How to Care for Your Skin

Use a gentle cleanser in your daily ablutions over your whole body as well as a special wash for your face. Your face should be washed twice daily unless otherwise specified by a dermatologist. Do not just use your regular soap on your face, as skin in this area is generally much more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body. Look for gentle cleansers with ingredients like oatmeal to soothe angry skin, or tea tree oil to temper oily skin. An acne-fighting cleanser with salicylic acid can help with skin that is prone to pimples. In any case, wash gently with cool to warm water, and do not scrub as this can lead to irritation.

After washing, always use a moisturizer, even if your skin is generally oily. Fragrance-free and oil-free lotions are preferable to perfumed lotions. Moisturizers containing oils may clog your pores. Your facial lotion should contain at least 10 SPF, even in winter. Many cosmetic companies offer facial lotions tailored to specific skin types, though drugstore brands like Aveeno often can accommodate even very sensitive skin.

Skin and Shaving

Shaving is very hard on the skin for both men and women. Be sure to always use a shaving cream or gel. Once again, avoid fragrances and look for products formulated for sensitive skin. If you tend to get razor bumps, try using a razor with fewer blades or even switch to an electric razor. You won’t get as close of a shave, but your skin will thank you.

If you shave your legs or body hair, be sure to slather on a lotion afterwards to help replace the natural oils scraped off by your razor. However, if you shave your bikini line or pubic area, take extra caution with your post-shaving routine as some lotions, particularly those with added fragrance, can cause infections in these areas. Use a dermatologist-approved unscented moisturizer instead.

Extra Tips for Men

Caring for your face is especially important if you grow facial hair. Unhealthy skin is more likely to develop dandruff, leading to unsightly flakes in your beard and on your clothes. Frequent shaving can also lead to problems, such as razor burn or ingrown hairs. Though aftershave is designed to prevent such issues, many aftershaves contain alcohol, which may actually exacerbate the problem. Look for alcohol-free products with ingredients like peppermint or eucalyptus, which provide a fresh fragrance without using harsh chemicals.

Further, if your skin is sensitive, don’t be afraid to look at “women’s” products. Though many shaving gels, facial lotions, and face cleansers are marketed only to women, men can find these products just as useful. Look for labels that say “fragrance-free” and “for sensitive skin.”

This article is a contribution from Mountain View Dermatology a Boulder, CO dermatologist providing acne treatments and skin care services.

"The more colorful your plate looks, the healthier the diet is for your skin."

What can you do to ensure your body doesn’t accumulate cellulite? Apply cellulite creams or buy HGH  pills perhaps? Sure, but why not try some natural, holistic methods alongside? There are certain foods that are known to effectively fight those unwanted bumps and lumps. Here are 3 natural ingredients that will help you win the war against cellulite:

1. Water

The most easily available ammunition is unfortunately often the most ignored one when it comes to destroying the unsightly manifestations of cellulite. However, you need to make an effort to drink plenty of water throughout the day in order to keep those cellulite depositions away. Experts recommend drinking at least 2 to 3 liters of water regularly to maintain the necessary water levels in your body. It is essential, since a well hydrated body will plump up your skin and hide any skin indentations caused by deposits of fat cells lying underneath. A word of caution here! Soda and aerated drinks don’t qualify as healthy liquids and have more harmful effects than good. In fact they can easily exacerbate your cellulite problem.

Juicy fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, peaches, apples and grapes that have high water content as well as they are rich in antioxidants are highly recommended for women who are trying to eliminate cellulite.

2. Colorful Foods

Eat a good amount of colorful fruits and vegetables on a daily basis in order to fade cellulite formation from the surfaces of as well as to enhance the health of your skin. Remember a simple diet rule: the more colorful your plate looks, the healthier the diet is for your skin. Fill your shopping basket with fruits and vegetables that are colorful and bright! Spinach, tomatoes, carrots, oranges, apples and other similar vegetables and fruits should be in your shopping basket in abundant amounts.

