How to Treat Dermatitis Using Natural Remedies

Dermatitis may occur anywhere on the body. It can be triggered by frequent contact with a substance: hairdressers are prone to it through immersing their hands in shampoo many times a day. Read this article to find out how to treat and prevent dermatitis.

Instructions

1. CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE:

   Moisturize your skin regularly. If the dermatitis is severe, consult a physician, as treatment with steroid creams may be necessary. Choose a non-perfumed moisturizer and apply as often as possible.

2. NUTRITION:

   Avoiding the consumption of all artificial additives is the first step towards healing.

   Keep a careful diary of everything you eat and drink, with a note of when your skin looks better or worse. This will provide some pointers to the culprit, but the most common irritant foods are milk and all dairy products, shellfish, eggs, citrus fruits, strawberries, red meat, and wheat products.

   A high intake of vitamins A and E, beta-carotene, and essential fatty acids is very important, so drink a large glass of carrot juice everyday. Eat plenty of broccoli, spinach, parsley, tomatoes, apricots, sunflower seeds and oil, red and green bell peppers, oats, wheat germ, and brown rice. Drink lots of water and eat parsley and celery to stimulate the kidneys, so that more waste products are eliminated in the urine rather than through the skin.

3. HERBAL REMEDIES:

   Borage, and other herbs, are useful in soothing the irritant rash of contact dermatitis. Use a lotion made from equal amounts of borage juice and distilled witch hazel. Fresh borage juice can be made by pulping the leaves in a food processor, or it is available commercially. Evening primrose or comfrey creams can also help, or you can apply the sap squeezed from fresh Aloe Vera leaf.

   Internally, garlic has an antihistamine effect to combat the allergic response (use cloves in cooking or take up to 1g daily in capsules), while burdock and cleavers tea can be soothing.

4. AROMATHERAPY:

   The following oils can help soothe dermatitis:

   Tea tree
   Lavender
   Roman Chamomile

   Use in a bath and as a topical cream to put on skin. Tea tree can also be used in the laundry of towels and facecloths, which will stop the spread of infection (and make sure have a separate towel and facecloth from the rest of the family).

5. PREVENTING DERMATITIS:

   Metals
   For contact dermatitis, avoid skin contact with nickel (used in most costume jewelry) and metal alloys - found in foreign silver, gold plated things, rolled gold, zippers, clips, studs, hooks, and buckles.

   Cosmetics
   Perfumes, soaps, detergents such as bubble baths, and cosmetics, including nail polish, are common causes of contact dermatitis, so buy hypoallergenic varieties. Avoid hair dyes. Problems commonly arise after years of use, when an attack of dermatitis erupts without warning.

   Regular moisturizing is the most vital part of your daily routine.

   Other Irritants
   Rubber gloves, many medicated creams and ointments, and even some plants - particularly poison ivy, primulas, chrysanthemums, euphorbia, and rue - can trigger instant reactions, so try to avoid these irritants if you are susceptible.

   Supplements
   Regular doses of 3g a day of evening primrose oil have been shown to be highly effective. When the problem subsides, stick with a maintenance dose of 1g a day. This should be taken together with a B-complex vitamin and vitamin A daily.