Dryness, itching, redness and discomfort. Eczema is one of the most common skin complaints affecting 1 in 3 children and over 1 million Australians. Eczema is known to be hereditary and usually results in flare-ups as a response to the environment, diet and even stress.
Eczema can appear mild or severe depending on the individual, leaving skin extremely sensitive and highly reactive to soap-based products and chemicals. Natural ingredients to ease eczema symptoms are a popular choice for those who are looking for a gentle remedy to soothe eczema inflammation and nourish the skin.
What is Eczema?
Eczema is a skin condition caused by allergic reactions triggered by diet, the environment and stress. Contrary to belief, eczema is a direct effect of your immune system overreacting to certain foods, chemicals or allergens.
People with eczema will experience different triggers based on overall health, digestive strain or stress levels. When the immune system overreacts to its trigger, the protective skin barrier severely weakens, causing the skin to flare up in dry, red, itchy patches around the body. Eczema will commonly flare-up on hands, arms, face, elbows, and behind the knees.
Eczema is known to either naturally go away in childhood or continue into adulthood, and will fluctuate in severity depending on the individual's genetic makeup. Because of this, eczema is associated with a variety of triggers such as pollen, dust, certain foods and can worsen when exposed to harsh chemicals. This is why it’s important to be aware of your triggers and use gentle, soap-free products to help clean and soothe the skin.
The Benefits of Natural Ingredients for Eczema
Because the inflammation presents as a highly sensitive rash, it’s important to avoid harsh, soap-based products to further aggravate it.
Adding natural ingredients to your eczema treatment routine will help replenish, nourish and soothe your skin and help build up your skin’s protective barrier. Using gentle, natural ingredients are essential to avoid aggravating the skin with harsh chemicals and allow for gentle protection for the skin's barrier, promote healing, and rebuild moisture.
6 Natural Ingredients for Eczema
There are a variety of natural ingredients that are known to promote healing, replenish moisture and protect the skin's barrier. When it comes to soothing eczema, the following six natural ingredients can work wonders on retaining moisture in the skin:
Shea Butter
Shea butter is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aging abilities and is a natural antioxidant, making it an ideal choice for relieving eczema symptoms. In fact, a 2009 study found that using shea butter on eczema significantly reduced symptoms while leaving the skin feeling soothed after a twice-daily application over seven days.
With a high concentration of fatty acids, shea butter is known to restore skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of scarring, and actively soothe the skin. Shea butter also increases moisture retention and provides a protective layer while penetrating deep into the skin to repair epidermal barriers of the skin.
Sea Buckthorn
With a high content of vitamin A, C, and E, and omega-3 and omega-7 fatty acids, sea buckthorn has been used for over 1000 years dating back to ancient Chinese medicinal remedies. Its natural anti-inflammatory properties make sea buckthorn a popular choice for reducing swelling, scabs and replenishing moisture in extremely dry skin.
Camellia Tea Oil
Camellia tea oil has reigned its success by Japanese Geishas and works to seal in moisture while acting as a protectant against environmental damage. As a natural antioxidant, its anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties are known to promote healing, increase skin elasticity and soothe dry and irritated skin.
Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil is produced by cold-pressing the seeds derived from hemp. Highly concentrated with fatty acids, including omega-6 and omega-3, hemp seed oil is an effective soothing agent for irritation with its powerful anti-inflammatory abilities. Closely matching our body's lipids, hemp seed oil also replenishes moisture and soothes the skin while smoothing its appearance.
Jojoba Oil
This nutrient-rich ingredient works wonders to maintain and strengthen the skin’s barrier and works as a great skin conditioner to retain moisture levels. Jojoba oil is known to promote healing, boost collagen production and reduce inflammation with its natural anti-inflammatory abilities and antioxidants. In fact, a 2012 study found that jojoba oil can effectively reduce redness, dryness, and flakiness associated with skin lesions and help promote overall healing. Meanwhile, jojoba oil also mimics sebum and helps balance oil production in the skin, making it an ideal choice to remedy eczema symptoms.
