Itchy?

Then there’s no reason to shy away with these natural solutions to atopic dermatitis.

 

By Elizabeth Cherevaty, ND

 

 

Rather than celebrate a new season, many with allergies view early blooms with apprehension, especially if their symptoms tend to be exacerbated by airborne particles such as plant pollens. Often though, allergic conditions occur in clusters — for example, atopic dermatitis is followed by asthma and hayfever.

Atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema) is an allergic condition that affects up to 20 percent of children. With extremely itchy, red and swollen patches of skin — especially on the backsides of joints and limbs in children (front sides in adults), face, neck and buttocks — the itchiness can be so intense that people tend to lose two hours of sleep per night. Constant scratching can lead to thickened rough patches and invites infections.

Atopic dermatitis develops results from a combination of environmental, genetic and infectious factors. Most people with eczema have a close relative with some kind of allergy and have elevated levels of a protein called IgE (immunoglobulin E), which promotes allergies hypersensitivity. Environmental and dietary allergen exposure, very dry air and emotional stress tend to exacerbate symptoms.


TREATMENT FROM THE INSIDE

Luckily, you and your kids have natural options for treating eczema. Your health care practitioner may recommend that you eliminate possible food allergens such as dairy, wheat, soy or corn.

Not to mention, an essential fatty acid supplement such as EPA and DHA from fish oil can help to decrease the underlying inflammation of eczema. This supplement will also help you generate healthy skin cell membranes (think the protective packages around each new skin cell). Consider the following dosages (and be sure to let your doctor know in advance if you are or may become pregnant while taking any treatment for dermatitis):

• Up to 1,500mg EPA plus DHA for children ages one to eight

• 2,000mg and 2,500mg for adolescents ages nine to 13 and 14 to 18 years respectively;

• 3,000mg for adults 19 years and older. Overall, there’s no need to scratch away when eczema flares up. By working with your health care practitioner, you might be pleasantly surprised to discover that atopic dermatitis is naturally manageable with diligent care.

Bonus tip

Try wearing cotton mittens and socks to bed. This will help you decrease nighttime scratching while keeping your skin super soft.

SPECIFIC SKIN CARE

To pamper dermatitis-prone skin, consider hypoallergenic, fragrance-free personal care products. According to Alexia Georgousis, ND, you can try the following supportive skin care regime to combat eczema:

Function	Opt for	Cut down
Cleansing	• A soap-free cleanser made of a natural oil-water mixture. • Warm water to help minimize irritation.	• Soaps with irritating emulsifiers like sodium lauryl sulfate, which strip away the skin’s natural protective oils and increases irritation. • Hot water because it dries the skin.
Exfoliation	• Gentle circular motions to remove dead skin cells and enhance hydration.	• Rough or abrasive chemical exfoliants, which increase dryness and irritation.
Hydration	• Emollient-rich ingredients like vitamin E, jojoba oil and shea butter. These fill in spaces between flakes of skin.	• Occlusive substances such as mineral oil, petrolatum and lanolin, which can block pores.