Few month ago, i found a rashes and a flaky skin around juwita's knees, elbows, and back of her knees. We went to skin specialist to check (actually saya ingat Juwita kena kudis sebab dia garu-garu gigitan nyamuk.) Bila consult doktor pakar kulit, doktor tanya family history. Ada family yg allergic? Kena skin allergic? Ada family members yang ada eczema? Yang ada alahan? Yang ada athma?
Hmmm... Dalam otak ni terus terbayang my sis, Ain. So i said yes in most of doctor's question. So, doktor kata, "most probably this lil girl kena Eczema". Mula-mula weird sebab saya takde apa alahan pada kulit. (Pernah terjadi, tapi long time ago, masa lepas recover dari denggi. Doktor ckp its just healing process, badan buang toksin). Tapi doktor cakap eczema ni keturunan, tak semestinya dari ibu bapa sahaja.
So, doktor bagi ubat makan, dan krim 2 jenis. Satu jernih, satu putih cream. Kena sapu pagi dan malam. Ubat pula kena makan 2 kali sehari. Lepas 2 minggu, ubat pun habis, memang sembuh kudis kat siku dan lutut dia. Tapi.......
Tak lama lepas tu, keluar balik. This time, its worsen. Lutut dah kena kiri kanan, siku kiri kanan, belakang lutut lagi teruk. So saya google la rupa eczema. Oh rupanya dalam gambar kat internt lagi teruk!! Ok, Juwita punya mild la jugak. Patut la doktor tak tunjuk tanda serius pun.
This time, i don't thing i wanna put another drug inside my doter anymore. So i decided to prevent and control eczema naturally from changing her lifestyle. (Actually pernah baca pasal eczema dulu sebab ada my friend yang ada anak senasib. Masa tu tak ambil serius sebab tak kena batang hidung sendiri)
So i google lagi, ni lah dia hasil carian;
"How to Treat Eczema Naturally"
Eczema affects people of all ages and can cause misery. Doctors often prescribe a steroidal cream, which for many people doesn't always do the trick. There are other things you can do to ease the terrible itching and blistering. Read on to learn a few natural/home remedies that may assist in your lifelong battle with eczema.
Changing Your Lifestyle
Improve your diet. Focus on eating foods that promote gut and liver health, and eliminate as many processed and high-gluten foods as possible.
Switch from a standard diet to a wholesome diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, mostly in their raw form.
Switch from grain-fed beef, and chicken to grass-fed meat products and eat plenty of foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, chia, walnuts and hemp seed.
If possible, eliminate gluten from your diet as it may be triggering your skin condition.
Cut out bread, pasta, cereals and other processed, carbohydrate rich foods.
Eliminate milk and dairy products. Cow's milk is possibly the main dietary trigger for eczema. Cow's milk can be quite acidic and is often filled with hormones and chemicals which negatively impact the immune system and aggravate eczema.
Don't worry about having to drink your coffee black. Goat, sheep and buffalo milk are all great creamy alternatives.
If you want a non-animal substitute you can always go for soy milk, but hazelnut, almond, oat and rice milks are other worthy contenders.
Take natural supplements. Some of the best ones include:
Fatty Acids: Fatty acids help to relieve dry skin and reduce inflammation, making them effective for treating eczema. For best results, choose a supplement that contains Omega 3, 6 and 9.
Vitamins A, D and E: The combined skin benefits of these vitamins is impressive -- they help the skin to retain hydration, improve its texture, boost collagen production and protect it from free radicals.
Supplements containing gamma-linolenic acid: Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is a fatty acid found in evening primrose oil, borage oil and blackcurrant oil. It is believed to help relieve skin inflammation and to correct the balance of lipids in the skin.
Wear non-irritating clothing. The clothes you wear are in contact with your skin all day long; brushing, rubbing and even chafing the skin.
Many people even notice a worsening of their eczema in winter.
Avoid items made from itchy, scratchy fabrics like wool. Smooth-textured clothing made from cotton, silk and bamboo are the least irritating on your skin.
When exercising, wear proper sports clothing designed to keep your skin cool. This will prevent you from sweating excessively, which can aggravate eczema.
Also be wary of your washing detergent -- it may be leaving a slight residue on your clothes that's contributing to eczema fare-ups. Try using a natural washing powder, or simply switch to a different biological brand.
Choose non-irritating soaps and shampoos. As a general rule, the more natural and moisturizing a product is, the less irritating it will be on eczema-prone skin. You should avoid anti-bacterial and deodorant products, as these can be extremely drying.
Avoid shower gels and soaps with dyes and perfumes -- while they may look and smell nice, they are usually full of chemicals which are harsh and drying on the skin.
