10 Best Natural Home Remedies for Eczema

10% Afro Americans, 11% Caucasians, 13% Asian Americans, and 13% of America’s native Indian populations are affected with various types of eczema.

Eczema is a skin disease caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus, and symptoms include:

thick dry, scaly, or cracked skins
Reddish, brownish, or grayish skin patches on the face, upper chest, neck, wrist, hands, feet, or other skin parts.
Swollen skin
itching
Rashes resulting from atopic eczema

Asides from bacterial causes, eczema can also be caused by any or a combination of the following risk factors.

Weak immune system
Extreme weather conditions (infection rate is higher during winter)
Genetic predisposition
Allergies
Stress
Skin type (dry and sensitive are more susceptible to Eczema infection).

Conventional treatment methods, natural home remedies, dietary change, and lifestyle are some common ways by which you can treat eczema.

However, the use of natural remedies helps moisturize dry and broken skin, reduces the bacterial load on the skin, and prevents skin inflammation.

This article focuses on the ten best natural home remedies for eczema.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a popular treatment solution for skin disorders, including eczema. The acidity of apple cider vinegar helps boost the skin’s acidity, thus improving the skin’s defenses against invading pathogens and preventing eczema flares.

However, high acidity can damage the skin tissue; therefore, you should ensure you’re using a mild form of vinegar to prevent skin damage.

How to Treat Eczema with Apple Cider Vinegar

Apply topically

Mix one part vinegar with three parts water (use four parts water if your skin is quite sensitive)
Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture to the eczema spot
Leave on the eczema spot for 2hours
Rinse and dry with a towel

Mix apple cider vinegar with the bathwater

Fill a bathtub halfway with warm water
add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar
Fill up the bathtub and immerse yourself for 15 to 30 minutes
Rinse your body thoroughly, and moisturize
repeat daily

2. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera gel is also a common treatment for various skin ailments that have been in use since ancient times.

It is a much more preferred treatment option due to its ability to boost the immune system, moisturize the skin, fight inflammation, and kill off pathogens present on the skin.

How to Treat Eczema with Aloe Vera Gel

It is often advisable to apply small quantities of aloe vera to your skin to check for skin sensitivity.

Cut a piece of the Aloe vera leave and scrape the gel using a spoon
clean the eczema-infected area with warm water and soap
Apply the Aloe vera gel to the eczema-infected spot morning and night
Repeat twice daily until your skin is free from eczema flares

3. Tea Tree Oil

Tea oil is an oil extract from Melaleuca alternifolia, a tree species common in Australia.

It is commonly used for various skin infections due to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing properties, and moisturizing effect on the skin.

How to Treat Eczema Fast At Home with Tea Tree Oil

Because of its potency, you should dilute tea oil with 9 parts, olive oil, almond oil, cream, or other carrier agents; preferably, oil-based with neutral effects on the skin.

Use a cotton ball to apply already diluted tea tree oil to eczema spots on your skin.
Repeat this process morning and night until your skin is free from eczema flares

4. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is rich in Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) with potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties; it boosts the skin’s defenses and acts as a natural antibiotic, thus, making it ideal for treating eczema.

How to Treat Eczema with Coconut Oil

Get a cold-pressed virgin coconut oil
Heat the coconut oil gently to make it warm
Apply the coconut oil on the affected skin surfaces and rub gently
Repeat the process twice daily until your skin is free from eczema flares

5. Magnesium/Epsom Salt Bath

Magnesium has been used for ages to treat skin diseases, inflammation, arthritis, bruises, sore muscles, etc.

How to Treat Eczema with Magnesium/Epsom Salt Bath

Add two cups of magnesium flakes or Epsom salt to a warm bath
Immerse yourself for 20 minutes
dry off your skin and apply moisturizer, or combine with other treatment options like coconut oil, shea butter, or sunflower oil.

6. Shea Butter

Shea butter is fat from the shea tree, common in the savanna of Africa. Shea butter is an important skin moisturizing agent that has been used for ages to moisturize the skin and treat eczema.

How to Treat Eczema with Shea Butter

Take a warm bath daily, morning and night
Dry off your skin
Apply shea butter to the affected area daily until your skin is clear of eczema.

7. Sunflower Oil

Sunflower is effective against symptoms of eczema, such as redness and swelling of the skin. It is also an important moisturizer that protects the skin from dryness and cracking.

How to Treat Eczema with Sunflower Oil

Wash off the affected area with warm water and soap, or take a warm bath
Dry off the area, or towel yourself dry
apply sunflower to the affected area daily until your skin is free from eczema flares.

8. Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is an extract from the leaves and bark of the witch hazel shrub common in North America. It is used to treat acne, eczema, dandruff, burns, insect bites, and other skin anomalies due to its strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also moisturizes the skin, thus preventing skin dryness, irritation, and cracking.

How to Apply Witch Hazel to Back Acne

Mix a tablespoon of powdered witch hazel bark (or 4-5 witch hazel leaves) with 1 cup of water
Allow it to stand for 30 minutes.
Boil the mixture or concoction with simmering fire
Allow the boiled mixture to cool for 10 minutes
Strain or filter the concoction
Store in a container with a tight lid or cover
Use a cotton ball to apply the witch hazel liquid to the affected spots on your skin twice daily until your skin is clear.

9. Castor Oil

Castor oil is a popular treatment option for several skin conditions and other ailments. It is also used as a castor oil pack to remove toxins from the liver.

How to Treat Eczema with Castor Oil

Wash and dry the affected area
Massage with castor oil daily until your skin is clear of eczema flares.

10. Turmeric

Turmeric contains oxidants and other potent antibacterials, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory substances and has been used for ages to cure all types of skin disorders, including eczema.

How to Prepare Turmeric Powder At Home

Boil fresh turmeric for 30 minutes
Sun-dry it or use other forms of available drying techniques,
Grind to powdery form.

How to Treat Eczema with Turmeric

Mix water with powdered turmeric to make a paste; alternatively, you can make a fresh turmeric paste by crushing fresh turmeric rhizome.
Cream the affected area with the turmeric paste

Leave for an hour before washing off the turmeric paste from your skin

Repeat this once daily until your skin is free from eczema flares.

Conclusion

Eczema can persist for a long duration if left untreated, but with any, or a combination of the 10 best home remedies discussed above, you should be bidding goodbye to eczema within two weeks if you’re consistent with the recommended home treatment options.

Lifestyle changes are also important at keeping eczema at bay; therefore, it is important you incorporate fruits, vegetables, and nuts into your diet; exercise regularly, and manage stress.