Colorful fruits and vegetables are abundant in Vitamin C, vitamin A and important phyto-nutrients that promote skin health. Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients that can prevent the breaking down of collagen that is responsible for your skin’s elasticity.  When collagen is intact, your skin retains its elasticity, thereby developing fewer flaps and cellulite depositions. Experts recommend consuming at least 75 mgs of Vitamin C every day prevent breakdown of collagen.

3. Whole Grains

Switch from refined grains to whole grains. The digestive system breaks down refined bread faster, resulting in increased in blood sugar level. As a result, body fat ends up getting stored (as cellulite and other ‘handles’ around your body) instead of being burned. Ensure that you are consuming more of brown rice and whole grain breads and less of sugary cereals, white rice and white bread.

Following these simple yet effective food habits will ensure a cellulite free body for you. Go ahead and get slim!

Jessica Rodrigues is a health expert and a freelance writer. Her specialty lies in weight loss and posture correction. She recommends that you buy hgh supplements from http://www.hghbuy.net/ for easy anti-aging issues, like fighting cellulite.

Honey and Milk Homemade Skin Whitening Mask

Commercially developed and homemade skin whitening remedies are sought after by millions today. In fact, there is an ongoing controversy over the marketing and promotion of countless skin bleaching products that reinforce prejudices against people who have darker skin tones. There is also a continually increasing pressure on both men and women to have even-toned and flawless complexion.  However, as we age, most of us will naturally develop age spots, hormonally hyper-pigmented areas and the color of our skin will typically become darker and more uneven.

Homemade Skin Whitening Remedies

Homemade skin whitening remedies have been around for hundreds of years and undoubtedly they are just as effective, but much safer to use compared to pharmaceutically developed skin bleaching products that contain harsh chemicals and often dangerous substances. There are people who try to find an all-in-one, formula to bleach their naturally dark skin, while others seek out targeted homemade skin whitening remedies to fade freckles, dark under eye circles or perhaps other hyper-pigmented areas of the skin that occur with age.

Homemade Skin Whitening Toner

Ingredients:

• 150 ml pure rose water
• 3 ml witch hazel extract
• 2 drops rose absolute essential oil

Pour the the ingredients into a 250 ml cosmetic spray bottle, shake them up and each time, just before you moisturize spray your skin with this homemade skin whitening toner. Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp from the toner, since this will allow the skin whitening ingredients, moisture and nutrients to penetrate into the skin more effectively.

Skin Whitening Moisturizer

Ingredients:

• 40 ml jojoba oil (cold pressed)
• 10 ml rose hip oil (cold pressed)
• 2 drops licorice extract
• 2 drops tomato leaf essential oil
• 2 drops papaya extract (optional)

Mix the ingredient in a dark glass or plastic bottle. Apply this whitening, nourishing and moisturizing oil sparingly, but thoroughly to your skin following toning while the skin is still moist from the toner twice daily.

Almond and Milk Mask

Soak 5 to 6 almonds in milk for at least 12 hours. Peel them in the evening before you go to sleep and grind them up with a small amount of the same milk – that you have soaked them in – into a smooth paste. Thoroughly exfoliate your skin, make sure you remove any old skin debris and apply this remedy to the areas that you would like to lighten. Leave the paste on your skin overnight. Cleanse your skin in the morning with a mild, PH neutral facial wash, tone and moisturize preferably with natural products, which are known to lighten and nourish the skin.

It is recommended to use this mask every night for at least 2 weeks, then from week 3 use it once or twice every week. You can prepare a larger batch and keep the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. However, if you have the time, you will get more benefit if you prepare a new batch every evening for your facial or body skin.

Sandalwood and Lemon Mask

This mask is especially effective for treating age related skin discoloration or post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation. Mix 1 tbsp sandalwood powder with just enough freshly squeezed lemon juice to form a paste and apply it on the areas involved. Leave it on until the paste becomes dry. Wash it off with a mild facial wash, tone and moisturize.

