The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Neem Oil, Baking Soda
Posted by Cynthia (Auckland, Nz) on 12/06/2009
★★★★☆
Recently I have had an outbreak of eczema reminiscent of childhood - hot band like rashes, worse in bed at night, sometimes weeping - pretty much everywhere -all the joint areas of body even nipples. So I have tried two new things lately = NEEM OIL - few drops in bath and spray on baking soda. The neem takes the itch away and the redness. The baking soda spray - 1 tsp in bottle of water stings like buggerey at first but I sprayed it on my foot and it was all raised up and the next day it was flat. It's not cured yet but is better. Neem takes the itch out but don't overdo it. I leave my skin to dry after - it's quite dry but I can't put creams on as they make me itch.
Cod Liver Oil
Posted by Jules (Houston, Tx) on 11/13/2009
★★★★★
Absolutley COD LIVER OIL!! Cured me as a child of eczema and cured me as an Adult. A family doctor when I was an infant in diapers, took one look at me and told my Mother..."Take her off cow's milk, give her goat's milk and Cod Liver Oil !"...and ALMOST instantly I was cured! As an adult I had bouts of adult acne off and on for years. Every remmedy in the book including Accutane...but the thing that cured it was to commit myself to Cod Liver Oil every day and my skin is CLEARING UP! My nails are growing, THE CUTICLE SOFTENED, no longer dry looking....... Absolutley COD LIVER OIL!!!! And... Mother knows best!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Almond Oil
Posted by Saphi (Toronto, Ontario Canada) on 10/25/2009
★★★★★
I was reading everyone's testimonials and it gave me hope that ACV would clear my eczema that I've had for so long (since when I was 14, I'm now 21)and was irritated that my doctor couldn't help clear it and all he ever gave me was steroids to slow it down...What I did was pour of ACV on a cotton ball (soak it) and rubbed it on the places where the eczema was. Because it stings so bad I had a bottle of Sweet Almond Oil and rubbed it on the same spot where the eczema was to immediately stop the stinging and help with the healing of the skin. You can get a small bottle health food stores for around $6, I know it's expensive but it's worth it. I did this for about a week and it cleared up my eczema. I also drink 2 tbsp. of ACV in bottle water daily (tastes bad but bear with it!) to kill the eczema bacteria inside my body.
Supplements
Posted by Danijel (Minneapolis, Mn) on 10/15/2009
★★★★★
I had problem with my skin excema for years. I started taking vitamin B5 and superoxidants and and my skin started clearing after two weeks. Now I do not have any facial and back skin excema! It is worth a try! Good luck!
EC: B5 is also known as Pantothenic Acid.
Diaper Rash Cream
Posted by Rich (Boca Raton, Fl) on 10/10/2009
★★★★☆
I've had some success with this one. Desitin Diaper Rash cream. Ingredients are Cod Liver Oil plus Zinc (2 remedies already mentioned in here). The stuff doesn't work overnight, but it seems to work.
Note: it is known that Zinc supplementation cures facial eczema in cows, I looked for a zinc product.
Had some bumps dissapear and wrinkles/stretch marks go away and hair grow back in the affected area. I'd say 80% cured in 2 weeks. Kind of smelly stuff. Got a bit lazy on application.
*****
Eczema is often a misdiagnosed yeast/fungal infection. Diaper rash is usually a yeast problem. So I'm thinking this eczema stuff is like "adult diaper rash". :)
Ocean Water
Posted by Rob (Manhattan, New York) on 10/09/2009
Hi Doug, good to hear you found a cure... I have a friend with severe Psoriatic Arthritis and for him the only really effective treatment is a trip to the Dead Sea. He said buying the bath salts just didn't do it. I wonder if it could be a combination of the sun and sea water and stress relief. Tout ensemble!
