7 Natural (and Easy!) Remedies for Eczema

I get quite a few questions about skin problems like eczema and psoriasis. I’m not a dermatologist by any means, but I have had some personal experience with eczema (in myself and my family) and have found some natural remedies that have helped us so I wanted to share. As always, ask your own doc and specialists before trying anything!

The Diet Connection With Eczema

I feel it is important to note that all of the topical remedies in the world didn’t help us until we addressed the underlying problem, in our case: diet and lifestyle factors that were causing/contributing to eczema.

Just as you can’t out supplement a bad diet in other areas, topical remedies don’t address the underlying problem.

Certainly, eczema and other skin issues are complex conditions with a potential variety of causes, but there do seem to be some common things that help (both dietary and other).

My Son’s Eczema (& What We Tried)

In our family, our son struggled with eczema off and on for a long time. He was born via c-section (due to placenta previa) and was given antibiotics and steroids as soon as he was born. This led to problems with his gut bacteria, some learning delays, and some skin/digestive problems.

We started the GAPS program (find all the details here) combined with a pretty intensive supplement and lifestyle change for him and finally started to see improvement.

If you haven’t heard of it, GAPS is an intensive diet that focuses on gut-healing foods like bone broth (traditionally prepared and long-simmered so it’s gelatin-rich) and many healthy fats and nutrient sources we typically don’t get enough of in our modern diets. It also includes a fair amount of fermented vegetables, making their nutrients more accessible to those with impaired digestive systems and helping the overall healing process.

How to Try a GAPS Diet

Depending on the severity of the patient, one either begins with or works up to the Introduction Diet, which is the strictest part of the protocol, focused on intensive healing. There are then stages as the person begins to introduce other foods. The most difficult factor of the GAPS diet is that in order to be effective, especially in the beginning, one must be 100% compliant. This means a lot of preparing foods at home, as practically any foods prepared by someone not familiar with the protocol will have things that can aggravate the gut.

For us, it meant consuming more homemade broth and soups (or ones from a quality source) as well as removing certain foods including gluten and casein (wheat and dairy). We also found that it was helpful to avoid food dyes and any processed ingredients, though this was as much from a behavior perspective as a skin one.

If you or a family member struggle with skin problems, allergies or behavior struggles, I’d definitely recommend at least checking out the book Gut and Psychology Syndrome to see if the protocol would be helpful for you.

Natural Remedies for Eczema

Of course, once diet has been addressed, there are some things that can be used topically that may speed healing or limit discomfort during the healing time. For us, these things were helpful:

1. Coconut Oil

We use coconut oil for skin, hair, teeth, and even soap making at our house! It is also great for eczema (as long as the person isn’t allergic/intolerant… I found this out the hard way when I took this genetic test and found out I don’t tolerate it well as a food.)

I’ve found that a thin layer of coconut oil or a coconut oil lotion bar helps cool eczema itching and pain.

For those sensitive to coconut oil, these hypoallergenic lotion bars work really well too.

2. Sea Salt Magnesium Spray

For eczema that is wet/oozing, I’ve found that drying it works better than trying to moisturize it. I’ve often heard people with skin problems say that they felt better at the beach, and it makes sense between the vitamin D from the sun and the magnesium and the minerals in the salt water.

For those who don’t live near the ocean, this homemade magnesium salt spray can help achieve some of the same benefits at home.

3. Omega-3 Oils (While Limiting Omega-6)

This natural eczema remedy may not provide immediate relief but may help get at the root cause. Certain research as recently as 2016 found that consuming high levels of omega-3 (that is, more than you would get from occasionally eating fish), especially at an early age may reduce the risk and severity of eczema. This is due to the DHA and EPA fatty acids found in fish.

While some studies suggest that more research is needed to pinpoint the degree of effectiveness, it seems that avoiding inflammatory omega-6 oils (found in many processed foods and vegetable oils) while increasing omega-3 sources from fish oil and consumption of fish had a positive effect on eczema in the studies listed below.

Unfortunately, studies suggest eating fish alone probably isn’t enough to get therapeutic benefits (though we do incorporate low-mercury seafood often). I find I get the most benefit when I take a fish oil supplement. I get the most benefit from these capsules due to the quality and ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. This company makes a chewable supplement for kids as well.

4. Magnesium Baths

For some people with eczema, soaking in water makes it worse. For those who tolerate it, magnesium baths and other types of detox baths can be helpful in skin healing.

I regularly add a cup of Epsom salts or magnesium flakes and a few tablespoons of Himalayan salt to my kids’ baths. When I have the time, I take relaxing baths in this mixture also.

When I can’t take the time for a bath, magnesium oil also helps. Amazingly, I notice the benefits of transdermal magnesium on the skin much more quickly than when I take internal forms of magnesium.

