4 Ways to Heal Behind Knee Eczema

In previous posts, we shared some tips on treating lower body eczema like foot eczema, but are you or a loved one suffering from behind knee eczema?

This type of lower body eczema can be rather irritating and difficult to treat due to the area behind the knee being sensitive and moist.

Learn 4 ways to naturally heal eczema behind the knee below.

What is Behind Knee Eczema?

Although eczema can appear on several areas of the body, it often develops on problems spots where skin touches skin like behind the knees. Eventually sweat can build up and cause severe chafing and irritation which in turn leads to scratching.

This irritation can be made worse day to day just by walking, running or playing. It is no wonder why so many eczema sufferers tend to get stuck in the itch-scratch cycle when experiencing behind knee eczema.

If you think you might be suffering from eczema behind the knees, here are some telling symptoms:

• Red or dark scaly patches that can look lighter or darker depending on the color of skin
• Cracked skin
• Small bumps that may leak fluid and crust over
• Red, itchy skin that resembles a sunburn or rash

If you’re suffering from severe eczema, we suggest visiting a medical practitioner. This type of eczema can easily lead to complications like a staph infection due to relentless scratching. Please keep in mind we are in no way a medical professionals.

If you are already diagnosed with eczema, we suggest testing the following recommendations:

Natural Moisturizer

Using a natural emollient can help wonders with dry, itchy skin. However, to find a cream or balm that works properly with your type of eczema, it’s important to look for those that target your individual symptoms.

Eczema is usually divided into 3 types of eczemas:

• Red, weeping eczema
• Itchy, red, dry eczema
• Thick, scaly eczema

Red, Weeping Eczema

For this type of eczema, we recommend red, weeping eczema treatments that are gentle on irritated skin. A calming balm like this Emily Skin Soothers for Red Eczema Rashes will help skin calm down while treating topical bacteria, yeast, and fungus.

Itchy, Red, Dry Eczema

If you suffer from dry eczema, you’ll want a balm or cream that can renew skin’s moisture such as this Organic Manuka Skin Soothing Cream. Not only is this ointment thick and soothing, but it also contains manuka oil and manuka honey that provide anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This cream is so exceptional that the entire It’s an Itchy Little World team uses it! It’s also great for bug bites, rashes, scars and so much more.

Thick, Scaly Eczema

Scaly eczema can also be difficult to treat, especially when it occurs behind the knee. Scaly eczema that chafes can possibly cause skin to crack, causing bacteria to enter and infection to occur. Opting for a cream like this Emily Skin Soothers for Thick, Dry Eczema can provide much needed relief to broken skin while accelerating healing.

Wet and Dry Wrap Therapy

If you’ve never heard of wet or dry wrap therapy, then we definitely suggest doing some research. Each of these processes can help moderate to severe eczema by delivering much needed moisture quickly.

Wet wrap therapy consists of using a natural emollient (never use steroids) and bandages, gauze or clothing for eczema therapy.

After taking a lukewarm bath, a heavy amount of cream is applied to skin and wrapped with a damp layer and then a dry layer. This layer is worn for at least 2 hours and then cream is reapplied.

Although this process is in no way a long term solution to behind knee eczema, it can offer relief for severely itchy, dry skin. It can also decrease the itch-scratch cycle that is so common with these areas.

Dry wrap therapy on the other hand, consists of wrapping the skin with a natural emollient and dry layer. Unlike wet wrap therapy, this process can actually be used long-term as the process is much easier and less time consuming.

Although you can use bandages or old cloth for these therapies, we do suggest eczema clothing, as many are fabricated with gentle materials that can soothe and nourish irritated skin.

Remedywear™, clothing for eczema also provides garments that are embedded with TENCEL and zinc. These Remedywear™ Eczema Sleeves are excellent at spot treating behind the knee eczema, while these Remedywear™ Long Pants for Kids and Remedywear Long Pants for Adults can help stop scratching eczema at night when worn as pajamas.

Natural Home Remedies

Did you know that are several home remedies that can also provide natural eczema relief, specifically for eczema behind the knee?

A wonderful suggestion is taking a lukewarm baking soda bath or apple cider vinegar bath. Baking soda helps to restore skin’s pH while reducing skin inflammation and harmful bacteria. Alternatively, apple cider vinegar is an astringent that can remove bacteria, oil and other impurities from the skin, while providing anti-inflammatory properties.

To discover more natural home remedies, we suggest checking out our blog posts: 7 Home Remedies for Eczema and 10 Natural Remedies for Eczema You Can Try At Home Today.

Healing From Within

If natural eczema treatments, wet and dry wrap therapy or natural home remedies cannot provide relief, then perhaps it’s time to start healing from within.

Many eczema sufferers discover that their eczema is in fact triggered by certain foods. This can be done through a process known as an elimination diet.

An elimination diet consists of removing certain foods from your diet (usually the top food allergens like dairy, soy, gluten, peanuts) and reintroducing them slowly back into your diet to observe a reaction.

Although the process can be daunting and difficult, food challenges are really the only way to accurately prove a food allergy exists. Allergy testing can produce false negatives and false positives that only set back treatment.

To learn how to start an elimination diet, check out our blog post: Have Success with Our Eczema Elimination Diet.