Ocean Water
Posted by Doug (Cucamonga, Ca, Usa) on 10/08/2009
★★★★★
I have had a large patch of eczema on the back of my leg for about 10 years. Sometimes it doesn't itch much, other times it itches so bad that I scratch it until it's raw. I have tried a number of topical treatments, all of which helped...but none of which were able to cure it completely. So finally, after 10 years, it's gone! And what, you ask, is the reason? Ocean water. Several months ago I went to a 2 week training in San Diego and noticed that after snorkeling a handful of times in my spare time, the itch was lessened and the skin on the back of my knee felt softer. I loved snorkeling (not for eczema reduction, but simply because I enjoyed it) and I recently decided to get Scuba certified. After a dive I would notice, like with snorkeling, that the itch was lessened and the skin on the back of my knee felt softer. Well, over the past 2 months I have done about 15 dives and the eczema is gone! Ten years of various natural and unnatural salves/creams/pastes couldn't fix what the ocean could after only several "treatments".
It's worth noting that (I believe) one would have to actually go to the ocean and be in the water to get the benifits. That is, I do not believe mixing salt and water would work. Nor do I believe you could bring home some ocean water and apply it and get the same results. It is my belief that the ocean water needs to be "alive". Meaning, it needs to be full of all the bacteria/microorganisms/fresh plant particles etc. that are present in the water's natural state. I realise that not all eczema sufferers live on the coast, so for many sufferers this may not be helpful info--but for eczema sufferers living near the beach, they would be well advised to take make as many beach trips as possible...it could very well be the miracle cure they're looking for.
Also, I had the thought that maybe fresh "ocean" water from a salt-water aquarium could be effective. Since, in the aquarium, the water contains many of the same bacteria etc. that would be found in the natural ocean it seems at least possible that this water could be used to treat eczema (i.e. dipping a cloth in the tank and applying it to the affected area. In theory, at least, this seems more likely to be successful than, say, transporting ocean water from the beach since many of the living organisms in the water will be unable to survive for more than a couple of hours.
Sincerely,
Doug
Oregano Oil
Posted by Suzanne (Kansas City, Mo, Usa) on 09/29/2009
★★★★☆
On the subject of Eczema - I have been giving my teen Oil of Oregano in capsules (one in the morning and one at night) to help with her Eczema; this has helped trememdously with the itching and some of the redness. We have tried the cortizone cremes from the doctors and that did not help her at all. I've been reading here today on the suggstions of using Apple Cider Vinegar and plan to try that. I can remember as a small child my grandma taking vinegar to help with her ailments so maybe there is something to this.
As a side note I personally am taking the oregano capsules as well for sinus relief (have been for three years). I used to have a large problem with my sinus passages closing up when I laid down for the evening. I was taking a ton of OTC medications to just be able to go to sleep. I started taking this after reading up about the many health issues that are related to what is in our blood stream and that this herb can help with this. I do belive that this herb has helped us a lot.
Probiotics
Posted by Genevieve (Bronx, Ny) on 09/25/2009
★★★★☆
I have serious eczema and i found that since i have been taking probiotics the inflammation has reduced dramatically. I know how badly eczema can make you feel. I have suffered with it for over 15 years.
Cod Liver Oil
Posted by Macky (New Iberia, La) on 09/12/2009
★★★★★
My son had severe eczema from the time he was a few months old. I took him to 3 doctors and was given prescriptions that didn't cure him.He scratched til he bled. One day after fasting I read that a deficiency in vitamin A will cause dry, itchy bumps especially on the legs.
I gave him cod liver oil in a cup of juice with a top on it (sippy cup) because of the smell. The next week he did not have one spot on him and he is 18 years old now and never had that again.
Lavender
Posted by John W. (Baxledy, Ga.) on 08/28/2009
★★★★★
My wife and little girls have eczema, We tried some much stuff and the only thing that we could find that would work was lavender. My wife mixes it with water and not for sure on the ratio, but it works and does not sting, only smells good . John W.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Tavora (Brooklyn, Ny) on 08/16/2009
Hi - I read a book called Green for Life and the author's daughter had cured her asthma w/ a drink (her mother create) called 'Green Smoothies'. The whole family are raw foodists but each (the author, her husband, and two children) had very significant health problems. By changing their diets and drinking 2-3 quarts (sometimes more) of green smoothies a day - all their health issues went away. The son even 'cured' his juvenile diabetes....(the author will recommend to drink at least 1 quart to start). For healing purposes - 2-3 gallons.