Avoid any products containing sodium lauryl sulfate. This ingredient is found in a huge array of soaps and shampoos, as it works as a foaming agent.
Avoid parabens. Parabens are a group of chemicals commonly found in hygiene products such as shampoos, conditioners, body washes, lotions and scrubs. They are known to cause skin irritation, and pose multiple other health risks, including a link to cancer.
Use a humidifier. Dry air in your bedroom and home can exacerbate skin conditions such as eczema, causing the skin to become dehydrated and flaky.
It is also possible to humidify the air in a room without buying a humidifier. House plants naturally increase the amount of moisture in the air through a process known as transpiration. The Areca Palm and the Boston Fern are two popular natural humidifiers.
One other way to humidify the air is to place a bowl or pot of water beneath a radiator or heat source. As the water heats it will evaporate, thus adding moisture to the air.
Bathe less frequently, using warm water. Though showers can feel soothing on dry, itchy skin, bathing too often can actually strip moisture from the skin and make eczema worse. For this reason, you should limit your baths and showers to every 1 to 2 days if possible. Try to use warm water rather than hot and limit each session to 15 to 20 minutes, tops.
Make sure to moisturize after the shower, preferably while your skin is still damp as this locks in more moisture. Creams and lotions work well, but oil-based moisturizers are best as they last longer and form a barrier that prevents moisture from evaporating off the skin.
Also make sure to dry yourself carefully, so you don't irritate the eczema by rubbing too roughly. Use the palms of your hands to brush off any excess moisture, then use a clean, dry towel to gently pat yourself dry.
Using Natural Remedies
Use aloe vera. The gel-like sap from the Aloe vera plant has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for wounds, burns and other skin conditions, thanks to it's soothing, healing properties. Many people have found it effective in the treatment of eczema, as it soothes itchiness and moisturizes the dry, flaky skin.
To use the aloe vera, snap off a leaf and squeeze out the clear, gel-like substance. Smear this gel over the skin effected by eczema and leave to soak in. You can store the leaf in the refrigerator for multiple uses.
Try chamomile. Chamomile is a popular natural treatment for eczema, as it is said to sooth itchiness and calm inflammation. It can be used in one of two ways:
Firstly, you can make chamomile tea by brewing dried chamomile flowers in boiling water for approximately 15 minutes. Strain the flowers and allow the tea to cool slightly. Make a warm compress by soaking a clean cloth in the chamomile, wringing out the excess moisture, then pressing it against the affected skin for 10-15 minutes.
Secondly, you can use chamomile essential oils to sooth eczema, either by massaging the oils directly onto the skin, or adding a few drops to a warm bath.
Be aware that some people develop on allergic reaction to chamomile, so you may want to test it on a small patch of skin before using.
Apply calendula lotion. Calendula is a marigold-like flower whose extract is commonly use in skin lotions and salves. It is reputed to have skin healing properties, while also reducing pain and inflammation. Many calendula products, such as soaps, oils, lotions, salves and creams can be found at health food stores.
Use organic coconut oil. Organic cold pressed virgin coconut oil is a highly effective moisturizer which many eczema suffers claim to be far more effective than expensive store bought creams. It can be found in health food stores, online and in select supermarkets. Apply the oil (which looks like a solid but quickly melts) on eczema patches all over the body and allow to sink in.
Take warm baths. A warm bath -- containing added eczema-soothing ingredients -- can be very effective in easing itchiness and relieving pain. Remember that hot water can aggravate eczema, so keep the temperature in the lukewarm to warm range. Some of the best additions include:
Oatmeal or colloidal oatmeal: Regular uncooked oatmeal or colloidal oatmeal (which is a form of very finely ground oatmeal made specifically for bathing in) can be sprinkled into the bathwater to soothe dry skin.
Baking soda: A tablespoon of baking soda can be added to the bathwater to ease symptoms of itchiness.
Take evening primrose oil. Evening primrose oil is popularly believed to help with eczema, as it contains gamma-linolenic acid, a rare fatty acid which nourishes the skin and it thought to correct deficiencies in skin lipids, thus reducing inflammation. Evening primrose oil is usually taken orally, as a supplement.
Try sweet almond oil. Sweet almond oil is often used in the treatment of eczema as it contains ursolic and oleic acids, which are believed to reduce inflammation and help repair the skin. It can be applied liberally all over the body as a moisturizer, or it can be spread all over the skin before baths and showers, creating a barrier that protects the skin from the drying effects of hot water.
If your hands are in bad shape, buy a pair of cotton gloves. After applying lotion mixed with a little coconut oil, slip them on and wear them about 1 hour on and 1 hour off, applying lotion mix each time.
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