Eczema - Symptoms and Treatment

Eczema is a form of inflammation of the skin. In England, it is estimated that over 5 million, or about one in every nine, people have been diagnosed with the disease at some point in their lives. It is typically characterized by any of the following: redness, swollen skin, itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. Although not life-threatening or communicable, Eczema can be particularly distressing. We all aspire to be beautiful and have youthful, attractive skin. So, to suffer such a noticeable affliction is very often upsetting and can significantly affect people’s confidence.

The term ‘Eczema’ is applied to a number of persistent skin conditions. It has been loosely applied to many different skin conditions each with the same apparent symptoms. Despite this, there are some common causes of eczema. Zinc deficiency and a lack of vitamins A, D and E are found to be prevalent in those who exhibit symptoms of eczema. Ways of addressing these nutritional shortfalls are commonly used as treatment.

There are many nutritional strategies used to fight this skin condition. To address zinc deficiencies sufferers are encouraged to eat more lamb, haddock, beef, and egg yolk as well as Brazil nuts, pecan, peanuts, and almonds. Similarly, vitamin shortfalls can be met by consuming more vitamin-rich food and increased exposure to sunlight (which helps the body produce more vitamin D).

Another, less obvious, approach is to use plants and essential oils. Burdock, chamomile, marigold, and red clover all have anti-inflammatory properties. At the same time calendula oil, chickweed cream, and aloe Vera gel can be used to soothe dry and inflamed skin. Bathing or soaking inflamed skin in these oils/creams will relieve discomfort notably.

The best treatments vary from one person to the next. Because there are different forms of eczema and different reasons for the condition appearing the remedy will not be the same every time, instead being a case of trial and error until a suitable solution is found.