My favorite magnesium bath recipe is:

1-2 cups of Epsom salts or magnesium flakes (magnesium flakes are absorbed much more easily)
1/2 cup Himalayan or sea salt
1/2 tsp of natural vanilla extract
10-15 drops of essential oil of choice (I love lavender and mint)

These three detox bath recipes are also all great if the person can handle warm water.

5. Probiotics

Research on whether probiotics help eczema is mixed. A 2018 review found probiotics had “little to no effect” on eczema symptoms, although no adverse effects were noted either. This article at NationalEczema.org reviews many of the existing studies and concludes that “probiotics are not effective for the treatment of established atopic dermatitis but may be helpful in prevention.” It also points out that the current body of research may not be conclusive since the type of probiotic strain seems to matter greatly.

I know that probiotics seemed to help my son (high quality probiotics are an important part of the GAPS diet). I’m also constantly seeing more research on the many ways that gut bacteria influence our health, and I can’t believe that skin health is any exception. Could there be a link?

Probiotics and probiotic-rich foods are an element that is increasingly missing in the modern diet as we moved away from traditional food preparations like fermentation. (Find out how to bring back those methods here.) We also make an effort to wash our hands and our food (a good thing with the chemicals on them these days) which also wash off the beneficial soil-borne micro-organisms that provide friendly bacteria to the gut.

I’ve also found that the probiotic strains in those foods were not enough for us. We all now take Probiotics and have seen dramatic improvements in skin and digestive health.

6. Gelatin-Rich Foods

I’ve mentioned that bone broth was an important part of a healing diet for us, and this was partially because of its high gelatin content. Gelatin helps soothe the gut and the collagen it contains is also great for hair, skin, and nail health.

To make broth, you basically save the carcass when you roast a chicken, duck, turkey, or goose and follow these steps. Ideally, the animal lived its life outdoors eating its natural food. This means you’re looking for bones from grass-fed cattle or bison, pastured poultry, or wild-caught fish. Since you’ll be extracting the minerals and drinking them in concentrated form, you want to make sure that the animal was as healthy as possible.

There are several places to find good bones for stock or tallow (rendered fat) from healthy animals:

From a local butcher, especially one who butchers the whole animal
From local farmers who raise grass-fed animals (ask around at your local farmer’s market)
Order online from companies like Butcher Box or US Wellness Meats
I use grass-fed tallow when cooking or in soaps. I get mine at a discount from Thrive Market.

For those who aren’t ready to jump into having a pot of boiling bones on the stove, there is now a great pre-made shelf-stable bone broth available and I always keep this stocked in my pantry.

I also use gelatin in recipes like:

I also stir powdered collagen into smoothies, since this form of gelatin doesn’t clump in cold water.

7. Homemade Healing Salve

For scars or blisters from eczema that take longer to heal, a homemade healing salve was helpful for us. Our son would get eczema on his face before we were able to heal his gut and we are still working on reversing the scars from that. One thing that is helping is this homemade healing salve.

My homemade healing salve (or “boo-boo lotion”, according to the kids) is helpful on eczema as well as: cuts, bruises, stings, poison ivy, and skin irritations. It also helps diaper rash and baby skin irritations- just don’t use with cloth diapers or line them first!

A Note About Infant Eczema

Eczema isn’t a problem just because it causes pain and itching. In babies, it can be a risk factor for other problems. I didn’t realize this when we were figuring out my son’s issues, but according to newer research babies with eczema have a 1 in 3 chance of developing a food allergy later in life. In fact, they are 11 times more likely to develop a peanut allergy by their first birthday compared to infants without eczema.

It’s also important to note that symptoms of eczema often occur earlier than a food allergy, furthering the importance of food allergy prevention for babies with eczema.

Due to this research and other landmark clinical trials such as the LEAP trial, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommend introducing allergenic foods early and often — specifically for infants with eczema — to reduce their risk of developing a food allergy. (I explain more in this post.)

Helpful Eczema Resources

I vividly remember how terrible it was to watch my son suffer through his eczema and I know the pain of not being able to take away the pain/itching a child experiences. The book The Eczema Cure is a very thorough resource and provides answers when it feels like you’ve tried everything else.

For more, don’t miss this podcast interview with Jennifer Fugo, an expert on all things eczema (both personally and professionally), this one with Dr. Nelli Gluzman, and Getting Rid of Eczema for Good With Dr. Ana-Maria Temple.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Soerries, MD, Family Physician and Medical Director of SteadyMD. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Have you ever struggled with eczema or skin problems? What helped you? Share below!