For maximum effect and benefit use this mask during the day while using the almond and milk mask during the night.

Potato

Believe it or not, the starchy juice of potatoes is another well known natural bleaching agent. You can apply thinly sliced potato directly on your skin or you can try adding potato juice to your sandalwood mask instead of lemon juice to experiment and see which mask works better for you.

Most people understand that they should put on sunscreen when they venture out into the sun. This is true even for people who are dark skinned. Sunscreen is necessary because though the sun is beneficial, some of its rays are also detrimental, especially to skin. Two types of ultraviolet rays damage the skin. Ultraviolet A rays cause the skin to age because they cause collagen and elastin to deteriorate. These are two substances responsible for keeping the skin springy and young looking. Ultraviolet B rays are the rays that cause sunburn. Both UVA and UVB can predispose a person to skin cancer. Now, researchers claim that another type of light from the sun, infrared radiation, can penetrate even more deeply that the ultraviolet rays and wreak havoc among the skin cells. This is because they produce free radicals.

Free Radicals

Free radicals are oxygen molecules that lack an electron. Because of this they will try and “steal” an electron from the cells of the body or even from DNA. This damages them. But the best way to fight these free radicals are with antioxidants, which are substances that can give an electron to a free radical and prevent it from damaging the body.

Antioxidants

Because of this, dermatologists are now recommending that people use antioxidants along with their sunscreen when they go outside. This isn’t the same as using a sunscreen with antioxidants added to it. The ingredients in the sunscreen tend to overwhelm a lot of antioxidants and make them less effective. Moreover, many antioxidants will degrade when they’re exposed to light and air.

Antioxidant Serum

Dermatologists recommend that people use a serum of antioxidants under their sunscreen. A serum is a type of lotion. One of the best serums is a mix of Vitamin C, Vitamin E and ferulic acid, which is not only an antioxidant but also provides protection from sun damage. When used with Vitamins C and E ferulic acid prevents molecular damage that can in turn damage the DNA in the cells, which can lead to the skin cancer melanoma.

According to experts, the antioxidant serums should be applied first before the sunscreen because, ironically, there are ingredients in some sunscreens that produce their own free radicals. The person should use five or six drops of the antioxidant serum and make sure that the skin absorbs it thoroughly before they apply the sunscreen. But antioxidants don’t have to be applied topically to be able to protect the skin. People can take supplements of Coenzyme Q10, an enzyme necessary for getting energy into the mitochrondia, which in turn power the cells of the body. They can also enrich their diet with foods rich in antioxidants, like blueberries, raspberries and pomegranate juice.

To sum up, while sunscreens are important to protect the skin, they’re far more effective if they’re used with an antioxidant serum. This sort of serum not only guards against free radical damage due to the sun, but against the free radical damage due to the sunscreen itself!

About the guest author:

Cindi Lewis writes for GLOSSY a skin care brands and beauty products online retailer.

Papaya extract is one of the most popular ingredients in skin whitening home remedies.

People use skin whitening home remedies for various reasons. To many people, including myself naturally dark skin is beautiful when it is healthy. However, for others a bright, flawless skin tone represents beauty and youth. On the other hand when with aging hormonal pigmentation or age spots develop on the surface of the skin, there are many people who try to conceal or correct them.

Naturally dark skin tone, freckles, age spots, post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation or uneven skin tone are all among the reasons why people may want to lighten, brighten or even out their skin tone. Today, there are several options available which can help you achieve these objectives. Skin whitening home remedies have become increasingly popular, since they are safer to use compared to pharmaceutically developed skin whitening products that often contain dangerous ingredients or dermatology treatments, which many people would find a little too costly.

