Inflammation of the skin (often in creases: elbows, knees, and armpits) accompanied by itchiness, redness and sometimes the formation of blisters, scales or scabs. Eczema may result from a number of underlying factors: dietary problems, emotional stress, chemical irritants, or allergies (see Allergic Dermatitis).

Prevention

* Avoid harsh detergents and soaps. Eczema can sometimes be caused by metal in jewelry or bra straps. For hand eczema, wear plastic or cotton gloves for all household and garden work.

Treatment

Dietary

* Increase intake of vitamin A, found in liver, kidney, egg yolk, butter, whole milk and cream, cod liver oil.

* Take a B complex supplement daily.

* Increase intake of niacin, found in lean meat, fish, cooked dried beans and peas, peanut butter.

* Remove potential food allergens (dairy products, wheat, corn, Soya beans, all food and drink preservatives, colorants and additives. Goats or Soya milk can replace cow’s milk.

* To relieve inflammation, vitamin C and bioflavonoids act as a natural antihistamine: they can be taken in supplement form.

Herbal

* Evening primrose oil has been shown to be successful in relieving the itching related to eczema: take 4-6 500 mg capsules twice daily (children 2-4 capsules twice daily). This treatment may take 3-6 months to show any effects.

Homeopathy

Eczema requires professional treatment although the following remedies may be helpful to alleviate symptoms temporarily. To be taken once daily for up to 7 days:

* With burning, red, hot and itching skin: Sulphur 6c.

* Skin cracked with thick yellow oozing discharge: Graphites 6c.

* Deep cracks in skin with a watery discharge: Petroleum 6c.

Relaxation

* Eczema can sometimes be made worse by stress.

* Take daily exercise (walking, swimming, and jogging).

* Set time aside each day for relaxation

* Take a daily bath to which 2 drops of essential oil of lavender are added.

ECZEMA (dermatitis)...

Local inflammation of the skin, accompanied by ITCHING, redness, weeping, blistering, and bleeding if scratched.

Contact eczema is caused by allergies to plants, fabrics, and metals (poison ivy, tomato or primula leaves, chrysanthemums, wool, nickel, for example), and is often associated with ASTHMA, HAY FEVER or ALLERGIC RHINTIS. Seborrhoeic eczema seems to be inherited, not linked to any allergy; it causes flakiness and itching in smile lines between nose and mouth, in beard area, around hairline, on scalp on chest, and also in the groin or armpits, or between or under the breasts. Detergent eczema is an occupational hazard of housewives, catering workers, hairdressers, nurses, mechanics ... anyone in fact who comes into liquid, shampoos, grease removers, all of which contain detergents: hands become rough, red, scurfy.. sore, and itchy, especially on knuckles. Pompholyx eczema causes itchy, weeping blisters on palms of hands and soles of feet, and is thought to be due to STRESS or poor diet; it is uncommon, and usually clears up of its own accord after 2 or 3 weeks. Discoid eczema appears on arms or legs as itchy, round, red patches which proceed to flake, blister, weep, and form crusts; condition may last for several months, but it is rare and it cause is not known.

The orthodox approach to eczema is to prescribe steroid ointments to relieve inflammation, and of necessary antihistamines and antibiotics to control itching and infection; to discover the allergen(s) involved in contact eczema, a patch test may be necessary. However, steroid preparations should be avoided unless eczema is so bad that it is causing miserable, sleepless nights, which in turn are causing stress and aggravating the eczema is constitutional, but the following remedies may be used while help is being sought or when itching is very bad.

* Specific remedies to be taken 4 times daily for up to 2 weeks

* Eczema mainly affects palms and area behind ears honey-like discharge from skin Graphite's 6c.

* Skin red, dry, rough, and itchy, aggravated by heat which gets worse early in morning Sulphur 6c

* Affected skin cracks easily Petroleum 6c

* Blisters itch more at night or in damp weather, but improve with warmth Rhus tox. 6c

* Skin dry and itchy, person constipated Alumina 6c

* Skin very sensitive and easily infected, feeling generally chilly and worse in cold Hepar sulph. 6c

* Skin dry and burning, but aggravated by cold applications Arsenicum 6c

* Skin irritated, dirty looking and prone to infection, general chilliness Psorinum 6c

Self help Obviously, known irritants should be avoided. Wear rubber gloves for gardening, housework, washing-up, etc. If rubber gloves are the culprits wear cotton gloves inside them. Always dry hands thoroughly after washing, and use Calendula cream as a simple form of medication may help to unaffected areas of skin. Take extra Vitamins B and Going on the liver Diet for 1 month would do no harm either.

Eczema (in children)...

An allergic reaction to incompletely digested protein or to toxins in the blood due to the liver’s inability to break down certain foods properly. First signs are patches of dry skin. Which then become red, scaly, and very itchy. In severe cases, little blisters form, which weep and can become infected if scratched. Condition usually starts between the age of two months and two years, but often disappears around the age of seven, although child may manifest other allergic reactions such as HAY FEVER and ALLERGIC RHINITIS or ASTHMA. The homeopathic view is that eczema is not a skin disease but a disease of the whole metabolic system manifesting itself via the skin. The skin erupts in an effort to rid the body of toxins in the bloodstream. A family history of eczema and related conditions.

Conventional treatment is by antihistamines, which give some respite from itchiness and scratching, or by antibiotics, if skin becomes infected. As a rule steroid ointments should only be used of itching is so severe that it prevents the child sleeping and begins to affect his or her general health, or if the skin is severely infected. Steroid ointments certainly suppress the condition, but the do not cure it. EXPERT CONSTITUTIONAL HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT is advised, although the remedies given below are also affective in the short term, but watch out for aggravations; if redness and itchiness flare up, stop the remedy at once.

Specific remedies to be taken 4 times daily for up to 5 days

* Skin dry, itchy and red, especially so in bed or after diarrhea in morning sulphur 6c

* Skin blistered, especially on wrists, markedly worse in damp conditions - Rhus tax. 6c

* Skin looks dirty and unwashed, eczema worse on legs - Psorinum

* Skin weepy, pus honey-coloured, condition worst behind ears and on palms of hands - Graphites 6c

* Infected, oozing crusts, especially on scalp - Mezereum

* Skin bubbling, with yellow crusts, worse at night - Petroleum 6c

Self-help Make sure child wears only cotton - not wool or man made fibres - next to skin, and use emulsifying ointment rather than soap in bath. Oatmeal baths, which can be brought in sachet form, may also be beneficial. A blue light in the child’s room gives the illusion of coldness, reducing scratching at night and cold packs give temporary relief from itching. dietary treatment - either a general diet to improve liver function or a specific elimination and challenge diet - can be very effective and is part of constitutional treatment. Only minor dietary changes should be made on your own initiative, however, as too restricted a diet can make metabolic problems worse. Consult your homeopath or dietary therapist if in doubt. In the meantime, a children’s strength multivitamin and mineral supplement, plus zinc and evening primrose oil, may be beneficial.