Hey Kiya Beauties, this week we will be sharing some simple and natural ways to manage eczema at home.
Eczema can cause the skin to appear chapped, red, and on darker skin tones it may look brown, purple, or grey.
Before we get into our tips, it's important to note that natural remedies cannot cure eczema, however, they can help soothe the dry, itching skin that accompanies eczema and prevent flares.
- Use warm water when bathing
A long, hot shower can remove natural oils and moisture from the skin. Therefore, take shorter showers/baths and keep the water at a warm, but not hot, temperature.
2. Moisturise twice a day
Eczema is characterised by a weakened skin barrier that can be worsened by cold, dry air and because of this, properly moisturising is key for managing the condition.
After bathing, moisturise within 3 minutes. Gently pat the skin dry with a towel and apply an oil-based moisturiser before the skin has fully dried. This can help seal in water from the shower or bath before it evaporates.
Shea butter can be a great option as a natural remedy for eczema. This is because Shea butter is known to absorb quickly while keeping the area moisturised. It does by acting as a protective layer on the surface of the skin as it absorbs into and moisturises the deeper layers.
After washing and drying the hands, apply moisturiser to help prevent eczema flares.
3. Use a gentle soap
One of the main ways that eczema sufferers strip moisture from their skin is through handwashing. In most cases, people use strong, antibacterial hand soaps to remove germs and other contaminants from their skin. For people with eczema however, these soaps are also stripping away a lot of moisture.
When choosing a cleanser, opt for ones that are gentle and contain moisturising ingredients rather than ones that contain harsh detergents that strip the natural oils from the skin.
As eczema is an inflammatory condition, it causes inflamed, red, sore skin. Certain foods can cause or reduce inflammation in the body, so making a few key dietary changes could help to reduce eczema flare ups.
Examples of anti-inflammatory foods you could incorporate into your diet include; fish, leafy greens, beans and lentils, colorful fruits, vegetables, turmeric and cinnamon.
5. Invest in a humidifier
Finally, another tip we have to help keep eczema flare ups at bay, is avoiding cold, dry air as best as possible. A great way you can do this is by having a humidifier at home. Keeping one in your bedroom will keep the air moist and prevent dehydration in the skin through the night whilst you sleep.
So that's it for our top 5 tips on how to manage eczema naturally.
Let us know below if you have any tips or tricks that we missed out!