Skin Whitening Home Remedies

Kojic Acid

Kojic acid is derived from many species of mushrooms, including Aspergillus, Acetobacter and Penicillium. This chemical – which is a common ingredient in under eye creams, skin whitening creams and other bleaching or brightening skin care products – works well because it can suppress the skin’s pigment production by blocking and inhibiting the activity of natural enzymes responsible for melanin production, disrupting the biochemistry of melanin. Kojic acid works in a reversible manner, which means that in order to achieve long term effects, the long term use of this natural ingredient will be necessary.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is well known to reverse the signs of aging. In fact, over the age of 25 your skin needs more vitamin C to preserve its beauty. Vitamin C is often the primary ingredient in skin brightening and anti aging products. With aging we tend to develop an uneven skin tone, especially around the eyes, chin and in the corners of the nose. Over the age of 35 hormonal hyper-pigmentation and age spots are other typical signs of the skin, which can easily give our age away. To prevent or correct these unsightly skin discolorations, you need to both internally and externally feed your skin with vitamin C.

Citrus Fruits and Rose Hip Oil

Lemon and other citrus fruits are popular ingredients in commercially prepared skin care products as well as in skin whitening home remedies. The natural juice of citrus fruits can be added to your face masks or facial washes. Rose hip oil, which contains 33 times more vitamin C than citrus fruits can be applied on its own to the skin or can be added to your regular daily moisturizer.

Retinoids, Beta-Carotene and Vitamin A

Vitamin A is the most important fat soluble vitamin known to delay the signs of skin aging, including the development of age spots and uneven skin tone. It can be obtained from both animal – retinol – and plant – beta carotene – sources, which the body converts into vitamin A. Food sources of these nutrients can be applied to the skin in their natural forms include carrots, sweet potato, red pepper, apricots or cantaloupe. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of carrot seed essential oil to any of your skin care products to benefit from the effects of vitamin A.

Papaya Extract

Besides the fact that papaya is a great source of vitamins A and C, which are both important skin brightening ingredients, this fruit also contains an enzyme known as papain or papaya proteinaise. This enzyme is the main active ingredient in numerous commercial skin whitening products because it has the ability to break down certain proteins involved in melanin production

Licorice

The flavanoid generally known as glabridin, which is obtained from licorice roots is a powerful skin whitening compound in commercially made cosmetic products in addition to skin whitening home remedies. It works as a sun screen by blocking UV rays and by inhibiting the skin’s melanin production.

Mulberry Extract

The extract of mulberry contains natural enzymes that can inhibit tyrosinase, which is an enzyme that catalyzes the skin’s melanin production. This ingredient is suitable for both whitening naturally dark skin and to reduce the signs of aging.

Burner Root

Burner root extract is another tyrosinase inhibitor, which works similarly to mulberry extract.

Dangerous Natural Skin Whitening Remedies You Need to Stay Away from

Arbutin, which is a natural compound extracted from bearberries is a popular ingredient in scar fading creams and skin bleaching products, designed for long term use. This dangerous ingredient undoubtedly has the ability to even out skin tone as well as it can lighten naturally dark skin. However, studies have found that certain species of bacteria naturally found in the human intestines can turn this compound into hydroquinone. Therefore the risks associated with this natural ingredient make it impossible for us to recommend arbutin or any other bearberry extract based skin whitening products. Please read on to understand the risks associated with hydroquinone.

Hydroquinone otherwise known as 1,4-benzenediol is present in many skin whitening products in a 1 to 2% concentration. This potent natural skin whitening substance has been banned in Australia and in many European and Asian countries due to its serious, toxic effects. Regardless of its impressive skin whitening effect, which can provide especially good results on naturally dark skin, the use of hydroquinone has the potential to be dangerous for your health. The long term or excessive use of hydroquinone is associated with intestinal and skin cancer development, hyper-pigmentation, skin thickening, coma, convulsions and in milder cases long term, severe dermatitis.