Sources

Calder, P. C., Kremmyda, L. S., Vlachava, M., Noakes, P. S., & Miles, E. A. (2010). Is there a role for fatty acids in early life programming of the immune system?. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 69(3), 373–380.
Martin, P. E., Eckert, J. K., Koplin, J. J., Lowe, A. J., Gurrin, L. C., Dharmage, S. C., Vuillermin, P., Tang, M. L., Ponsonby, A. L., Matheson, M., Hill, D. J., Allen, K. J., & HealthNuts Study Investigators (2015). Which infants with eczema are at risk of food allergy? Results from a population-based cohort. Clinical and experimental allergy: journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 45(1), 255–264.
McPherson T. (2016). Current Understanding in Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis. Indian journal of dermatology, 61(6), 649–655.
Miles, E. A., & Calder, P. C. (2017). Can Early Omega-3 Fatty Acid Exposure Reduce Risk of Childhood Allergic Disease?. Nutrients, 9(7), 784.
Proksch, E., Nissen, H. P., Bremgartner, M., & Urquhart, C. (2005). Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin. International journal of dermatology, 44(2), 151–157.
Schlichte, M. J., Vandersall, A., & Katta, R. (2016). Diet and eczema: a review of dietary supplements for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Dermatology practical & conceptual, 6(3), 23–29.
Varma, S. R., Sivaprakasam, T. O., Arumugam, I., Dilip, N., Raghuraman, M., Pavan, K. B., Rafiq, M., & Paramesh, R. (2018). In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of Virgin coconut oil. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 9(1), 5–14.

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

347 responses to “7 Natural Remedies for Eczema”

Melane

June 9, 2014

Goat milk is actually a natural remedy for eczema and other skin issues. You can actually purchase soap and lotion made with goat milk that will improve your skin immensely!

Reply
karl van tassel

May 29, 2014

I had horrible eczema. I looked like an “all over” burn victim. I would scratch myself till I bleed all over. I once went to the emergency room. I should have gone more than that. I never slept and I smelled like mold and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy and that’s a fact. Somehow I recovered till it was only on my hands but it itched like crazy and wouldn’t heal. I’ve had it spread on my whole body from that vantage point. Ok, here’s the one thing that worked. Nothing else did and I tried everything imaginable. That one thing is: cayenne pepper. It would burn like crazy but for me, to get rid of the itch, it was golden. AND – it encouraged skin cell regeneration. You would think it’s a bad idea but it works, it works, it works. You still have to work hard on practicing good health holistic wisdom.

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Ramlah

May 25, 2014

I tried the sea salt spray with magnesium infused with mint for scent and it burnt my skin. I persisted for a few days but my skin worsened and I stopped using it. I was surprised it didn’t work because bathing in the sea water on the African coast did help my eczema much but sadly this spray didn’t work for me. I will try other suggestions though. Thanks for the ideas.

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1. Angie R.
  
  February 15, 2016
  
  I know this is an old comment, but just fyi, magnesium burns many peoples skin. Especially skin that is irritated. Maybe try the spray again without the magnesium. 🙂
  
  Reply
  1. Shilah
    
    March 4, 2016
    
    Ramlah, I had that experience too! I was surprised since I take magnesium citrate several times a day (in water, tea etc) with no problem. I was hoping to soak in a bathtub but I could not abide the pain it caused. Surprising, since sea water is so soothing to my skin… but I am now a long way from the ocean I swam in as a teen.
    
    Reply
Brooks

May 16, 2014

I’ve recently tried the sea spray. I have battled with eczema since I was a child. I had been prescribed steroids and ointments that had been harsh to my skin. I started developing uneven coloration. The sea spray has cleared my breakouts, and it doesn’t have a harsh effect on my skin. I’m so glad I found natural remedies, rather than expensive steroids.

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Karen

May 12, 2014

Hello!

Thanks for the post. Can you explain how you link your son’s exposure to antibiotics and steroids at birth to learning delays? Also, how old was your son when you tried GAPS and how bad were his skin problems?

I was given antibiotics and steroids when I was pregnant due to PPROM at 30 weeks. The rest of pregnancy was fine and my daughter was born naturally. She does, however, have eczema. It’s not terrible, thought, and it doesn’t seem to itch or bother her. It typically appears on the cheeks and chin, and flares up noticeably if she eats highly acidic foods like tomatoes.

She’s 2 now. She still breastfeeds but she also drinks cow’s milk. I’m wondering whether gut might be the underlying issue. Were you able to reintroduce dairy?

Thanks!

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1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  May 13, 2014
  
  We have been able to reintroduce dairy, especially raw. We started noticing things around age two. His skin wasn’t terrible, but would occasionally get really red and break out around his mouth, cheeks and chin and he would get digestive issues as well. From researching I realized that the particular drugs he received were linked to higher rates of digestive and behavior problems and figured GAPS was worth a try.
  
  Reply
  1. Danielle
    
    November 5, 2015
    
    Hi! If a child has been drinking milk for a year and eczema starts at the age of 2, could it still be an allergy? Wouldn’t he have been allergic from the first introduction?
    
