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.
Flax Seed Oil
Posted by Mariana (Billings, Mt) on 05/10/2010 11 posts
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Hello,
I just wanted to write and let you know what I used to cure my eczema. I developed an allergy-induced eczema on my legs when I started trying to eat dairy again (I knew I had been allergic before but thought I might have grown out of it). I quit eating the dairy after a few months, after developing a nasty case of eczema. It cleared up somewhat, but never completely went away for almost four years. It was especially bad on my inner thighs, and I would scratch it at night and it would bleed and get sores. I had to go on very strong steroids and antibiotics for it several times.
Then, this year I bought some cinnamon flavored flax oil (COLD PRESSED), at the health food store in the refrigerator section. I started taking 1 or 2 tablespoons a day. Usually I would take one in the morning and another at night. I noticed after about a week that my eczema was looking and feeling much smoother, and by the end of three weeks it was COMPLETELY gone. I couldn't believe it, and I couldn't believe I had suffered with it so long when the remedy was so easy.
I continued to take the flax oil for a few months, but I noticed it also had a side effect for me. I am a 26-year-old female and, the flax oil at that dose made my periods come much closer together, sometimes only two weeks apart. So I stopped taking the flax oil, and they went back to normal.
Now I am taking canola oil and another oil mix that is high in omega-3 acids, and the eczema has not returned. I think it was the high dose of omega 3-s that cured me, but maybe it was also something specific to the flax oil? I always ate quite a bit of fish, and that didn't seem to help any (which is also high in omega 3's). Anyway, if I start having any problems with eczema again I will know what to do. An extra monthly cycle or two is definitely worth clearing have clear eczema-free skin!!!!
Olive Oil
Posted by Felirose (Destin, Florida) on 01/12/2010
★★★★☆
Olive Oil Helped my Eczema
I've had eczema for several years now. Originally, I was told that it was ringworm, so I tried putting Apple Cider Vinegar on it (that was not organic - it was the brown/amber color it was supposed to be, but was diluted, a generic store brand). That only made it much, much worse.
After getting a second opinion, I was told it was eczema and put on 0.05% steroid cream. It helps a ton, but is expensive...
So I started using Olive Oil. I filled the bathtub up with hot water, and put about a 1/8 cup (perhaps a little less - you do not need much at all) of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in it. Then I just relaxed in the bathtub for an hour or so. I also put a 1/4 cup of epsom salt in there, to help me relax.
After I got out, I patted myself dry with a terrycloth towel (be careful getting out of the tub - and don't towel dry like normal, because you'll rub the oil off your body) and got dressed. My Eczema looked much better, not to mention, my entire body felt like silk!
Olive Oil
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, France) on 01/15/2010
Nice to read that someone else also uses olive oil in the bath water.... Due to the age my skin is a lot drier and nothing seemed to help. I am now using olive oil but I wonder whether it really works. When I get out my skin is very moist but then during the night if I wake up I start noticing that my hands are very dry. Does the olive oil only work on the surface?
Olive Oil
Posted by Elskbrev (Oconomowoc, Wi) on 03/13/2012
Your eczema that was misdiagnosed as ringworm was most probably "numular eczema. " I get that occasionally, and only when I eat tree nuts. From time of ingestion of tree nuts to appearance of my numular eczema is about two weeks. This eczema usually starts with a whitehead type postule, then becomes a round flat lesion that may grow to the size of a dime before it starts to fade away, all on its own. Mine never itch. It is predictably six weeks from time of ingestion of tree nuts to time the lesion self resolves (disappears) on its own without treatment. I have not found any treatment that makes any difference. Will report back if anything I try based on tips from this site works for me. For now, I avoid eating tree nuts to avoid getting this eczema. Will actually have to intentionally eat tree nuts as if to induce a breakout to find out if some cures work. by the way, a physician did once give a quick glance at my eczema and call it ringworm, but at that time, I already knew what it was, so I corrected him. Many images Of numular eczema are easily found online.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Sp (Nashville, Tn) on 01/02/2010
★★★★★
Tea tree oil is the only thing that worked for my eczema. I have eczema on the back of my neck, chest and on my legs. I have tried using virgin coconut oil, honey, apple cider vinegar, cleaning it with borax, .... no of these methods worked for me. I even have a prescription cream that worked only when I used it every day. When I don't use the cream the eczema comes back.
The only thing that truly worked for me is the TEA TREE OIL.
I mix a a couple of drops with almond oil or olive oil in the palm of my hand and rub it on the spots every night. My condition cleared up within one week of this treatment. The irritation, itchiness, redness is gone. It has been one month now and I am eczema free. I still do use the treatment weekly to keep eczema at bay.
Niacinimade Powder, Vitamin E
Posted by Chammo (Bimingham, West Midlands, UK) on 12/08/2009
★★★★☆
I had eczema when I was 1 years old, it cleared when I was 5. It started again when I was about 11 and I have had it since. At the moment its on my arms, face, behind my knee joints, on my chest, neck and part of my back. I have been oil pulling three times for the past two days, today I read about the Apple Cider Vinegar applied topically, I have just had a shower and put the ACV on my chest, arms, face and behind the knee joints. It was itching awfully but I clenched my fist and th eitch went away after about 10-15 seconds.