The smoothies may help with your asthma and tame your eczema. From what I know - dairy products are a huge trigger w/ eczema. But one other thing to consider for your asthma is Mullein tea. It is an expectorant and helps strengthen the respiratory system. Many blessings!
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Suzan (Hollywood, Fl) on 08/14/2009
★☆☆☆☆
Hi, I am 46 year old. I have born with eczema and allergy and ashma. long story, short I have tried everything out there, only hydrocortison cream and pills do little help. It is been two weeks that I have started 2 tbspoon apple cider vinager with 1/2 tspoon baking soda. The result is very itchy, red, swollen, painful skin. I also am taking acidophilus and flax seed oil. I have allergy to every thing and asthma. Please help I am very desperate. Thank you in advance.
Eliminate Dairy
Posted by Connie (Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA) on 07/31/2009
★★★★★
I can't speak for everyone, obviously, but the eczema on my arms returns when I drink milk or eat ice cream.
Sea Salt
Posted by Sally (Austin, Texas) on 07/18/2009
★★★★★
Sea Salt baths have almost cured my eczema in a matter of weeks. Get a good one that has minerals and put about 3/4 cup into the tub. I've also started taking iodine tablets.
Eliminate Citric Acid
Posted by Kate (Adelaide, SA, Australia) on 06/28/2009
★★★★★
I would say that Teri from Atlanta is on the right track regarding citrus. I had eczema all of my childhood. My family and I eventually came to the realization that acidic properties were to blame, in particular oranges. Every since that discovery I have stayed well clear of them. I also have to watch my intake of other acidic fruits such as tomatoes, lemons, limes and even grapes. Your little one is so young, but even now you can record what you feed her each day and in another column you can write her reaction to that food, if any. Eventually you will see a pattern form. There may be one or more culprits. As your daughter gets older, the key is to put a topical cream on before she feels the itch. That is if you want to use that on her skin. I used to apply it once I had already starting scratching and by that point it was useless because it would just make me want to scratch even more. When I learned to apply it religiously (about 2-3 times per day) it would be more controllable. Stay away from soap, there are plenty of soap free products today that will be gentler for your baby's sensitive skin. The worst thing one can do is scratch an eczema spot 'vigorously' as that will only spread it. Just digging a nail lightly in or even just pressing against the itchy point is usually enough to relieve the itch. Remember 'Knowledge Is Power' so explore this condition as much as you can and you will help your daughter no end.
Iodine
Posted by Susie (Austin, Texas) on 04/29/2009
★★★★☆
Has anyone tried Iodine as an eczema cure? I've been painting it on the skin in the affected areas and it seems to be helping. Now I'm going to try taking some iodine tablets. Iodine deficiency is apparently becoming a problem and can be one of the causes of eczema.
Soap Nuts
Posted by Faith (Atlanta, GA) on 04/28/2009
★★★★★
Some years ago I saw native people in Indonesia using soap nuts, the dry fruit of the soap berry tree, to wash their clothes. Little did I know that years later I would find them in my local health food store and that they would cure my eczema. I just started looking for a natural laundry soap because I want to clean up my life and get rid of synthetics.. The soap nuts were the only thing in the store that looked really natural. First I noticed the laundry didn't smell like chemicals. It smelled like NOTHING, absolutely nothing. After a few weeks I noticed the eczema on my shoulder blades was almost entirely gone. Getting excited I went back to the store and got soap nut laundry liquid. It contained organic essential oils of lavender, tea tree and lemongrass. It's my new bath soap and a lifetime of eczema is gone. Thanks to Maggie, for sharing the secret.
Salt Rub, Mint Liquid Soap
Posted by Glenys (Wellington, New Zealand) on 04/11/2009
Hey - the comment about gasoline just triggered a memory for me. Many years ago, I got bitten by mosquitoes and/or sandflies a lot when I was staying in Auckland (New Zealand). An old-timer I knew at the time told me to put Kerosine on the bites - he said it would stop the itching and would keep away the mozzies etc. As my bites were bleeding and fairly raw because of my scratiching, I was very loathe to try this, but I finally did it. Blow me if it didn't work a treat! And, didn't sting - took away all the itch, pain, plus stopped me from getting bitten! I did stink of Kerosine tho lol.