    Thanks in advance:)
    
    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama
      
      November 5, 2015
      
      Allergies can develop over time and be related to gut issues, stopping breastfeeding or any number of factors. For him, it was a mixture of stopping nursing and the underlying issues he probably already had…
      
      Reply
Paula

April 29, 2014

Great post! I like that you addressed how to deal with it from the inside, with what you eat, and the outside. My husband was getting eczema and we were at the point of having to look for new soaps, but we’re excited to find an easier, cheaper solution with Norwex body cloths. Our whole family has just been using the cloths and water to wash for almost 3 years. It has been a great solution for us.

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Goldi

April 9, 2014

In Oct 2013 I developed some red marks near the corners of my eyes. I assumed I picked up ring worm or something from the pool since I use goggles. I went to the doc and was given antifungal cream. No Joy!

Since then I had random spots here and there, my eyes still have not healed up completely. Probably for the last month I have been on these blogs trying to help myself. I have made a lot of changes. However, I gained some weight and on Monday my skin was a MESS! Shoulders, back, eye lids, neck, lower hair line, areas around my arm pits, lower part of my ribs front and back had raised red bumps and were very itchy. I have been putting ACV on them when they start itching again.

Am I detoxing or something? This is really frustrating!!!! Any suggestions?

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1. Janelle
  
  February 13, 2015
  
  Hi Goldi, I highly recommend juicing. I know its nothing new. When I tried this myself I got great results and people wanted to know what beauty and make-up products I was using!!! It was then, while training as a Beauty Therapist, that I realised that no product can achieve that natural healthy glow! Try juicing up kale, apple, cucumber, celery and carrot. (preferably organic). I find juicing greens like kale does wonders for skin imperfections. Drink it with pineapple or apple if you have difficulty drinking it. Not only does your skin benefit but you feel great energy wise and your mental clarity improves dramatically. You think a lot clearer. Go full tilt by drinking 3 litres throughout the day over 3 days at least or longer if you can. You also sleep much better not waking up groggy. Try.
  
  Reply
  1. Janelle
    
    February 13, 2015
    
    P.S Just let me clarify my suggestion… The vegetables I recommended, you don’t have to juice up all of them at once! Use a combination of 3 at a time. Like for example 2 veg + 1 fruit. Carrot usually is sweet enough to enable you to get the greens down. Go easy on fruits though. Vegetables are the key! All the best.
    
    Reply
Dani Frederix

April 8, 2014

Hello everyone,

I’ve had eczema for a long time now. These past two winters have been killer. I had to start doing my research. As all these are great suggestions and each one works differently for everyone. I’d like to let people know, using those methods coupled with the consscious effort to overcome the problem with the MIND & FEELING can help very much.

I am a very spiritual person. I feel that diseas is something we can raise our vibration out of. There are some people who are able to get over cancer with this belief. I’d like to also mention during these past two winters I was very depressed. When I started becoming depressed, as I look back now, the eczema spread. When I worried it started to affect my eye lids.

Diseas comes about when the soul is trying to tell us to be aware of something. For me it’s deep depression I believe. this is when I look at the things in my life that were causing the depression and watching my skin get worse as I went deeper. I’ve turned around now and can feel and see some difference. Overcoming skiness is very much a mental thing as well as going at it with different external solutions. External solutions work greater with internal determination and effort.

Take care. Best of luck.

Dani

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SANDY

March 21, 2014

Hi,
My 13 months old son has eczema, milk and tree nut allergies, and wheezes once or twice a month. The day he was born he had apnea attack and got Gentamiacin antibiotic therapy that day itself. Do you have any recommendation which can help in curing his illness.

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Marci

March 18, 2014

I recently developed a rash and puffiness on my cheekbones a few days after starting regular lemon water (fresh squeezed juice from an organic lemon, pure water) in the mornings. I eat a better than average diet, mostly organic/grass fed/grain free, but still have a lot of things I could do better on.

About two weeks before that I had started organic matcha and cinnamon (yum!), so at first I was unsure what the cause might be….but when reading about healing crises and retracing, I remembered that as an infant I had severe eczema which cleared up when my mom stopped feeding me spaghetti and/or wheat cereal. (She says both, but it’s hard to know which…and with the spaghetti, was it the tomato sauce or the noodles?)

I’ve had a few other minor allergic reactions to food over my lifetime, but have never restricted tomato sauce (I’m Italian!) or wheat products specifically because of allergies (but I have cut out most grains, including pasta, for general health purposes).

There was a time during high school when I was drinking a lot of orange juice and laying in the sun….and I started developing ocular migraines. At the time, after a trip to the allergist, my mom remembered the alleged tomato sauce allergy, and we thought perhaps it was the citric acid (combined with or intensified by sunshine?) and when I cut the OJ habit, things improved immediately.

So lemon juice seems to be a likely culprit, given than I suddenly started having a lot — similar to my sudden passion for OJ, or the fact that my mother was feeding me spaghetti regularly. That being said, I can’t discount other possibilities.

