Heal Eczema by Making Lifestyle Changes

(NaturalNews) Eczema can be a distressing condition which is characterized by inflamed, itchy skin that sometimes develops into open bleeding sores. It can appear at any age and affects approximately two to seven percent of the population. Currently, research indicates that food allergies can be the root cause of eczema. All eczema patients have positive allergy tests. Eczema is a tricky illness with many causes, but with some changes can be reversed.

Two thirds of patients have family history of eczema. Many eczema patients eventually develop hay fever and/or asthma.

Both allergies (IgE mediated which can be tested with your GP) and IgG intolerance's to foods (tests completed by nutritionists) are key to treatment.

For most people eczema symptoms tend to worsen:
* When they are under stress or exhausted
* When eating certain foods
* When drinking much tea and coffee
* Exposure to heat
* Exercising
* Exposure to external irritants such as perfumes, washing powders,
shampoos and paints
* Pet hairs - especially cat hair

However Eczema is most commonly linked to food intolerance's and leaky gut. If the illness starts in early childhood, it is often linked to dairy intolerance, eggs, citrus or wheat.

Leaky Gut

Leaky gut is a condition that comes about when the health of the gut is out of balance. Technically leaky gut is where the junction between the cells of the gut lining develops gaps through which undigested food particles get through and enter the blood stream. These particles should not be there and so are foreign to the body. The immune system starts to react to them, producing all types of inflammatory symptoms including joint pain, fatigue, headaches and asthma.

The gaps between the cells of the gut lining come about due to damage in the gut from toxins, parasites, and overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut. Over time, a buildup of stress, chemicals, heavy metals, impacted old feces, and a high sugar or poor quality diet can all feed the overgrowth of bad bacteria and reduce the health of the mucosal lining in the gut.

All people have good and bad bacteria in the gut, but a healthy balance is about 80% good and 20% bad. When this gets out of balance, the bad bacteria produce toxins which damage the gut lining, causing the leaky gut.

Foods to avoid:
* Cut out all dairy produce, coffee, tea, chocolate, beef, citrus, eggs, wheat, alcohol, peanuts and tomatoes; this is a long list but is guaranteed to improve your eczema.

* Also avoid decaffeinated coffee products - if you are sensitive to coffee, it is not just the caffeine which is problematic.

* Avoid preservatives, additives, pesticides, food colorings, and refined and processed foods which can cause allergies and intolerance's which all trigger eczema.

By Alex Howard
Learn more here.

Eczema Update

My daughter had her worse eczema outbreak in February. It started below her lip and spread around her mouth and then onto her cheeks,and her right eyelid. She also had it on the fold of both arms and it spread up her arms and on her neck. I have tried so many different products and she is taking supplements and is on a strict diet. She has shown a lot of improvement although her skin has not totally healed.

I have run out of most of the oils I purchased and recently decided to make my own. I am so glad I did because it is working. Did you read that correctly, it works! It is actually working to help restore her skin and heal the dry itchy patches that she has on her face, neck, and arms. I have to apply it often but it works. And it smells good. Here is my recipe:


Ingredients:

Coconut Oil- 
3 tbsp
Castor Oil 
1 tbsp
Full Spectrum Vitamin E
2 capsules
Evening Primerose Oil
2 capsules
Olive Oil
1 tbsp
Manuka Honey
1 tsp
Bees Wax
I used a little less then a quarter of an ounce.
Lavender Oil
1-2 drops

Directions:
Pour water into a small pot and bring it to a boil. Place small 4oz glass or metal jar into pot and add beeswax first. Once the beeswax is melted add all your other ingredients. You will have to cut open the capsules or poke a hole in them with a small pin to get the oil out. DO NOT put the whole capsule in the jar, just the oils. Mix well with a butter knife or spoon, with what ever you choose, be sure not to reuse it because you will not be able to get all of the beeswax off. Once mixed remove from heat source. CAUTION the jar will be extremely hot. I put the pot right into the refrigerator. Once it cooled I took the jar out of the pot and left it in the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes. Once it solidifies you can remove it. It should be thick and smooth, not hard. If it comes out too hard then you might have added too much bees wax. If any of you try it let me know how it works.

I added a small amount of baby massage oil that I have. I added it because it smells fabulous. I purchased it from terressentials.
The massage oil has organic sunflower and jojoba oils infused with organic calendula and chamomile.I added about 1 tsp.
Thanks!

Natural Cure for Eczema

Prescribed medications don't provide cure for eczema, they only suppress the symptoms and burden already weak immune system. In this article I will give a list of effective natural remedies to cure itching, pain and and dryness caused by eczema. I will also give a solid eczema treatment plan for achieving long lasting results by eliminating the root cause of eczema.

What causes eczema?