Sunscreen Everyday

The harsh damage that delicate facial skin can suffer from an overexposure to sun ranges from mild – such as uneven skin tones – to severe – such as skin cancer. It is therefore very important to protect skin from excessive exposure to the sun. This means using an SPF moisturizer on your face and other exposed areas of skin every single day. Following a sun protection routine every day may be the most important thing a woman can do to ensure even, flawless, gorgeous skin.

Removing Makeup Every Night

Sleeping with makeup on can also damage skin. Left-on makeup not only clogs pores and causes breakouts, but will also leave residue on pillows which will touch skin every night until covers are changed. A nightly routine of makeup removal followed by a cleansing routine will make sure that skin can breathe and rejuvenate itself much as the mind rejuvenates itself during sleep.

Regular Exercise

Nothing beats regular exercise to keep not just the body but also the skin healthy. The benefits of a good, regular exerciser routine are easily seen on a woman’s face. Sweating causes pores to open up and purge impurities. The important thing to remember is to follow up every exercise session with a cleansing ritual designed to remove the sweat and impurities from the pores so they do not linger on the face and cause breakouts.

Regular Facials

As we age, regular facials become a key part of the quest for continued beautiful skin. Choosing the right kind of facial for a woman’s skin type is very important and a qualified aesthetician is the best guide in matching skin types with a complementary facial. When in doubt, it is always best to go with the facial designed for sensitive skin as it offers the least chances of aggravating any skin issues a woman may already have.

De-stressing

Stress shows up on the face first! So building a de-stressing routine into one’s life is the first step to healthy skin from the inside-out. Each woman will have a different way of relieving stress from her life. Taking the time to find a unique way to de-stress is worth the effort. Investing time in a hobby, getting regular massages, getting regular exercise, yoga and meditation are just some ways that one can leave the tensions of the everyday world behind.

Stay Hydrated

Getting enough water into the system is another important step in having flawless skin. Aim to get 6-8 glasses of water or eat enough fresh fruits with high water content like watermelons or citrus fruits every day. Avoid dehydrating drinks like too much caffeine and alcohol. Drink water during and after exercising. The benefits will be visible in the skin right away.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Diet

A diet that includes too much processed food or junk food wreaks havoc on the body and translates into dull, lifeless skin. An excess amount of grease also affects the stomach and shows in skin tone and skin quality. Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and colorful vegetables contributes to overall health and ultimately to beautiful, glowing skin.

Taking care of one’s health and skin will make a woman feel beautiful and confident from the inside out. And a confident woman is admired by everyone!

This article is a contribution from Boulder dermatology experts Mountain View Dermatology.

Fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants are the best choices of anti-inflammatory foods.

Following the eczema diet is a vitally important part of a comprehensive eczema management strategy. To date there is no known cure for this fairly common skin condition, which can manifest anywhere on the body in dry, red, scaly, itchy, red skin rashes. In over 50% of cases eczema and diet are closely interrelated, since a considerably large percentage of sufferers have developed a particular food allergy. Therefore making specific dietary changes in those cases will definitely improve the condition of the skin.

Cut Down on Inflammatory Foods

Cutting back on foods that are known to stimulate the inflammatory response of your body is beneficial when you are trying to treat eczema. These foods include meats, acidic foods, sugars and saturated fats. When you follow the eczema diet, you don’t need to completely exclude these foods from your menu. However, many eczema sufferers find that their condition dramatically improves, by reducing the intake of these foods and replacing them with vegetable based proteins, complex carbohydrates and high fiber foods.

Sugar and conventional sweeteners are known to exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions. Replacing them with stevia – which is has a strong, sweet flavor and an excellent source of antioxidants – you are likely to experience an improvement.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Generally all fruits and vegetables have anti-inflammatory properties. An effective eczema diet should include at least 7 to 8 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Herbs, such as garlic or aloe vera have potent anti-inflammatory attributes, which should also be consumed on a daily basis either fresh or in a supplement form. Fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants are the best choices of anti-inflammatory foods, which include the following:

• Tomatoes
• Citrus fruits
• Berries
• Papaya
• Plums
• Cantaloupe
• Bell peppers
• Brussel sprouts

Experiment with Dairy Products

Casein, which is a protein present in milk and dairy products is known to aggravate conditions that result from improper immunity mechanisms. If possible, try reducing your intake of dairy products and see if your condition improves. When you follow this approach however, it is important to include more calcium rich foods in your eczema diet, such as leafy green vegetables and nuts. Alternatively you can take a good calcium supplement.