I also wonder about the possibility of eczema as a healing reaction to liver detox (from lemon juice). The skin is the largest clearing organ of the body, so it makes some sense that if my body is trying to rid itself of toxins, the skin would be a likely outlet. (But could it not go out my arms, legs, or feet instead? Why my face? lol) I realize this is

I have, for now, tried cutting back on the lemon – every other day, and less juice. I don’t want to give it up entirely, because detox is good! But slowing down is ok, if it avoids having a red, scaly face. I am still drinking matcha, but I stopped the cinnamon as it seemed to be a more likely culprit in a skin reaction. If I get the eczema to clear up, I’ll add back the cinnamon and see what happens.

Any other thoughts or advice would be most welcome!

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Victoria Cupic

February 26, 2014

My daughter is on GAPS diet for 10 days and her eczema is getting worse and she is itching more. She is on omega 3 medical grade, probiotics, glutamine.
It seems anything she eats makes her itch. Her eczema now looks like discoid almost like ring warm type of rash….

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1. Rachel
  
  August 12, 2014
  
  Hi, I am not a dermatologist, but I have been battling various skin conditions on and off my whole life. Most recently, while searching for what these new itchy tiny skin-colored bumps are on the sides of my finger and elbow (i think eczema, not sure), I came across this condition that is sometimes similar in appearance to ringworm: Granuloma annulare. I mention it because of your description of diskoid like rash on your baby. Mention it to your doctor if you think the images you see when you search for it look like what your baby has.
  
  Reply
2. Quianna
  
  September 16, 2014
  
  Victoria – what were your results like? My son is two and we are on day seven of intro basically stage one and his eczema is worse and very itchy now too. Is there hope because I’m starting to second guess this diet? Thanks for any info!
  
  Reply
  1. Melissa
    
    October 9, 2014
    
    So this will sound counter intuitive, but what these babes are most likely experiencing is a die-off, and is a good sign about the diet. It means toxins are being cleared out from their bodies. If their symptoms get too bad, you can slow down their cleanse by adding small amounts of fruits back into their diet here and there for a day or two. I have experienced this kind of cleanse myself, it is not pleasant!! Poor babies, and poor parents watching it happen. Don’t give up, though! If it is a die-off, the symptoms will abate, and their problems will heal. Don’t give up!!
    
    Reply
Emily S.

February 21, 2014

This is a great list and contains some really good advice. I’ve dealt with eczema my whole life (since I was an infant and I’m now 31) and it can be very painful, frustrating, and, honestly, quite depressing. A couple years ago I started to get recurrent patches on my face and that’s when I decided slathering hydrocortisone and petroleum-based goo all over myself just wasn’t cutting it. I moved to all-natural remedies and made a few lifestyle changes, and my skin is doing so much better. I found that raw apple cider vinegar mixed 50/50 with distilled water was a game changer for me. I started applying it 2-3 times a day to the worst patches and saw dramatic results within 6 weeks. I now apply it right after I shower, follow up with coconut oil and/or a homemade shea & cocoa butter cream and my skin has dramatically improved. I also gently exfoliate my skin with a mixture of chamomile powder and oat flour about 1-2 times a week. I think one important thing for individuals with skin sensitivities to keep mind as they are trying to find solutions to their skin woes, is that everyone is different. In short, what works for one individual might not work for someone else. For example, I tried giving up certain foods – a method that has worked for many – and it had zero effect on my eczema. I have found that my eczema is greatly effected by climate, stress, dehydration, and exposure to irritants, like artificial fragrances. I just want to encourage those who are searching for a natural cure to a skin issue to not give up. It can be a frustrating process, but in the end I think finding that all-natural, safe, non-toxic solution that is right for you will serve you better in the long run. I shudder when I think about the years I spent, under the advice of a dermatologist, putting nasty chemicals all over myself. But, ob la di, ob la da – life goes on and now my skin is better than ever.

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1. April
  
  June 25, 2015
  
  I also suffer from eczema, historically on my hands and inside ears. In recent years, it has predominantly affected the back of my scalp. Unfortunately, cream and gel remedies (prescription or non-) do not work well in that area due to hair, but instead result in a moist, never-drying, itchy mess! I have been tested for both celiac disease and allergies, and my eczema is not due to either. I totally AGREE with the raw organic apple cider vinegar– the only thing I have found to work. Both heals the oozing sores when/if they get to that stage, and IMMEDIATELY stops the itching during the healing process. My only problem is the extremely pungent SMELL — I can’t use in the mornings before I go to work, can only use at night before bed. Has anyone tried the salt spray referenced in the article on scalp eczema?? Results? Or anyone have any other recommendations for a liquid, drying remedy that can effectively be used on the scalp? Thanks!
  
  Reply
  1. Katherine G.
    