Latest studies indicate that eczema is the result of abnormal functioning of the immune system, combined with genetically weak skin barrier. Eczema is usually triggered by eating specific foods or getting in touch with external allergens and pathogens that break through the weak skin barrier. Eczema usually gets worse when environmental conditions suddenly change (temperature, humidity) and the immune system gets weakened by stress and poor nutrition. The fact that eczema is most common in babies and young children (with not yet fully developed immune system) also suggests that immune system plays a key role in eczema occurrences. Our immune system relies on our genes, environment, lifestyle and nutrition. We can not change our genes, but we can influence all the other factors to boost our immune system. Building up a strong immune system is the only permanent cure for eczema that provides long lasting results and an eczema-free life!

Permanent cure for eczema (strengthening the body from within):

There are no miracle medicines or creams that will permanently cure eczema without your effort. Long lasting results require changes in your lifestyle. At first glance, the following plan may seem to be hard to be integrated into your everyday life, but if you do it step by step, you will succeed. Keep in mind the main goal - strong immune system. It is not only the real cure for eczema but it will also provide you with resistance against majority of diseases.

1. Avoid any stress to your skin and eliminate foods you are allergic to.
   
   
   • Determine and avoid any foods and allergens that cause eczema to kick in.
   • Keep your skin away from dry water.
   • No scratching - it will irritate and damage your skin even more.
   • Avoid sudden changes in temperature.
   • Avoid too much sweating or getting overheated.
   • Use clothes made of cotton.
2. Use the "quick cure for eczema" methods above to keep your eczema under control.(View on the website)
   
   
3. Build up a strong immune system.
   
   
   • Avoid stress whenever possible. Stress is the silent immune system killer. Relax and enjoy life!
   • Walk or jog in fresh air at least 1.5 hours a day.
   • Go to bed no later than 10pm and get up earlier in the morning. It is part of the normal life cycle that people have forgotten. Athletes know that our body rebuilds itself and grows during certain sleep phases. You will be amazed how much more energy you will have when going to bed at right time regularly. Staying up late at night is one of the worst things you can do to your immune system.
   • Take at least two 10 minute breaks during the day - lay down and relax, forget all the troubles, meditate. Visualize your eczema fading away.
   • Clean your colon, detox your liver and kidneys.
     
     
     • Drink at least eight 8-oz glasses of non-carbonated bottled water a day to flush out the toxins and hydrate the cells.
     • Take Artichoke capsules 20 minutes before meals with a glass of water to increase bile flow (helps do digest food and remove toxins with bile)
     • Consume foods and juices rich in antioxidants (Selenium, Zinc, vitamin E, vitamin C, bioflavonoids) - all fresh fruits and vegetables, green tea, blueberries, raspberries.
     • Consume soluble fiber with meals - oats, bran, nuts, oranges, apples, carrots, psyllium husk. Soluble fiber reduces LDL cholesterol and regulates blood sugar.
     • Consume insoluble fiber with meals - seeds, nuts, dark green leafy vegetables and whole wheat products. Insoluble fiber promotes regular bowel movement, prevents constipation and removes toxic wastes through colon in less time.
     • You need to consume enough proteins and Omega 3 fatty acid rich foods to detox your body, antioxidants won't do the job alone.
   • Restore the microflora in your gut by consuming foods and supplements containing beneficial bacteria. Your intestinal lining and microflora is your "inner skin" that protects you from harmful pathogens, helps you digest food and absorb nutrients.
     
     
     • Eat Sauerkraut (self made is the best) - it will not only provide you with active beneficial bacteria but will give you quick overall energy boost.
     • Drink a glass of kefir (self made is the best) twice a day. You can also apply kefir externally on your eczema to soothe it.
     • Take probiotic supplements on empty stomach in the morning and before going to bed. You need to experiment, not all supplements work the same for everyone.
     Notice: During the first week, building up your microfolora can sometimes trigger die off of pathogens and bad bacteria. Symptoms may include dizziness, bloating, low fever. They usually disappear in 4 days. If the symptoms are too severe reduce the amount of probiotics taken.
   
   Read more here. 
   
   My daughter recently had the worse eczema outbreak she has ever had and it is gradually getting worse. It started on the fold of both arms and was also below her lip, but has spread around the vicinity of her mouth and on her right eye.  I have been looking on-line for remedies and found a few that will hopefully provide relief and Lord willing get rid of it altogether. I will be applying ACV(Apple Cider Vinegar) twice daily to alleviate the itch. I also have a blend of oils that I put together that is helping to heal her irritated skin. I will also be using EMUgency spray to help with the itch once I get it in the mail along with Earth Mama Nipple Butter. A friend of mine mentioned how she had used nipple cream on her daughters chapped lips and how it worked within a short time to restore her skin. I thought I'd give it a try and hope that it'll work for my daughters eczema. I have already made changes to her diet so I hope to see some changes soon. She is not handling her diet change or her flare ups too well. She broke down in tears at the grocery store today. I believe we will see some progress within the next few weeks but in the mean time remember us in your prayers. Thank you!
   
   Eleny :-)