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Healing Eczema Scars
Skin Probelms and Melatonin?
My aunt told me that taking melatonin wld help with my eczema ( i have bad eczema, that 's been slowly clearing up over the past few years)
its pretty much all clear except for a patch on my neck, and I have a LOT of scars that are slowly healing..
I was wondering if the melatonin wld help with my eczema, and what i could do about the many scars on my body...
thanks!!
I feel for you, we see alot of eczema conditions at my work and patients always complin how miserable they are.
Unfortunately melatonin has not been proven to help with eczema, but there are a few natural treatments that may help you...
1. Have you tried taking a probiotic and flaxseed oil? Buy a good probiotic at a vitamin store and take 1 to 2 tbsp of flaxseed oil daily to help heal and prevent more scarring. It also may help with your current scars.
2. Avoid commercial soaps, Try using an olive oil based fragrance free soap instead. (Kiss My Face Organics for example).
3. Take Aveeno Oatmeal baths on a weekly basis.
4. Instead of lotion, try using almond oil.
5. If you can stomach it, I have heard at least 3 claims now of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar helping skin conditions. Try taking a tablespoon daily and see how you do. Mix it with water if you really can't stand the taste.
6. Take a good multivitamin
7. Get a little sunshine
8. Use a humidifier at night when you sleep.
9. No frangranced chemicals for your laundry, Use an unscented low chemical detergent. Try a natural foods supply store or Whole Foods and see what they have. Absolutely no dryer sheets.
Let me know if any of these do the trick.
Good luck!!!
What You Should Know About Eczema
Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent or recurring skin rashes characterized by redness, skin edema, itching and dryness, with possible crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing or bleeding. Areas of temporary skin discoloration sometimes characterize healed lesions, though scarring is rare.
The most common types of eczemas are:
* Atopic eczema (aka infantile e., flexural e., atopic dermatitis) is thought to be hereditary, and often runs in families whose members also have hay fever and asthma. Itchy rash is particularly noticeable on face and scalp, inside of elbows, behind knees, and buttocks. Experts are urging doctors to be more vigilant in weeding out cases that are in actuality irritant contact dermatitis. It is very common in developed countries, and rising.
* Contact dermatitis is of two types: allergic (resulting from a delayed reaction to some allergen, such as poison ivy or nickel), and irritant (resulting from direct reaction to, say, a solvent). Some substances act both as allergen and irritant (e.g. wet cement). And some substances cause a problem after sunlight exposure, bringing on phototoxic dermatitis.
About three fourths of contact eczema are of the irritant type, which is the most common occupational skin disease. Contact eczema is curable provided the offending substance can be avoided, and its traces removed from one's environment.
* Xerotic eczema is dry skin that becomes so serious it turns into eczema. It worsens in dry winter weather, and limbs and trunk are most often affected. The itchy, tender skin resembles dry cracked river bed. This disorder is very common among the older population. Ichthyosis is a related disorder.
* Seborrheic dermatitis also known as cradle cap in infants and dandruff causes dry or greasy scaling of the scalp and eyebrows. Scaly pimples and red patches sometimes appear in various adjacent places. In newborns it causes a thick, yellow crusty scalp rash called cradle cap which seems related to lack of biotin, and is often curable.
Eczema diagnosis is generally based on the appearance of inflamed, itchy skin in eczema sensitive areas such as face, chest and other skin crease areas. However, given the many possible reasons for eczema flare ups, a doctor is likely to ascertain a number of other things before making a judgment.
Dermatitis severely dries out the skin. Keeping the affected area moistened can promote healing and retain natural moisture. This is the most important self-care treatment that one can use in atopic eczema.
The use of anything that may dry out the skin should be discontinued and this includes both normal soaps, dish soaps, detergents and bubble baths that remove the natural oils from the skin.
The moistening agents are called 'emollients'. The rule to use is: match the thicker ointments to the driest, flakiest skin. Light emollients like Aqueous Cream may dry the skin if it is very flaky.
Emollient bath oils should be added to bath water and then suitable agents applied after patting the skin dry. Generally twice daily applications of emollients work best and whilst creams are easy to apply, they are quickly absorbed into the skin and so need frequent re-application.
Ointments, with their lesser water content, stay on the skin for longer and so need fewer applications but they must be applied sparingly if to avoid a sticky mess.
Disclaimer: This information on eczema is presented as information only and should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you or someone you know suffers from eczema, consult a professional for the latest treatment options available.
Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and the entire resource box is included.
About the Author
This article is Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Find more Eczema resources at eczema-nucleus.info.