    June 28, 2015
    
    I have had severe eczema on my face for over 15 years. I tried many doctor’s prescriptions only to find that I quickly sensitized to lotion and cream based topical treatments. I tried the detox and diet restrictions through a homeopathic doctor. It didn’t help the eczema. I went back to the dermatologist and was prescribed Protopic ointment, which can be used near the eyes and it really helped. In the end I found out I’m allergic to toothpaste and hairspray. Even having eliminated these products, I diluted Protopic with Aquaphor and used it very sparingly to keep it under control for 10 years. A year ago, I developed an allergy or sensitivity to the Protopic. Coconut oil helped for a few weeks before I became sensitized to it. I thought the Egyptian Magic was working wonders, until I ran out and just mixed a little olive oil and honey [2 of the ingredients in Egyptian Magic] and found it worked even better. I have also tried the tea tree oil in the past and not found it helpful, but have recently been using Dr. Bronner’s castile soap with tea tree oil and it really helps with redness and itching, possibly due to being more diluted. It seems that many of the remedies, both natural and prescription, I have had much better outcomes when I dilute them with aquaphor, water or organic oils. I hope through this simplistic explanation of my trials, someone may find a clue to help with their own trials with this condition.
    
    Reply
  2. Katherine G.
    
    June 28, 2015
    
    I have had severe eczema on my face for over 15 years. I tried many doctor’s prescriptions only to find that I quickly sensitized to lotion and cream based topical treatments. I tried the detox and diet restrictions through a homeopathic doctor. It didn’t help the eczema. I went back to the dermatologist and was prescribed Protopic ointment, which can be used near the eyes and it really helped. In the end I found out I’m allergic to toothpaste and hairspray. Even having eliminated these products, I diluted Protopic with Aquaphor and used it very sparingly to keep it under control for 10 years. A year ago, I developed an allergy or sensitivity to the Protopic. Coconut oil helped for a few weeks before I became sensitized to it. I thought the Egyptian Magic was working wonders, until I ran out and just mixed a little olive oil and honey [2 of the ingredients in Egyptian Magic] and found it worked even better. I have also tried the tea tree oil in the past and not found it helpful, but have recently been using Dr. Bronner’s castile soap with tea tree oil and it really helps with redness and itching, possibly due to being more diluted. On a whim, I shampooed my hair with it, and it really helped my itchy scalp. I’ve been using it as shampoo for 3 weeks and it is still effective for me. It seems that many of the remedies, both natural and prescription, I have had much better outcomes when I dilute them with aquaphor, water or organic oils. I hope through this simplistic explanation of my trials, someone may find a clue to help with their own trials with this condition.
    
    Reply
Nikki

February 14, 2014

Sj my daughter had the same thing on her cheeks and it was an allergy to dairy. She also ended up with open wounds like burns on her forehead which was caused by an allergy to egg. It was strange but the different foods (via breastmilk). affected different areas on her face.

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Sharla

February 10, 2014

my 3 month old baby has severe eczema all over her body- the worst on her cheeks. They are inflamed and oozing . Looks like a burn. And is very painful for her. Do you have any suggestions on what i can do for her ? (mostly her cheeks ?)

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Ana

February 5, 2014

I cured eczema by avoiding NIGHTSHADES

I finally found a cure by realizing that Eczema is a reaction to certain foods or chemicals. I’ve had eczema for as long as I could remember and it wasn’t until recently that I figured out NIGHTSHADES foods (peppers, eggplant, tomatoes…) were the source of my skin irritations. Since then, I’ve been eczema-free.

Start by eliminating certain foods after a rash occurs so that you can figure out what to avoid. I wish a doctor had told me that simple truth a long time ago, but then again, most are in the business of making money, not giving permanent cures.

A lot, if not all things can be healed naturally. To cure it, it’s not about putting ointments or shea butter on it, those only mask the symptoms- with eczema, it’s simply about eliminating substances you react to.

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Christine Jargick

January 26, 2014

Coconut oil works very well for me. I have had some eczema on the inside of my elbows on and off for several weeks now. I don’t know if it’s environmental allergies ( I live in Central Valley, California where the air is TERRIBLE this year ) or if it’s due to sugar. I corrected my SIBO late last year, have been gluten free for 6 years, pasteurized dairy free for 5 and I added sugar to a few recipes recently. I suspect I need to back off the sugar again. Anyway, I have been using coconut oil and tea tree oil for relief, it takes care of the itch nicely.

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1. Yosha
  
  January 24, 2016
  
  I’m a young girl with unbearable oozing, itching, sore, red eczema. all these steroid tablets and creams worsen it. I am oil pulling and drinking yakult with a water plenty diet. I usually cry because I understand it is a disease I cannot cure but reading these comments have provided me with a sense of reassurance. I REALLY want to grow out of it. any advice? I cant access half the things recommended on this page (I live in the uk). I always wear pure, clean cotton and sleep in cotton sheets. my mum has also started using non-bio detergent. I was hospitilized because of how my skin worsened and I know now not to trust the NHS all the time. how do I get rid of black mould from my household. I really want to get rid of it with home remedies. I’m a pretty sick child with a long list of medical ailments. Any advice??
  
