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.
Eliminate Citric Acid
Posted by Minni (NYC) on 04/24/2006
★★★★★
Re: Elimination of Citric Acid for Eczema - I agree 100%. Citric also causes me acne & headaches & sore throat. But I'll also add this: That Licorice is like the ANTITHESIS of Citric Acid. Why? Citrus speeds things up. Licorice calms things down.
Eliminate Citric Acid
Posted by Teri (Atlanta, GA) on 03/10/2007
★★★★★
I have been trying everything to help my 8 week old's facial eczema. Then I found that her eczema flared terribly every time I used a product containing citric acid. We once rinsed her pacifier out at a restaurant in one of our diet cokes. (full of citric acid) Her eczema flared TERRIBLY and on the spot. We took it out of my diet (she is breast fed) and stopped using all products containing citric acid. She is soooo much better. BUT is that considered an allergy or just an intollerance? I'd love some help.
Jojoba Oil
Posted by Dawn (Pocahontas, usa) on 05/11/2007
★★★★★
Pure Jojoba oil has cleared up my daughters eczema ; shampoo without sulphates cleared up her eczema.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Ed Davis (Wenatchee WA, USA) on 06/03/2007
★★★★★
Skin Care - Dry Scaly Patches: I had some dry scaly skin on my nose and about for an inch or so on either side of my nose. I have been using a mixture of ACV, Baking Soda, and Water for a about a week and a half. I use about 1/4 tablespoon of BS and ACV till the bubbling stops. then I add just enough water to complete filling a small cup About 3 inches high, 1/2 full. I wash my face with this and leave it on for about a minute and then rinse it off. My skin on my nose and by my nose is now very soft and is no longer dry. I also found that when shaving with a razor that this mixture lubricated my skin and I did not get any cuts. I pieced this mixture together from reading about several items from this site. I love earthclinic.com
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Ryan (Chicago, Illinois) on 10/03/2007
★★★★★
I have had EXCELLENT success with ACV (2tbs) and Baking Soda (1/4 tsp or so) in a glass of water three times per day especially upon waking. I also mix a small thermos with another two doses and sip it during the afternoon. I definitely find it energizing and the psoriasis/eczema (whatever it is -- apples/oranges) I've had on my elbows ever since an extended fast is clearing up PRONTO. I'm very excited. I think I'll be a lifelong devotee. Ted -- you're awesome. I'm also taking a bit of borax occasionally and experimenting with the sodium thiowhateveritis. Best of luck to everyone.
Vitamin D
Posted by Mista (Columbus, Ohio) on 09/07/2007
★★★★★
Psorisis..4 Bob in Northridge,CA... Personally, I suffer from facial eczema(/roscea as the docs like to insist). Anyway's I have been trying to change my Foods from processed, pastuerized and GM to Organic ,minimally processed &UNpastuerized. I am looking 4ward 2 trying this OP but want 2 buy the Organic Sunflower Oil though I may try it w/my Coconut oil though I am nervous but your listing interested me in passing u some helpful info along w/OP because soo many ppl R not aware how IMPORTANT Vitamin D & Natural Sunlight w/OUT sunscreen really is, helping U naturally fight off DISEASE!!
Do Nothing
Posted by JOYCE (Joelton, Tn) on 10/10/2007 490 posts
★★★★★
On eczema, I believe removing the cause is the best cure. The causative factor is usually soap. No matter what kind - if it's soap, don't use it. One of our psychiatrists came in with a classic case of exzema (in his forties). I took one look at him and remarked, "that looks itchy, is it?" He said yes. When I caught him without an audience, I asked him if he ever tried leaving off soap for his eczema. He said he had and it got better at first, then got worse.
This almost threw me off track, until I thought to ask him what he used instead of soap. He replied that he didn't remember the name of it but it was some kind of medicated cream. I then suggested that he try leaving off soap again and not using any thing instead. He was surprised when told to just use a thick, wash cloth and water when bathing, nothing else, but agreed to give it a try. Several days later when he was next on call, he came in with the smoothest complexion and very happy with it.
People who forgo the use of soap also find that they have less body odor and attract fewer insect bites.
Again, on headaches, remove the cause, instead of looking for a cure. Aspartame (Nutrisweet) is well known for causing headaches. So is Monosodiumglutamate. If you want to find some other things they can cause, type in Excitotoxins, and hit search. For those who think MSG is only found in stir-fried (Chinese foods), make a list of the names MSG is hidden under in the ingredients list, then go into your kitchen and see how many of your foods have one or more of them listed in the ingredients.
Classic example is the 15% chicken broth that may be contained in a well-known brand of raw chicken that you must take home and cook...The MSG isn't mentioned because they didn't add MSG - they added chicken broth which contained the MSG.....Learn to protect yourself and your loved ones by learning these legal loop-holes. Oh, yes, you will also learn that that they are named excitotoxins because they excite the neural cells (Brain & Central nervous system) to death.
