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Step 1
Make sure you control your environment for potential irritants that can trigger or exacerbate your eczema. Even the best natural eczema treatments won't work as effectively if environmental allergens and triggers are exacerbating the problem. Consider using a HEPA filter to eliminate allergens in the air. Make sure floors are regularly swept and vacuumed, and bedding washed to eliminate dust mites and pet dander. Since skin spends many hours in contact with bedding each night, it is worthwhile to invest in hypoallergenic bedding as well. Finally, make sure that your cleaning and personal care products use natural, non-irritating ingredients.
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Step 2
Adopt a whole foods diet that emphasizes anti-inflammatory foods. Of the various natural eczema treatments, a whole foods diet is the one that establishes a foundation for your body to effectively heal itself. A whole foods diet should include plenty of fresh fruits and non-starchy vegetables; especially cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. Nuts, seeds, beans, and other legumes, as well as lean poultry, fish, and seafood provide quality protein. Salmon is especially helpful due to its healthful omega 3 fat content, as are flax seeds. If dairy is an allergic trigger for you, substitute soy or rice milks, and be sure to incorporate natural whole grains into your diet. Focus on fresh, whole, home-prepared foods.
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Step 3
Avoid foods that cause inflammation. Foods high in saturated animal fats may exacerbate allergic and inflammatory skin conditions due to their arachadonic acid content. Avoid or consume the following in moderation: high fat foods, sugar, red meat, dairy, eggs, artificial sweeteners, colors, additives, and fillers. There is some evidence that plants in the nightshade family, including tomatoes and potatoes, may trigger inflammatory conditions in some people.
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Step 4
Take a good general vitamin and mineral supplement, and add targeted nutrients to your arsenal of natural eczema treatments. Omega 3 fats in fish oil contain DHA and EPA, which have strong anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties, and are also known for their role in cardiovascular health. Consider taking a fish oil supplement with added vitamin E. Make sure not to exceed the recommended allowances for either of these nutrients. Fish oil in typical doses is safe, but taken in exaggeratedly high amounts it can actually thin the blood too much. Vitamin E also has anti-inflammatory properties, and is often added to fish oil supplements to counteract potential depletion of blood levels of vitamin E that may occur with long-term fish oil supplementation. High quality fish oil is pure and tasteless, and can be found in capsule form, or even in the form of fruit flavored soft gels.
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Step 5
Consider using eczema clothing as part of your overall eczema control strategy. The best eczema clothing is made of 100% organic cotton. For severe eczema, there is specialized eczema clothing made from organic cotton fibers that have been bonded with silver. This silver has antibacterial properties that reduce itching and the risk of secondary bacterial infection. Cotton-silver eczema clothing has been shown to be environmentally safe, and will not wash out over time after repeated washings.
Comments
papaya42 said
on 2/12/2009 Great article and well-written!
starlet67 said
on 1/18/2009 Well researched with great tips for controlling
eczema! 5*