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.
L-Carnitine, Flax and Borage
Posted by Diane (Ottumwa, Ia) on 01/10/2012
★★★★★
Skin Update. Fatty Acid Metabolism Disorder.
Supplement with Borage, or Evening Promrose and Flax Seed Oil and Carnitine.
Totally Cured.
Eczema and dermatitis can be confused and be misdiagnosed, so forgive me for posting this here. This may help someone.
Symptoms: red, flaky skin, lifting off in very large flakes with white pustules like small cysts, forming rapidly under the skin. I did not have just the redness and broken veins that some people have.
It was diagnosed by my Dr. As "perioral dermatitis". It was a mess, and I had it for approximately 8-9 months before I figured out what it was.
This is for people who have tried everything. Believe me. I tried everything listed on this website and more.
I treated it as: a pathogen (like a bacteria like strep or staph), a fungus, mites, (yes, I drank the damn borax), scabies, leishmania, malessezzia, (seborrhea), acne, I tried three different antibiotic gels from the Dr, (metrogel, ciclopirox, clindamycin). I would get excited, because some things seemed to work for a few days, or a week but the condition always returned and got progressively worse. A fatty acid metabolism disorder will mimc the symptoms of Dermatitis with few other noticeable symptoms. My only clue came after I took a big dosage of Cod Liver Oil and I saw what looked like chicken skin under my eyes the next day. I knew something was really wrong. Started Flax, and Borage Oil capsules the next day. Took L-Carnitine on an empty stomach, (just happened to have it, and knew it was good for fatty acid metabolism disorder from a study I saw on the web regarding Acidura and Carnitine). The Acidura, (a condition of acidity in the body) interferes with fatty acid metabolism processes in the body. This, combined with a genetic predisposion called kryptopyluria and six cups of coffee a day meant I was not able to process fish oil of any type. This also explains why some of the other remedies like vinegar and baking soda, alkalinizing the body, liver cleanses, and the digestive enzymes seem to work for some people also. You will know within three days if this will work for you.
I saw healing within one day, the flakes stopped in three days and the redness went away in a week. My skin is perfectly clear and has been for two months. I still continue with the Carnitine, Flax and Borage only because I'm afraid to stop. Please note: I did topical applications of Sulfur, (sublimed pwder mixed into mayonese as a carrier) and bought MMS, (chlorine dioxide) previous to trying the Flax, Carnitine and Borage. The sulfur may have lessened the white pustules, but I still had the red, flaky skin. If the pustules don't go away, you made want to try the sulfur or the MMS.
Best Wishes.
Beet Juice
Posted by Marlene (Pocatello, Idaho Usa) on 08/21/2011
★★★★☆
I have had Eczema all my life been to many doctors and have used all kinds of medicine. Nothing ever really helped. I had one ultra violet treatment and it lasted for years. I had that done in AZ. That was about 26 yrs. ago and low and behold about 6 yrs. ago it came back! I was so sad... At first it was just a little on one finger. It came on this spring with a vengeance and I still have it. I get little bumps that itch. When they are rubbed they weep, then peel. When it is bad it cracks. The skin is very dry and draws making the cracking worse and a lot of pain.
I went to the garden several days ago and pulled a batch of BEETS. I cooked them yesterday and when they were done I skinned them the juice was all over my hands. IT FELT GOOD! Overnight the swelling is down and almost healed. I CAN"T BELIEVE it? I peeled potatoes for dinner just a bit ago and the potato juice got on me and started to itch and burn. So! I rubbed a plain cooked beet on my finger. Guess what! Instant relief. Have you ever heard of this before? It isn't totally gone but I sure feel better. The little sores are died a pretty red, but that's okay by me. What is in a beet that has this effect? Would love to know.