If you also research meta-bolic syndrome X (now called insulin resistance) by orthodox medicine) you will also find that excitotoxins are the same things that cause insulin resistance which ends up as full fledged Diabetes Mellitus,Type 2 which used to be called DM, adult onset, but was renamed to DM type 1 for juvenile onset and type 2 for adult onset, because children (even toddlers, are now developing type 2. So be your own health defender by learning all the names the excitotoxins are hidden under, stop buying these products, and write the supplier telling them why you aren't buying their product. You will only have to make one list because the excitotoxins are the same ones that makes us kick out excess insulin, proceed through insulin resistance, then to full fledged DM, type 2 and all of its complications.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Lynn (Wasilla, AK) on 11/12/2007
★★★★★
re: atopic dermatitis aka eczema -- Shortly after giving birth to my first child I developed eczema -- it started on my hands and proceeded to climb up my arms, neck, chest, etc.
5 Months later this is what I found.
1. Figured out on my own that I was reacting to disposable diapers. Switched to cloth and symptoms improved 50%.
2. Allergy test showed allergies to nikel,formaldehyde, and something called Quaternium-15 (formaldehyde-releasing preservative -- this is found in (or a similiar preservativ) in all most all liquid soaps, cleaners, and many cosmetics.
Once I elimanted these things (cloth diapers and compeletely switched to "greener"/natural products) my symptoms have imporved. I'm still having a slight problem and trying to find the final thing I am reacting to. We have figured out it is something in our house. (We just returned from a 3 week trip back home to visit family and the eczema had completly cleared up (except for 2 small outbreaks -- occured after holding my nephew and friends baby and sleeping on sheets that I had not washed in safe detergent!)
Meanwhile I found ACCUPUNCTURE really helped to make the symptons bearable with no side effects (very impoortant since I am nursing. Although it didn't eliminate the symptoms it did relieve horrible parts like patches that had become so inflamed as to become "weeping" or cracked and bleeding. It also helped to manage the itch and burning -- which was welcome relief since I had spent 3 months just trying to ignore it while trying "normal" medicial treatments that didn't work.
Currently we are investigating our water supply.
If anyone has anyother suggestings I'd love to hear them.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Eva (Fairfax, CA) on 11/13/2007
★★★★★
I stopped eating corn products and my eczema cleared up and hasn't really come back unless i eat nuts, especially walnuts.
Salt and Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mace (Atlanta, Georgia) on 11/14/2007
★★★★★
This is absolutly the best thing ever, I just got on this site had no idea of what it was; i googled cures for eczema and found it, i read a post that said to wash in salt and then use the acv, so i decided to do my upper body and see if it took well... man this is no joke it's not itching at all, the small rash like bumps are gone from my upper body and now i have to take another shower because i have to do the lower portion of my body... i also added the use of some pure olive oil... thanks a million if you are not sure just give it a try.
Vitamin B-Complex
Posted by Lisa (Lawton, OK) on 12/01/2007
★★★★★
I was diagnosed with eczema many years ago. The Dr. prescribed some medication, but I didn't want to take it because I was pregnant at the time. Tried Vitamin B-Complex after reading about the benefits. I took 1 in the morning and 1 at night and the eczema started to clear up after about 3 weeks. I then started taking just 1 pill a day and if I get lazy and don't take it for several days, I start feeling the "itch" starting. This might help Jordan with the "itchy bumps". I hope so. I'm somewhat of a petite person; I don't know if body weight would affect the amount of B-complex needed to see possible improvement.
Eliminate Dairy
Posted by free (kelowna, canada) on 12/11/2007
★★★★★
I had severe eczema growing up. The things that I have found to be best for me over the more than 20 years.....reduction in milk, cheese and yogurt - definitely!...Eucerin Original Cream - if I don't use this cream I can gently run my nails over my skin and produce dry skin. if you have very dry skin this cream is great....oatmeal baths.... and sunlight in a dry climate. I use to live in a humid climate in the summer and it was horrible. Well good luck everyone
Multiple Supplements
Posted by Francy (Lewisville, Texas) on 12/18/2007
★★★★★
Ok. After 20 years of dealing with dyshdriotic eczema, allergic dermatitis, contact dermatitis...essentially every skin malady recognized under the sun... I think I can provide some help. While steroidal creams such as diflorasone diacetate provide relief, they do not cure or prevent. The problem is organic. Here is the cocktail that I have found keeps me quasi-remissive with the least amount of side-effects: 1200mg of Lecithin, 50mg of zinc, 400 I.U. of vitamin E and 500mg L-Lysine once daily after a meal. For some reason, the anti-hystaminic effects of loratadine are more effective for skin disorders than other common OTC anti-histamines. I suggest one 10 mg loratadine once to twice a week to give the skin a "calm-down" period. Works for me...and I cook for a living.
Emu Oil
Posted by marybeth (volcano, hi) on 02/09/2008
★★★★★
I have tried everything for the eczema on my face. Nothing seemed to help altho it would come and go on it's own. I tried Emu oil last night and the eczema is almost gone. Already the itching, redness, raw-ness is much, much better. I got the oil at my local health food store but I think you can get it online.
Borax
Posted by Middlebunny (Jersey City, NJ, USA) on 03/23/2008
★★★★★
I have had eczema occasionally for years. I'm not sure of the cause. My dermatologist used to prescribe elocon cream; however, this is no longer on the rx formulary for my health plan and too expensive to purchase without insurance. I began putting 1/4 teaspoon of borax (laundry soap) in 1 liter of water and drinking this while at work. I'm not a water drinker so I rarely finish the whole bottle and don't do it consistently (4 days on and 3 days off) as Ted recommended. Despite this, the eczema seems to be improving substantially. It is no longer itchy and seems to be fading away after about 6 weeks.
