5 Tips for Soothing the Eczema Itch
By Dr. Amy Duong (bio below)
I want to share with you some tips that I offer to my patients to relieve the eczema itch, which can be very prominent, constant and so very irritating. The constant scratching and itchiness also prevents healing of the skin because of opening up pre-existing wounds and creating new scratches. As with any of my recommendations, please talk to your naturopath or healthcare provider who is open to alternative medicine. I hope that those with eczema can find relief with some soothing baths and a more nutritious approach to diet. Ultimately, treating the internal environment of the liver, digestive system, and nervous system will help to cure eczema for good!
Baking soda baths
- Baking soda relieves the eczema itch by changing the pH of your skin. By having an alkaline pH, the baking soda allows the skin to become less acidic and irritated.
- Add ½ cup -1 cup of plain, aluminum free baking soda to bathtub of warm water, not hot as you want to cool the body, not overheat it.
Oatmeal baths
- Oatmeal and the “milk” that comes from extracting the contents of oatmeal are very soothing.
- Use about 1 cup of whole, uncooked oats and put them in a cheese cloth or a clean sock. Place the ball of oatmeal in the warm water and squeeze out the oatmeal “milk” into the bath and onto the itchy skin. If you are gluten is a concern, look for special “gluten free” oats.
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ILW Recommends: Protect your itchy little ones from scratching with eczema clothing for babies and children. For big kids or adults, there is clothing for adult eczema including some pretty amazing bamboo eczema gloves.
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Juice fast
- As with most chronic diseases, with natural eczema remedies you must consider treating the body holistically, giving special attention to the digestive and elimination organs.
- Starting a 1-day or 3-day juice fast or adding a juice a day could be a great way to give your digestive system a rest while still providing healthy nutrients from fresh pressed juices – carrots, cucumbers, celery, and a bit of apple are a great place to start.
Change your diet
- Start an elimination diet by removing the most common food culprits such as gluten/wheat, dairy products, and eggs.
- Get tested for your particular sensitivities and foods that cause your unique immune system to react is very informative for an individualized meal plan. Read more about the difference between food allergies vs. sensitivities vs intolerances.
Glycine powder supplement
- Adding glycine powder, which is an inhibitory amino acid can allow the nervous system to calm down. The sensation to itch for eczema patients can be constant and very strong, which causes the nervous system to always be irritated and on-guard.
- Especially if the eczema itch is worse at night, glycine can foster less itchiness and more sleep which is so important for healing.
At home acupressure
- It’s much easier than it sounds. Try applying pressure to specific acupuressure points to find relief with this simple home remedy for itchy skin.
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ILW Recommends: When all else fails, try topical with a natural cream or balm for itchy, red, dry eczema.
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Bio: Dr. Amy Duong completed her Naturopathic Doctorate at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona, where she also trained in Acupuncture. She offers general naturopathic care with a special focus on skin disorders including eczema, acne and psoriasis as well as anxiety, depression and digestive concerns. Currently, Dr. Duong is based in Connecticut where she sees many lovely patients of all ages with common skin conditions and other medical concerns in her naturopathic medical practice.
Please visit, www.naturalskindr.com to learn more about Dr. Amy Duong and her Skype/phone consultations to help you address your eczema or other medical condition.
Click Here for a FREE 15 Minute Consultation with Dr. Amy Duong
Also, Check out some of our other great posts:
Natural Treatments for Eyelid Dermatitis
FROM: Contributors, Eczema
Great Tips – Thank you!
Big issue for anyone with longstanding or chronic atopic eczema is learning the difference between itching and scratching!
Natural healing can be turned on by use of habit reversal for habitual scratching, the big-time commonly overlooked complication of atopic eczema – habit reversal is cost-effective and non-toxic – find out more at atopicskindisease.com
Many thanks for the interesting post, it is very useful information for me.
Interesting to see a recommendation for baking soda, to make the skin more alkaline. The opposite works for me: i.e., keeping my most sensitive skin areas a little acidic.
When my skin isn’t too raw, I spray on a 50/50 mix of Heinz distilled white vinegar (made from potatoes, not a petroleum product) and filtered water. Sometimes a light or more dilute spritz (when skin very sensitive). Sometimes a good soaking (for prevention). I do this after every shower and follow up with organic coconut oil on stingy or itchy places, then a topcoat of thick unscented, petroleum-free lotion.
Both the vinegar and the coconut oil are mildly anti-microbial. This seems to be a big issue for me.
Orally, I use hydroxyzine at bedtime and take a turmeric/ginger/pepper shot every day, along with a spoon of high quality liquid fish oil and a drop of Vit D.
This is the topical/oral protocol that got me off the oral Prednisone and controls my flares. I still get flares from contact dermatitis, allergic reactions, etc. But (knock on wood) they pass more quickly and don’t spiral into crisis-level dermatitis.
Great tips! Thank you for sharing these. Love the tumeric, ginger, pepper shot idea!
My granddaughter is very itchy over her whole body I dont know what to do to help her I’ve tried all kinds bbn if skin I use dove sensitive soap.