Please can you tell me if what I am doing it right and how to cure my eczema and the scars. At the beginning of the year, I made my own cream. I used Niacinamide powder, mixed with a little bit of water, I added vitamin E, afew drops of rosehip oil and added my daily moisturiser. That helped my skin alot. I am going to order all the products again.
I also tried covering my body in normal yoghurt, then washing it in tepid water after it had dried, about half an hour, this was to be done for a week and then i had to apply malt vineger, but I was abit worried in case the vinegar scarred my skin.
Please can you urgently advise.
Niacinimade Powder, Vitamin E
Posted by Deepak (Nagpur, Maharashtra) on 04/24/2012
Use 50:50 ratio of neem oil and mustard oil massage on infected area of eczema within 15days you will get new skin and there is no itching after application.
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.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Teya (Winnemucca, Nv) on 12/06/2009
★★★★★
Hello Everyone! I have suffered from Hand Eczema for about one year and have gone though several types of lotions and dr. perscriptions, nothing worked. Then I came across this website!
So I tried some remedies, and they worked! I do this three times a day, in this order: Apply Apple Cider Vinager to hands and let it dry, then apply warm olive oil. Then at night before bedtime, I also soak my hands in chamomile tea. In addition to this I take a dietary supplement, it is a blend of Omega 3-6-9 complex. I found this blend at a grocery store.
My daughter who is 5 years old,recently broke out with eczema on her face. I'm applying the ACV and olive oil 3 times a day. I diluted the ACV, because it was too strong. In the morning before school I just apply a little lotion, so the kids do not make fun of her having oil all over her face. I'm also going to start having her eat half a apple a day. Hopefully this will work for her! And I hope this helps others.
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.
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
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 Jim (Ipswich, Sd Usa) on 01/06/2010
★★★★★
Hey Doug, I suffer from eczema on my ankles, when I went in the Navy I snorkeled often. I noticed the seawater and sun would clear my eczema right away. I try using a tanning bed now and it helps, but the combination sun and seawater worked well. The ACV stops the itch for now till I can get back to the sea.
Ocean Water
Posted by Bunny (Santa Ana, Ca) on 01/13/2010
Any time you have a skin issue that improves in the sun it could indicate an inability to produce enough fumaric acid. A doctor can test for it. I'ts a genetic glitch, so you will need to supplement forever if this is the problem.
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.
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 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.
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.
Turmeric
Posted by Dia (IL) on 05/10/2024
Is there a specific name for the Ayurvedic Turmeric Skin Cream?
I have looked carefully at yours and at other posts but I don't see a specific name.
Thank you for your help.
Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by LB (Reigate, Surrey, UK) on 02/18/2009
★★★★★
VIRGIN COCONUT OIL/TEA TREE OIL FOR DISCOID/NUMMULAR EXCEMA
I found that mixing VCO with Tea Tree Oil and applying it to the patch of excema several times daily (6 or 7) cleared my discoid eczema within 7-10 days rather that the 8-10 weeks it usually took to clear. Discoid eczema patches are usually roundish in shape. They are very itchy to begin with, and then become very sore as they form several tiny heads which weep. The patch then becomes very hard and thick and normally takes weeks to heal leaving a mark where it had once been.
I have also made a connection with eating citrus and flare ups.
Iodine
Posted by Lana (Flushing, New York) on 03/04/2010
hi i have a question... what % did you use for the iodine? I have one at home thats 10%... is that too low? thanks
Iodine
Posted by Lisa (Coto De Caza, Ca) on 09/19/2012
It was the 10% povidone iodine from the drug store. It worked great on my son.
Iodine
Posted by Bubbly (India) on 03/14/2015
For how many minutes we should keep iodine solution and we should let it air dry or wash it with water?
Ted's Eczema Advice
Posted by Neal (Easton, Pa) on 04/07/2010
Thank for Ted, finally an intelligent response amidst the inter-nets :P The solution you suggest should come in handy while going out to sea with the U.S. navy.
As a side note for those interested:
-18 years of age
-Diet for the past 14 years composed of high amounts artificial foods, composed mainly of sugar, extremely little greens consumed. 20:1 ratio for sugar to greens servings consumed.
-Lead to minor bouts of eczema located on face, hands, forearms, legs, and wrists.
-As daily stress heightened so did the bouts.
-The bouts only added unto the stress, thus producing a never-ending cycle.
-Deep-breathing exercises for a year, used consistently throughout the day stopped all signs of eczema.
Vitamin E
Posted by Anngra (Glen Cove, New York) on 06/11/2008
★★★★★
I used to get eczema too and i believe it usually is caused by a reaction to certain detergents. try using a more natural one and you will probably see some improvement.
Epsom Salt
Posted by WT (Spartanburg, SC) on 05/31/2008
★★★★★
I read somewhere that Epsom salt baths would cure eczema. My secretary has a friend who has a kid who suffers with it really bad, to the point he doesn't sleep well because of it. After I mentioned it to her, the friend tried it and she was floored with the results. It began clearing up very quickly and he has been sleeping very well lately. Another friend tried it with great results. People are simply amazed at the results.
