There are a couple of aspects to this home remedy for eczema. The first is relieving the symptoms - the itchiness - of your skin. The second is to look at addressing the underlying causes.

Eczema is often confused with psoriasis because the symptoms are quite similar. People with eczema have dry and red skin. It is an inflammatory condition, and small blisters can form. These have the potential to be weepy and crusty.

Eczema is not caused by one thing only, so it’s important to have an understanding of what type yours is. It could be atopic eczema, contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, or irritant contact dermatitis.

Atopic eczema is believed to be hereditary. It’s often associated with hay fever and asthma, both of which are also inflammatory conditions. The good news is that children often grow out of atopic eczema when they reach their teens, though adults are not so fortunate. Itchiness is a strong symptom with atopic eczema.

Irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis are both catalyzed by external substances. With allergic contact dermatitis, regular contact with an allergen leads to an allergic reaction. The skin can then become itchy, red, and crack. People with this type of eczema must avoid what they are allergic to.

Irritant contact dermatitis usually affects adults - especially their hands. It is often triggered by everyday, household substances like cleaning products, paint, and other agents. The best thing to do here is to take care of the outer layer of the skin, and change the products that are causing the problem.

A good home remedy for eczema for the outer layer of the skin, is aloe vera. It’s best to get the fresh plant - they actually grown really well. That way you can always have a fresh supply ready. Aloe vera promotes skin healing and is incredibly soothing. It’s also very moisturizing - great for hot, inflamed, and itchy skin. If you can’t get hold of the fresh plant, get a good quality, pure (preferably organic) gel from the health food shop. Avoid aloe vera products with fragrances and other chemical additives. That could be a fresh source of irritation.

Aloe vera is a great home remedy for eczema of the hand as it is so soothing, and easy to apply.

Another home remedy for eczema is burdock. You can use this herb in a child’s bath water. This is one of the best herbs to use for chronic skin problems. Burdock can also be used as a wash by making a tea out of it and swabbing the tea onto affected areas of the skin.

You can actually make a facial cleanser for eczema as a home remedy. Mix aloe vera gel in with burdock tea, and apply to the face every morning in the shower. Make sure you mix up small amounts and keep any extra in the fridge though. These herbs work best when they are kept fresh.

One of the most important aspects in an eczema home remedy is dealing with the internal condition of the body. There are a few different approaches to this, but broadly, the herbs for eczema might include kelp, dandelion, and alfalfa. These are very nourishing herbs. Kelp is great for the skin, and alfalfa is a good, tonic herb.

Dandelion provides important support for the functioning of the liver, which natural therapists believe is associated with skin conditions as an underlying factor. This is not to say that people with eczema have problems with their liver in the medical sense - this is an approach that seeks to support the natural functioning of the liver.

Essential fatty acids are very important also, particularly evening primrose oil and omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are usually not consumed enough in our westernized diet. Given that many people don’t eat oily fish like salmon or sardines 3 times a week, it can be a good idea to take a supplement. I highly recommend the omega 3 essential fatty acids made from the new Zealand green lipped mussel. Make sure that you take the oil extract, not the freeze dried extract. It’s much better quality (and the freeze dried extract stinks - you need a strong stomach).

There’s more technical information on the relationship between essential fatty acids and eczema here.