Ocean Water
Posted by Dana (Orlando, Fl) on 08/04/2011
★★★★★
I have been suffering with eczema for 9 months on my hands. It's very painful and embarrassing. This past weekend, I went away to the beach and realized after the third day my hands were healing. I also stopped drinking tap water and started drinking bottled or kangen water. After I arrived home from beach, my hands flared up again after one day so I decided to drive back over to beach and get a gallon of the ocean water and rub on my hands before I go to bed. I have put ocean water on my hand for 5 days now and there are no open cracks or pain in my hands, especially the itching. I wanted to share my story because I am hoping this will help others.
Homemade Cream
Posted by Helen (Vancouver, B.c., Canada) on 05/01/2011
★★★★★
My husband used to have dry skin issues during winter months while we lived in the middle east, although it was visible as very small patches on his elbow and ankle that could be easily treated using QV cream mostly and corticosteroid rarely. Dermatologists diagnosed it to be psoriasis. After we moved in to Canada a year ago, he developed extreme dry skin 2 months ago which covered his arms, legs (from the knee down), trunk (both front and back). The GP diagnosed it to be psoriasis whereas the Dermatologist said it was eczema. Both of them prescribed corticosteroids.
As we knew of the side effects of using these creams over large areas of the body, we refrained from using them completely although the situation was very bad. I developed a cream using natural ingredients that was so effective, it has brought about a major turn around and now, am so glad to say, his skin has recovered completely and is back to being normal in every sense of the word. I would like to share this recipe along with the protocol he followed with all other sufferers of this condition with a sincere wish that it will be just as effective for you and help you lead a normal life as I can totally empathise with this, having seen my husband go through all the pain and agony of having eczema.
- one 450g tub Wellskin Glaxal Base moisturizing cream (for sensitive skin)
[I used this cream as the base for preparing the cream]
- 100% Aloe Vera gel (edible variety)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- vegetable glycerine (100% pure)
- Neem oil
- Calendula oil
- Tea tree oil
- Vitamin E oil (40, 000 I. U. )
- Evening primrose oil softgels - 500 mg (GLA 50mg)
Except for the cream base, I got all the other ingredients from wholefoods market.
To half the cream base, I added about 1/4th cup aloe vera gel, 1/4 to 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 to 1/2 cup glycerine, about 2 tblsp vitamin E oil, around 20-30 drops each of neem oil, calendula oil and tea tree oil and squeezed in about 10 evening primrose softgel cap contents. Mix thorougly and store in a clean jar in a cool, dry place.
To use, apply generous amount of this cream to the affected areas of skin like a face mask and leave on for 1 to 3 hours, if u can. By this time, most of the cream would have been absorbed. Either dab off the excess or leave on over night. Please do not cover with plastic wraps as it can result in further inflammations. Apply morning after shower like regular moisturizer and more intensively in the evening ( as mentioned above) an hour to three hours before going to bed. The key here is to let the cream sit for 2-3 hrs in the evening and atleast 1/2 to 1 hour in the morning. Within 2-3 days , we noticed a dramatic change in the skin condition and on the fourth day, his skin had completly recovered!!
At the same time, my husband stopped using soaps of any kind and used only cetaphil. As for diet, we decided to have only fish, vegetables ( no tomatoes, potatoes), wholegrain brown rice and a berry smoothie using organic unsweetened coconut milk for breakfast (no eggs). Avoid sugar and all simple carbs atleast for the duration of this treatment. And drink loads of water too.
Wishing all of you a speedy recovery, one that's free of medications and all its unwanted side effects.
Honey
Posted by Alan (Oldham, Uk) on 01/08/2011
★★★★★
My wife as a child had eczema all over her body, my understanding of her problem hit home when now in her late 50s she got eczema all over her hands. We tried everything from doctor to tales of old. Her fingers split and weep and eruptions between the fingers cause itching.
Our current remedy which does work on the spliting of the skin is either a bandage or plaster with a small amount of pure honey next day the spliting has healed and most of the soreness gone. What we have not tried yet because she cant stand the stuff is eating it to see if it eases her by internal. Could I ask that if anyone has eczema and likes pure blossom honey please try it and publish your findings this will help all other sufferers out there.
