Conventional (Corticosteroids) Vs. Natural Eczema Treatment

Steroid creams are prescribed to reduce your eczema symptoms. (Inflammation, redness, itchiness)  However, many people, including myself, are afraid to use them too often.  Once applied to the skin, corticosteroids may have multiple negative side effects.  Some include:

1. Thinning of the skin
2. Formation of stretch marks (which has happened to me)
3. Dilation of the blood vessels
4. Skin infections
5. Rashes — Go Figure..
6. They may also cause metabolic imbalances if they accumulate in the body.
   - The reasoning for this is because your body already secretes the same bodily hormone as the steroid does.  Therefore, causing  competition of the topical cream hormone and the one secreted by your body to do the same job. (relieve inflammation, redness, itchiness)
   - Another imbalance that is caused is stress on the kidney.  This happens when using steroid creams (absorbed through the skin) and when you take steroid pills.  Your kidney has a hard time getting rid of the steroid through urination. 

The natural ways of treating your eczema are much better and have less or no side effects at all.  Natural can be defined as herbs, oatmeal baths, eczema home remedies, changes at home, and anything dealing with alternative treatments for eczema.  The great thing about treating your eczema naturally is that you can use more than one treatment.  In fact it is better to use more than one to help counter act other treatments, so you can have a better result.  That is why we are here!  To help you and the many other eczema sufferers find what they need to help relieve the daily eczema struggle!

Keep in mind that sometimes some tips and treatments can be repeated, to make sure that everyone sees them.  There may have been a very good tip on another page, but you may only be reading this page.  I want everyone to have a chance.

Eczema Home And Alternative Treatments:

1. Of course the number one rule is to keep track of what irritates your skin and eliminate those irritants.
2. Taking lukewarm baths are better for your skin that showers.  When you shower the water hits your skin and irritates it.  You can read more about that on another page, here.
3. If you do continue to take showers, install a filter on your shower head. A filter will stop the chlorine and other harmful chemicals that cause eczema symptoms and more breakouts.
4. Try not to sweat.  It aggravates the skin causing it to itch and break more easily.  
   - During the summer, if you use the air conditioner, it is recommended to buy a humidifier or moisturize a lot more to prevent extra drying or itching.  I bought a humidifier last year and I love it.  It keeps the air moist and I didn't dry out as quickly.
5. Just as you can moisturize the air, you can filtrate your air.  I agree that this does really have an effect on your daily struggle.  Having an air filter around makes your air a lot cleaner than it would be.  Then you aren't breathing all the extra in. (very good to look into if you have allergies that cause you to flare up and stress)  
   - Combining the humidifier and air filter would be a perfect combination and two treatments that would greatly counter act each other.
6. Don't Stress!  I know that when I get stressed, I scratch unconsciously.  Allowing yourself to stress out will cause your flare ups to happen more regularly.  I know it is hard to control, but living as stress free as you can will help keep your eczema symptoms at a minimum.
7. Lower Your Sugar Intake.  Bacteria inside you may be causing your eczema to flare up.  That bacteria relys on sugar to live.  Therefore, less sugar, less eczema bacteria.  

There are plenty of ways to reduce your eczema naturally, right from your home.  Be sure to educate yourself as much as you can so you will always know of different ways to help your eczema symptoms.  And do whatever you can to stay away from anything steroid!  

Keep reading and email me at jocelyn@eczema-creams.org if you have any questions.  Good Luck!