Beta Carotene and Vitamin A Rich Foods

Dandelion greens, apricots, carrots, pumpkin, kale and spinach are all rich in these two powerful antioxidants. People following the eczema diet should consider increasing vitamin A and beta carotene foods, since they are known to reduce the symptoms of eczema, psoriasis and other types of chronic or acute dermatitis.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega 3 fatty acids play a vital role in the natural treatment and prevention of eczema, because they have anti-inflammatory effects on the body.  They work by inhibiting the body’s production of prostaglandin, which leads to the development of skin flare-ups. Therefore eating foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids or taking a good fish oil supplement is especially important when treating any type of inflammatory skin condition, such as eczema or psoriasis.

Articles related to eczema diet:

Natural Remedies for Eczema

Natural remedies for eczema are progressively gaining popularity worldwide and many eczema sufferers achieve excellent results by using them. To date there is no known permanent cure for eczema. However, the condition can be effectively managed and kept under control. In fact there are countless people who have responded much better to eczema natural remedies …[...read more]

Skin is one of the primary organs of elimination. This means that the quality of the food you eat will be reflected in the condition of your skin. Toxins that the body cannot metabolize or expel through urination and bowel movements will be purged in the forms of pimples, blackheads, age spots and other blemishes. Degeneration of collagen leads to folds and wrinkles.

Conventional wisdom calls for kid-glove handling of the skin—babying it. The emphasis so often is upon alleviating symptoms. This approach, however, never solves the problem, but only prolongs it. If you’re experiencing anything less than smooth, healthy flawless skin, then you must proceed with cleansing and hydrating your skin internally and externally.

Skin is a living organ that renews itself every 4 weeks, sloughing off old dead cells and replacing them with new ones. The key to beautiful skin is twofold: the purest nutrition on the inside and the best care on the outside.

The difference between well cared for skin and neglected skin is like the difference between day and night. You can have full control when it comes to your skin. Carefully follow these 5 steps and baby perfect skin will be yours no matter what you age.

This 5-step guide to Perfect Skin is courtesy of BeautifulOnRaw – Raw Food Diet for Beauty!

Rhus toxicodendron is an excellent homeopathic medicine made from poison ivy leaves.

Natural remedies for eczema are progressively gaining popularity worldwide and many eczema sufferers achieve excellent results by using them. To date there is no known permanent cure for eczema. However, the condition can be effectively managed and kept under control. In fact there are countless people who have responded much better to eczema natural remedies than to conventional medications and methods who manage to keep their skin symptoms free for years, with occasional, short lived, mild flare ups.

Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition, which can be caused by a wide variety of factors. Therefore successfully managing your condition and using natural remedies for eczema will involve a multi-dimensional approach, which can be incorporated into your everyday life. Using natural remedies for eczema and keeping your symptoms under control will involve the following:

• identifying and eliminating foods or irritants that cause your condition,
• providing the right nutrients for your body which will promote your skin’s health
• using a sensible skin care routine which will nourish and protect your skin without irritating it
• enhancing your immune system

There are numerous supplements and skin care products and eczema natural remedies are available on the market today, especially developed for the treatment of this skin disorder. However, using them alone will not be sufficient to keep your condition under control for the long run. It is both important to treat and protect your skin by using topical products as well as it is vital to be aware and address the root causes of your condition and treat yourself accordingly. This step is often overlooked by eczema sufferers, although paying attention to it can achieve dramatic results.