Hot Water
Posted by Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 08/12/2010
I agree that the hot, HOT water treatment does relieve my eczema on my hands... I know it's probably not the best thing to do but it's the only thing that relieves that intolerable, unbearable itching. You do get goosebumps from the icredible relief you get from it too!! Ha! I thought I was the only one. I try to follow up with a fragrance free lotion or coconut oil to prevent over drying of the affected areas. It usually clears up on its own in a couple of weeks.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Bajan Sands (Union Hall, St Philip, Barbados) on 10/20/2010
★★★★☆
This is Sandra from Barbados with an update. I have continued my quest for eczema relief. I changed up the routine a bit. Drinking the Apple Cider Vinegar was not working well for me as a daily option so I stick using it as "skin cleanser" after my showers each day & drinking only sometimes. I have also started to make my own body moisturizer, which is going very well.
My main ingredients being coconut oil, mango butter, shea butter & vegetable glycerin. I put other oils reputed to be beneficial to the skin as I feel like. I take some supplements too: probiotics, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil & also drink black seed oil, usually once daily. I'm keeping positive & I continue to see improvements. Some very small patches have become raised again, tiny in comparison to how they were, but when I work on these a bit more they tend to subside. I recently started treating the more stubborn patches with neem oil. I will watch & update my reactions in due course. My daughter who was visiting from London, told me within minutes of meeting her at the airport she could see a big difference in the look & feel of my my skin & wants a tub of the body cream for herself. I no longer scratch myself constantly all day long or in my sleep at nights. I do still itch but only sometimes. I no longer feel my skin is my enemy.
In a nutshell, I have to say big thanks, once again, to Earth Clinic who started me off on this discovery, given me hope when I really thought there was none. I will continue to tweak my routine according to how my skin performs, but for now acv, organic coconut oil based moisturizer plus a few supplements are doing a good job.
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.
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". :)
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
Herbal Tea
Posted by Yo (Japan) on 09/22/2024
Always check your liver and kidney markers when drinking herbal teas, especially in excessive amounts. Pregnant women should not drink herbal teas unless they are certified organic and only under a practitioner supervision. Keep in mind that anyone can just write on a package that is certified organic. I order all my herbal teas, honey etc. directly from New Zealand.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Posted by Jess (Seattle) on 02/23/2022
★★★★★
I started taking 10 drops/day of Grapefruit Seed Extract for a different problem. Within 3 days, the mild eczema on my arms was completely gone! It's been there for months so I was surprised by this. I did a search online & found that GSE can help with eczema.
Epsom Salt
Posted by Art (California) on 07/05/2021 2325 posts
Alex,
You might give over the counter 1% Clotrimazole cream to try to determine if it is fungal or some other cause. If 1% Clotrimazole clears it or helps considerably, it is likely fungal.
Art
Cold Wet Wrapping
Posted by LN (England) on 03/14/2021
It must be obvious I suppose, but I realise that I omitted to say that the dampened bandages are applied to the dry/itchy patches, before covering with the dry layer and then clingfilm. I do not apply any creams, oils or moisturisers, just water. It certainly works very fast for me, as relief and I hope will turn out to be curative longer term.
Vitamin D, Eliminate Dairy
Posted by Hope (Ma) on 07/30/2020
★★★★★
Hi!
Yes, this was also my experience for eczema/dermatitis on my face, but the sunlight didn't do it. Vitamin d3 supplementation did cure it within two days. For some reason, the sunlight made it much worse. I can also eat dairy, no prob.
Dead Sea Salt and Rose Hip Oil
Posted by Aaron (MT) on 10/15/2024 8 posts
★★★★★
I found great and unexpected relief from a Dead Sea Salt bath when I was soaking my Hamstring that was affected by Sciatica... My normally inflamed hands and wrists tamed completely over a few days, the itch was gone...
It came back because I have to completely detox my Liver, but it's good to know it will work when needed... In the future I can just use a large Tupperware bowl to soak my hands...