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  1. Jenny
    
    January 24, 2016
    
    Try the Bone broth recipe from this website. It worked for me very quickly.
    
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    1. Wellness Mama
      
      January 25, 2016
      
      Here’s the link: https://wellnessmama.com/5888/bone-broth/
      
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  2. Jenny
    
    January 24, 2016
    
    Also sea salt spray and avoiding nightshades in conjunction with the with the bone broth.
    
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  3. Lindsey
    
    January 25, 2016
    
    Hi. I’m finally weighing in on this issue after having been through the works with my now 19 month old daughter who suffered from severe eczema. Although this site focuses on more natural remedies, severe eczema is not something that can be “cured” with bone broth and coconut oil. At least not in our experience. The key for us been finding the correct dermatologist who is knowledgeable on all current and different ways of successfully treating eczema. There is a doctor in the UK named Dr. Aron and he developed a cream that mixes a topical antibiotic and topical steroid in a vanicream base that has to be specially measured and prepared at a pharmacy based on the patient’s size, age, etc. Using this cream along with regular bleach baths and specific moisturizers (oils and what my derm called pink magic cream) completely changed my daughter’s skin and finally got rid of the eczema with almost no recurrence. I agree with everyone here that a typical steroid cream and nightly doses of Benedryl are NOT decent or even recommended forms of treatment. Which is what the vast majority of dermatologists will recommend. However, if you truly suffer from the severe eczema you are describing, you need to see a dermatologist like the Dr. Aron in the UK. We know more about eczema than ever before. They’ve discovered that people with eczema have an overload of bacteria on their skin related to staph (hence the necessity for bleach baths in the beginning to get rid of this bacteria). This is also the reason why a topical antibiotic is essential to complete recovery and why a steroid cream alone does not provide any long term relief. A regular steroid cream is like putting a band aid over the problem, not actually addressing the real problem of bacteria on the skin. I always thought eczema was an external manifestation of an internal problem and while there is some truth to that, I’ve realized it’s not the reality of the whole situation. For my daughter she certainly has allergic components that affect or trigger her eczema. These are related to grass, pollen, the beach, hay fever, etc. I’ve never found a direct correlation to certain foods but I’m sure many people do indeed have food triggers. I put my family and myself through much unneeded stress freaking out about certain foods that I felt must be causing her eczema (especially because of what I had read on homeopathic related blogs like this one). Without doing any diet changes or any changes at all really we were able to effectively “cure” my daughters eczema with the protocol of the special cream and bleach baths over a two week period that I described above. We never would have had this success without the help of our very knowledgeable and up to date dermatologist, as well as modern medicine. My suggestion to you especially since you live in the UK would be to make phone calls to your local dermatologists and ask if they have experience treating eczema and if they are aware of Dr. Aron’s protocol of using a topical antibiotic mixed with a steroid and bleach baths to treat it. The best of luck to you and I truly feel for you having to endure such a painful condition for so long. I hope you find the right Doctor that can provide you with the relief you deserve! We hope that the medical community will hurry up and make these treatments more widely known and accessible to everyone as well. Xx- Lindsey
    
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    1. Jenny
      
      January 25, 2016
      
      Sorry but I have to disagree with your opinion, and YES, I cured my severe eczema I had on my face with bone broth, sea salt spray, and avoiding nightshades. In my experience, thsee natural cures worked for me. If you want to see a doctor, go ahead, no one is stopping you and you are entitled to your opinion. But don’t poo poo everyone else’s great experiences with natural cures, just because you have a doctor to tout.
      
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      1. Lindsey
        
        January 25, 2016
        
        My apology for being so insensitive to you since obviously your feelings were hurt. I would certainly not “poo poo” anyone on purpose! I would never judge anyone or their lifestyle choices or personal beliefs. Life is hard enough without the Debbie downers and negative Nellys out to get everyone. People should be informed patients and question their doctors and medical care. Get second or third or fourth opinions. However, to declare all of modern medicine and every doctor out there a quack who just wants to profit off of your illness is irresponsible and down right ignorant. This young girl was saying she’s tried it all. Tried all of the homeopathic remedies and wives tales listed on every outlet she can find and nothing is working. I simply feel as a responsible adult and mother that it IS my responsibility to point her in a direction that could change her life. It certainly did just that for my daughter and family. For the record, I enjoy more than my fair share of bone broth AND coconut oil AND homeopathic remedies in daily life. On several occasions I’ve used essential oils to treat various infections that would have otherwise required significant antibiotic usage. I’m no stranger to these things. However, eczema is not celiac disease or diabetes. What triggers your eczema is not what triggers everyone else’s. People deserve to have hope and a normal life, which severe eczema sufferers do not have (as you should very well know)! At least give them that.
Deanna

January 17, 2014

Does the salt/mag spray sting the skin when using for eczema? My 13 month old son has eczema and I gave him a bath with some Epsom salt and he was itching like crazy and his skin was welty when he got out. Also, do you rinse their hair with the salt water? Or do it with fresh water?