Identifying Food Allergies – The Most Important Step Before Using Home Remedies for Eczema

Since over 50% of people who develop this upsetting and uncomfortable skin condition suffer from a type of food allergy, identifying and eliminating foods that trigger your eczema outbreaks or intensify your existing symptoms is the first and most important step before using any topical or dietary eczema natural remedies. Without doing this vital step, regardless of what types of conventional treatments or natural remedies are used, your condition will inevitably recur or will become exacerbated.

Make a list of foods that you suspect might contribute to the development of your condition. Be sure to include items from the most well known food groups that are known to trigger this condition, such as dairy products, nuts, shellfish, foods containing chemicals, preservatives, yeast or gluten. There are cases where an eczema sufferer will show signs of sensitivity to multiple types of foods and only after carrying out this test thoroughly will allow a person to be aware of this. Therefore finding one type of food hypersensitivity or allergy might not mean that your search is over.

For a whole month write down your eczema symptoms, the time when they develop, their intensity, the location of where they develop and how long it takes for them to clear if they do.

It is also worthwhile to list any other potential triggers, such as stress, chemical irritants, cleaning solvents and detergents, air humidity or wool.

You may want to consult an allergy specialist or immunologist to carry out a placebo controlled food challenge, a blood test or an atopy skin test in order to isolate the causes of your condition.

Unfortunately many people overlook or disregard the fact that in the treatment of eczema prevention is the first and foremost step. Prior to using natural remedies for eczema or any medical treatment methods, you need to primarily focus on avoiding foods or substances that cause it and after you have completed this vital step, your condition will significantly improve or even clear up completely for the long term.

Vitamins and Supplements Used as Natural Remedies for Eczema

Vitamins and natural supplements are important natural remedies for eczema, since they provide your body with vital nutrients that are both important for your skin’s health as well as your immune system. The most important vitamins that are essential when treating eczema include the following:

• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids – a powerful antioxidant, essential for skin health – will boost your body’s natural defense mechanisms and will act as an antihistamine during an allergic reaction associated with eczema, overcoming the histamine produced by a sufferer’s body, which could activate an eczema outbreak
•  Vitamin B complex – an important nutrient that supports skin health – will help reduce stress hormones released by your body during difficult times and will stimulate the reproduction of skin cells
•  Vitamin D is helpful in healing damaged skin tissues, vitamin D deficiency tends to worsen eczema symptoms in patients.
• Vitamin E is vital for skin health and when applied topically, it can soothe the itchiness associated with eczema. However, be sure not to use synthetically produced vitamin E on your skin.
•  Studies show that eczema sufferers tend to have lower levels of mega 3 fatty acids in their diet, which is found in nuts, seeds and oily fish.
•  GLA or gamma-linolenic acid, found in evening primrose oil, black currant oil or borage oil has the ability to correct mild to moderate deficiencies in skin lipids.
• Probiotics will mitigate allergic reactions associated with eczema and other types of dermatitis and will strengthen the immune system.

Magnesium Salts Used as Natural Remedies for Eczema

According to The National Association of Eczema salt baths are effective in reducing eczema symptoms. Magnesium salts, such as Epsom salt, Himalayan salt or sea salt are effective natural eczema remedies as they have the ability to significantly reduce the roughness and redness associated with eczema. Epsom salt, which is magnesium sulfate is the best choice of the three, but you can add a cup of any of these salts to your baths. Himalayan salt contains 84 different minerals and it is not only suitable for the treatment of eczema, but also for psoriasis, herpes, contact dermatitis or candidiasis symptoms reduction.

Eczema Natural Remedies Used in Homeopathy

Arsenicum Album, which is one of the 15 most widely used homeopathic remedies is helpful for treating cases where the patient suffers from swelling, itching or burning. If your discomforts associated with eczema tend to intensify when your skin is exposed to dry, cold wind or humidity, Arsenicum Album maybe one of the best eczema natural remedies you can use.