Baby Eczema Cream
Posted by Mama to Many (TN ) on 08/19/2019
★★★★★
My teenage daughter has dealt with perioral dermatitis for years. We have tried many, many things over the years with varying temporary results that have been less than satisfying. A few months ago we tried Aveno baby eczema cream. Wow! This is the best thing we have used. I would say she is 90% better and has been for months. This is inexpensive and available online and in stores. 😊 ~Mama to Many~
Aloe Vera
Posted by ItCouldAlwaysBeWorse (NJ) on 01/20/2019
★★★★★
I have had GREAT success with raw aloe leaf for eczema. I rub the inside of the aloe leaf on my hands or any part of my skin that is having some kind of issue at least twice a day. I apply it once in morning before work and once before bed everyday for maintenance too. If I am having an issue or attempt, I apply more often. I get the raw aloe leaf from Whole Foods in produce section. Keep it refrigerated and the cut end wrapped in plastic wrap. Lay the leaf flat and cut about an inch off. Then cut that piece in half so the inner flesh is exposed. Rub it on area, let juice get on skin.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 12/28/2018
Mch, you can try eliminating dairy, sugar and grains for one week, and see if it gets any better.
Turmeric
Posted by Bob (Cleveland) on 12/16/2018
★★★★★
I recommended Silymarin (Milk Thistle extract) in a post a few years ago. The product I used contained Turmeric (700mg per serving). When I switched to a product that did not contain turmeric my eczema came back. I now believe it's the Turmeric (or the combination of Silymarin and Turmeric) that's curing my eczema. Definitely, for me, Turmeric is an essential component of my eczema treatment.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Art (California ) on 09/05/2018 2325 posts
Hi Deirdre,
You can try 80% aloe vera gel plus 10% xylitol plus 10% food grade vegetable glycerin and a little lavender essential oil. This should avoid the added irritant qualities of lotion based blends. Let me know if it helps and if not I will give it further thought!
Art
Peppermint, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Oils
Posted by Teena (Melbourne, Australia) on 01/06/2018 233 posts
Thank you for your very comprehensive post, I'm sure will help a lot of people. Often times when we have recurring skin problems it is because something is not right internally. You usually need to attack or fix internally as well as topically. I would consider adding a great probiotic like homemade kefir, or probiotic pills bought refrigerated to balance your gut's good bacteria, best on an empty stomach, and vitamin c at minimum 1000 mg a day. Of course there are many other immune boosters as well to consider. Sometimes the symptoms flare initially as your boosted immune system fights it out. Also I trust your hand soap is natural, mine is a mix of water, borax, baking soda, bentonite clay and anti fungal, anti bacterial essential oils. Best of health to you
Hemp Seed Oil and Flax Seed Oil
Posted by Eugene (Concord, Tn) on 09/10/2017
★★★★★
Was diagnosed with Nummular Eczema and it was quite an ordeal and am posting this in hopes of helping others. Through trial and error I developed a regiment that has got me back to normal. I take one capsule of Hemp Seed oil either every day or every other day. I also take daily one capsule of Flax seed oil which cleared up the itching and swelling around my eyes. These are the most important. I also take 1 or 2 Probiotic Acidophilus. I also take 1 Borage oil capsule every other day, I think helps but I believe the others are the most important.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Sue (London) on 04/28/2017
★★★★★
I have had ear eczema for years, have used coconut oil to moisturize ears, which at least kept them from drying and being painful, but that's all it did.
3 weeks ago I started taking Diatomaceous earth, and slowly my ear eczema seems to be clearing. I put it down to the Food grade diatomaceous earth.
For the last 6 months, I have also been using magnesium oil and mega mag, vitamin k2, bee pollen, acerola cherry powder, boron, adrenal cocktail and other stuff as recommended by Morley Robbins at the magnesium advocacy group, in the hope of healing myself from arthritis.
But it is only since using the diatomaceous earth that the eczema seems to be clearing.
