Eczema can be such an itching, irritating and incredibly uncomfortable condition. Children can really suffer when you have to try to prevent them from scratching at their eczema rash. With psoriasis, identifying and avoiding your triggers, keeping your immune system healthy by reducing stress, avoiding illness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, are paramount in keeping this skin condition under control.
Eczema
Too much heat and sweat can make the skin even more irritated and itchy. When the body sweats, valuable water and moisture is lost from the skin. Keeping the skin moisturized is key to controlling this affliction. It is vital to establish a skin care routine. A daily bath helps to moisturize the skin, using moisturizing aqueous cream rather than ordinary soaps for cleaning. The temperature should be just warm and it is helpful to soak for 15 to 20 minutes so that the skin’s outer layer can absorb moisture while avoiding any excessive scrubbing. After bathing, the skin should be partly dried by gently patting with a towel to remove excess water while still leaving the skin damp. Our own H-Eczema Formula works with your body to heal your symptoms as opposed to harsh over-the-counter and prescription eczema creams which can have adverse effects. Remember too when dealing with eczema that it is an autoimmune disorder and not just dry skin. It is worthwhile to investigate and treat underlying causes. Here to help is firstly a homemade eczema cream and secondly a lotion bar.
Homemade Eczema Cream
(Courtesy of theelliotthomestead.com) The ingredients you will need:
1/2 cup shea butter which is a natural moisturizer that helps to heal the skin while being rich in Vitamin A . If you find your shea butter is crumbly and less than smooth, warm it up to a more creamy consistency. Shea butter is a tree nut and not suitable for everyone. Instead, use cocoa butter or coconut oil.
- 20 drops geranium essential oil
- 30 drops cedarwood essential oil
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
Simply mix all the ingredients together in a small dark glass jar to use as needed. Always use single essential oils such as lavender from a reputable source. For example, store bought essential oils are typically not 100% pure and may have fillers.
Psoriasis
As well as for eczema, the second recipe is to help psoriasis sufferers too. Psoriasis is caused by the speeding up of the usual skin replacement process. While normal skin cell replacement takes about 3 to 4 weeks, in psoriasis the skin cells can be replaced every two to six days leading to a build-up of skin cells on the surface of the skin. The redness of the skin is due to the increase in blood vessels required to support this cell production increase. When you have psoriasis, your T cells attack your skin cells instead of their normal job of protecting from infection and disease by attacking bacteria. The body’s response is to produce more skin cells. This accumulation of dead cells and live cells in visible layers leads to the appearance of raised red patches of skin covered with silvery scales. Although there is no cure for psoriasis, fortunately new and more effective treatments for psoriasis have given many of those with this skin condition the chance to treat the symptoms of psoriasis. Essential oils are a natural treatment for psoriasis.
Homemade Lotion Bar for Psoriasis and Eczema
Homemade lotion bar for psoriasis/eczema
To make a large batch, you will need:
- 8 oz beeswax
- 4 oz unrefined shea butter
- 4 oz unrefined cocoa butter
- 2 oz coconut oil
- 4 tablespoon sweet almond oil
- 4 tablespoon grape seed oil
- 3 vitamin E pills opened and added
- 10 drops lavender oil
- 10 drops bergamot oil
- 10 drops geranium oil
Reduce these ingredients proportionately for smaller batches. Directions: Put all ingredients into a large Pyrex bowl or similar within a pot of boiling water (as if it were a double boiler) and heat on the stove top. Once melted, pour into a muffin pan with liners to set. Use the bars to rub on to the affected areas as needed. If you can treat these often chronic skin conditions in as natural a way as possible, without resorting to pharmaceutical medications, it is always safer and more gentle.