.

When the same clogged pore stays open, it gets darkish in color. This is a blackhead.

A pimple occurs when the pore is open and bacteria, dead skin cells, and sebum enter the skin. These pimples are sometimes filled with pus.

If the pores open up too deep into the skin, it can take the form of cysts and boils. These are often quite painful and much larger than the usual small pimple.  

Now that we know a little bit about acne, let's move on to how to treat pimples.

Here is a look at the five best natural home remedies for acne and pimples.

The Top Five Natural Home Remedies for Acne and Pimples

Honey

Since it has anti-bacterial properties and also quite gentle on sensitive skin, honey can safely be used by anyone as a treatment for acne. You can apply honey as a face mask once or twice a week.

Alternatively, you can even mix it with a little bit of cinnamon powder. Cinnamon is also known for its antibacterial properties. Just mix cinnamon powder and honey and apply it on your pimples before going to bed at night. You will surely see a difference within a week. 

Sandalwood

Another very effective natural home remedy for acne and pimples is sandalwood powder. This has a cooling effect on the skin and also has anti-bacterial properties. The best way to reap the benefits of this home remedy is to make a paste of sandalwood powder and rose water. Apply it on the face and wash it off after about 20 minutes. This is not only effective for the treatment of pimples but is also an effective remedy for treating acne scars.

                                                   

Turmeric

Known for its antibacterial properties, turmeric is a well-known spice used in Indian cuisine. However, not many people know that it is also quite effective as a natural home remedy for acne and pimples. It is also quite useful in removing acne scars.

Turmeric should not be applied alone since it will leave a yellowish color on your skin. A pinch of turmeric should be added to your face mask. You can add it to your sandalwood powder acne mask or even your honey mask.

                                                          

Tea Tree Oil

You have probably heard about the benefits of tea tree oil. However, did you know that it is quite effective in treating pimples as well? This is an essential oil which needs to be diluted before being applied on your pimples. It is known to kill the bacteria that cause acne lesions, Propionibacterium acnes. So, once the bacteria are gone, the pimples will disappear as well. 

                                                          

Orange Peel

You may love to eat your oranges but don't throw away the peels if you have acne! Dried orange peels are quite an effective natural home treatment for acne and pimples. Just allow the orange peel to dry out in shade and grind it into a powder. Store it in an airtight container. If you don't want to go through the hassle of drying and grinding it, you can buy also buy it.

Take as much as you want and mix it with plain water or rose water. Add a pinch of turmeric and apply it on the affected areas. Instead of water, you can also add plain yogurt to make a paste. Just let it stay on the affected area for about 15 minutes and then wash it off by scrubbing it gently. 

                                                         

Tips to Cure Acne and Pimples

While the above natural home remedies for acne and pimples are surely going to help clear up your face in no time, there are certain other things that you should keep in mind. Here are these tips:

• Avoid touching your face.
• Make sure to keep you face clean. Wash it with a mild soap or face wash twice a day.
• Don't overdo the washing! It will only further increase sebum production and lead to more clogged pores.
• Don't scrub your face with the wash cloth or any harsh substance. Be gentle while washing or drying your face or the other acne affected areas.
• Keep your hair away from your face, especially if you use hair oils or hair sprays.
• Make sure to wash your face after you get back home from your school or office or when you get back from exercising.
• The most important, never ever squeeze or pick or touch your pimple. If you do so, you will end up with more inflammation, more clogged pores, and the acne will leave scars on your face.

What to do if none of the natural home remedies for acne and pimples help you?

While the above home treatments for acne and pimples are quite effective, sometimes you may need a stronger product for getting rid of these bumps on your face and back. In this case, you may want to try out some over-the-counter medications for acne treatment. Look for products based on benzoyl peroxide, retinol, and salicylic acid since these are especially effective as a treatment for acne and pimples.

Here is a list of some of the most popular acne treatments.

      

If these acne treatment products do not work, it is time to consult a skin specialist or dermatologist. This specialist will look at your skin condition and prescribe a topical medication as well as an oral medicine to help you get rid of the acne.

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© Copyright Roohi Khan, 2012