Conventional vs. Natural Eczema Remedies

Some of the symptoms of eczema include inflammation, reddening, itchiness and the formation of blisters on the affected areas of the skin. An eczema treatment is designed not to cure eczema itself — because there is actually no cure — but to spare the person afflicted with the disease from the symptoms. Areas of the body where lesions are likely to occur include the face, elbows, at the back of the knees and the wrists.

The eczematous skin tends to be really dry, which contributes to the itching of the area. Although scratching might give the person afflicted with eczema a certain degree of relief, this is not really advisable. Scratching will only exacerbate the condition. When eczematous skin is constantly scratched, it thickens.

The symptoms are at their worst during flare ups. They may cause the person discomfort and many sleepless nights because of the severe itching. Because of this, it is wise for anyone afflicted with the skin disease to find the triggering factors of the flare ups. They include dust, yeast, cosmetics, detergents, solvents and many others. Stress is also a triggering factor. When a person is stressed, the immune system of the body is depressed, which leads to the susceptibility of the person with eczema to have flare ups.

One can opt for a conventional or natural mode of treatment for eczema. Is one better than the other for you? Read on as we compare some conventional and natural treatments for this skin disease.

Conventional – corticosteroids

Creams containing corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation, redness and itching of the eczematous skin. They basically contain the same bodily hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex. This hormone is secreted to control the inflammation process. Topically applied, corticosteroids do the same thing on the affected skin: inflammation, redness and itching are relieved. However, some people afflicted with eczema are fearful of using steroids as part of their treatment. It is because of the many side effects on the skin, such as:

Thinning of the skin
Dilation of blood vessels
Formation of stretch marks
Rashes
Skin infections

When used for long periods, corticosteroids may also accumulate in the body and cause some metabolic imbalances. One reason for this is the competition of the topically applied steroid and the one secreted by the body for the same receptors that make them do their job. Another reason is the kidney has a hard time getting rid of the excess through urination. You see, even when a medication is applied topically, it is absorbed by the skin, and may get into the blood stream. That is why the use of topical corticosteroid creams have to be used at low doses, and only for a short period of time.

Natural – herbal and antioxidants

The herbal approach to treating the symptoms of eczema is generally milder and presents little or no side effects. There are many herbs known to be beneficial to people suffering from this skin disease. Such herbs may be used as teas, tinctures and topical treatments. They can either be used alone or in combination, to boost the potency. Some common herbs used for treating eczema include:

St. John’s Wort
Chamomile
Chickweed
Yarrow
Nettle
Licorice

Antioxidants are also a great natural eczema treatment, as they are for many other skin diseases. For instance, Sea Buckthorn and Grape seed oils contain loads of antioxidants such as selenium, beta carotene and vitamins A, C and E.

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