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Hannah B

January 15, 2014

My mom had eczema when she was pregnant with me and I’ve never had a problem with it until recently (I’m 18). I read that apple cider vinegar has been working for everyone but I have it right on my eyelid and its causing it to become swollen. Help!

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1. Elizabeth Jones
  
  January 18, 2014
  
  I’ve had it on my eyelids before. Depending on what kind of face wash you use, that could be an irritant. All the neutrogena, clean and clear, and other “brand” name stuff has a lot of harsh chemicals in them that is bad for your skin. I use Burt’s Bees creamy cleanser. Also in terms of healing…get some fish oil supplements, poke a hole in the gel pill, and put some of the oil directly onto your skin. You can do the same with Advil liquid gels (the anti-inflammatory properties in Advil will help reduce the swelling). Just try not to get the stuff in your eyes. I’d probably use a q-tip for application. And it might be obvious, but don’t wear any makeup while this is going on. Hope that helps!
  
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2. Maria
  
  April 8, 2015
  
  Hi Hannah and Elizabeth! I know this is an old post, but I had to weigh in on what I found! Six weeks ago I opened a vacuum bag to search for a piece of jewelry that was sucked into it. Bad move, the bag was overloaded to the point that picking it up and opening it, caused a mini explosion, which went everywhere. Despite that I wore goggles and gloves, two days later, I developed a horrible rash around my eyes that looked like a red raccoon mask, my eye lids were swollen as was under my eyes and it was itchy! The doctor wasn’t a help as he stated it was contact dermatitis and prescribed a cream and antihistamine. The cream stated, not to be used by the eye, so I threw it out, and Zertec has over numerous complaints from clients for horrible side effects. I came to this sight and tried EVERYTHING! Finally in my research, I found articles on the microscopic eye mite or the professional term, Dermodex. Everyone has mites, it’s when they become over populated that the problems begin. Dust “bunnies” are not cute little creatures, but in fact tiny parasitic mites that live in and around the hair follicles! I had all the symptoms, and no manner of medicine or prescribed cream or diet change, would make them go away. In my quest to know more, I inadvertently stumbled upon a video on YouTube, by an Ophthalmologist on Dermodex. It was a video for other Ophthalmologists so that they can be better informed. Many clients go in thinking its eczema or another form of contact dermatitis, when in fact its Dermodex. I was lucky and only had to suffer for 6 weeks before I could finally put make up on without set backs. At the time of this entry, I’ve been clear and free for a week! Although the Ophthalmologist talks about the product that they use, it comes down to Tea Tree Oil mixed in equal parts with another oil (Not water, water and oil don’t mix) I used Emu oil, but you can also use Olive Oil or almond oil. The procedure is fairly simple. I mixed 6 drops of Tea tree with 6 drops of Emu in a small container. Then wet the tip of a Qtip with this mixed solution,being careful to squeeze the excess out by pressing it firmly to the side of the container your using. Swipe it across your eyebrows first, then KEEPING YOUR EYES CLOSED, dab all along the eye lash line for both upper and lower. You will feel a sensation that I can only describe as icy hot.
  Lay or sit down with eyes closed for 10 minutes. You may want to prepare something to listen to before you begin, or set a timer. After the 10minutes is up, gently wash it off with baby shampoo, or some other shampoo that has no parabens. Once the soap was gone, I would cup water in my hands and bring my head down to submerge my eyes, while I open and closed them rapidly to make sure all was clean. Tea tree oil is very drying! So I used a pure 100% vitamin E oil immediately following. I did this procedure at first, 2x a day, then when it cleared up, only once in the evening. VERY IMPORTANT: Do not discontinue doing at the first sign of it clearing up, as two days later, the eggs that were laid will hatch. You should keep this up for at least 7-10days after all signs are gone. However, if you aren’t the type to do it by yourself, you should contact an Ophthalmologist and and ask them if they have experience treating Dermodex. For more info you can try this copying and pasting this link:
  https://www.eyeworld.org/demodex-treatment-options
  
  I really hope this will help you!
  
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alyssa

December 30, 2013

Something that really works is triamciline it is proscribed and mix that with jergens lotion the one that says extra healing and mix those two with Johnson’s baby oil…works wonders:-)

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Terza Simon Norton

December 22, 2013

I started using Goat’s Milk Soap from The Dirty Moose. One day I noticed that the eczema on my hands and legs was just gone. I am eating healthier and better, but this soap seemed to have a part in it too.

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