Rhus toxicodendron is another excellent homeopathic medicine made from poison ivy leaves, used for skin and musco-skeletal disorders. Rhus toxicodendron is prescribed for the treatment of acute cases of eczema, rosace or diaper rash in small doses.

The homeopathic medicine called Psorinum is often prescribed by holistic and homeopathic practitioners not only for the treatment of eczema, but also for blisters, psoriasis, acne or boils, especially in severe cases where oozing of fluids and an unpleasant odor is present.

Mezereum can be used for all types and intensities of excema, especially helpful for the symptoms of itching, crusting, burning, oozing and redness.

Will natural home remedies for eczema make a difference to your skin condition?

I will go over a couple of factors about natural home remedies for eczema vs. conventional treatments and talk about the reason why you will definitely get significantly better results using a natural approach.

Doctors routinely prescribe different types of steroid based creams which can be incredibly helpful to begin with. However, as time passes, the benefits are likely to diminish until your symptoms gradually return just as they were before you started the treatment. Why? Because prescribed steroid creams work exactly the same way each and every time you use them. They bring down the inflammation which is great, and at the same time they also suppress your body’s immunity process, which is definitely not so great. Consequently, in the long run – because your immune system is compromised – masking the inflammation will become increasingly more difficult until eventually your unpleasant symptoms will return in full force until you start using the next variety or higher strength of steroid cream.

This unpleasant skin condition is not merely an inflammation, it is also an allergic reaction to different substances. There are two main types of eczema: atopic eczema and contact dermatitis. Atopic eczema is usually a hereditary, chronic eczema, often associated with a family history of migraine, hay fever, food intolerance or asthma. In contact dermatitis there may be a localized reaction to nickel, certain cosmetics, plants, perfumes or  household and industrial chemicals. In both cases the symptoms may include red, itchy, painful and sometimes even weepy rashes. In chronic cases the skin may bleed due to cracking.

In these cases the overall goal of any eczema treatment should be to focus on the root causes. This is exactly why such a large number of  prescription drugs ultimately fail. They merely address the external symptoms. Solid natural home remedies for eczema will take care of the factors that cause the inflammation and greatly reduce the general exposure to them.

So this is exactly where it is recommended to see a doctor. Ask him to carry out  an in depth allergy test which goes over possible food, contact or inhalant allergies. Knowing the origins of eczema is important and eliminating common allergens from your environment is a good starting point in your fight against this condition. I’ve come across many cases that clear away entirely within just a few days with the natural home remedies for eczema discussed below and each and every time I see it, I find it amazing. A method so easy and simple, yet physicians never tell you anything about this! Which is really disappointing, as well as disheartening and expensive.

Other Effective Natural Home Remedies for Eczema

As a basic self help solution, research has shown that evening primrose oil is extremely helpful when taken internally as a health supplement for eczema. For many sufferers it is also beneficial to apply this oil externally. For some others on the other hand, oil based products and natural oils can make the skin overheat and so exacerbate the problem. The oil-free home remedies for eczema recommended just below will definitely relieve any itching and inflammation.

Calendula Compress for Weepy Eczema

put 200ml of filtered or bottled water into a bowl, add 20ml calendula tincture, mix it thoroughly, dip a small piece of clean piece of cotton, squeeze out the excess and apply it to the affected area for 10 minutes. Repeat this first time in the morning and before bed time.

Calendula and Aloe Vera Gel for Dry or Weepy Eczema

Squeeze 30 ml Aloe Vera gel into a small dark glass or plastic jar, add 20 drops of calendula tincture, mix it thoroughly and apply it to the affected area.

We also highly recommend the following calendula creams and bath products:

• Boiron Homeopathic Medicine First Aid Calendula Cream, Homeopathic
• Nelson Homeopathic Products Calendula Cream
• Jurlique Calendula Cream
• Pai Comfrey & Calendula Calming Organic Body Cream
• Weleda Calendula Baby Cream Bath
• WELEDA, Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash