Atopic dermatitis causes itching, dryness, rash, blisters, and skin infections. This chronic condition has no cure. Doctors typically recommend prescription and over-the-counter medicines to relieve symptoms. Natural remedies, alternative therapies, and home remedies might also help. Here are some of the most common ones. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking any remedies or therapies on your own.
Skin Care
To relieve dryness and itching, it’s important to wash your skin every day. Apply moisturizer within the first 3 minutes of getting out of the shower or bath. Doctors usually recommended:
- Bathing or showering with warm water for no more than 15 minutes using a delicate skin cleanser.
- Using unscented soap, if you prefer it to cleansers.
- Not scrubbing your skin when bathing or showering or when you’re drying yourself with a towel.
- Applying any topical medicine recommended by your doctor.
- Applying moisturizer or an ointment on the rest of the body as soon as you finish bathing.
- Waiting for your skin to absorb the moisturizer before getting dressed.
Colloidal Oatmeal
Apply colloidal oatmeal on your skin as a salve or sprinkle it in your bathwater to help relieve symptoms of atopic dermatitis. Experts recommend using colloidal oatmeal every day because it protects the skin and soothes inflammation and itching. You can find colloidal oatmeal in bath powders, skin cleansers (without soap), and moisturizing creams.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer and is good for the skin. Virgin coconut oil (which means it has not been processed) contains monolaurin, a fatty acid that reduces the colonization of staph bacteria, which can develop on your skin during a flare-up.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can help with itching caused by atopic dermatitis. It can also reduce stress associated with the condition. There are people who say that acupuncture fills them with a sense of well-being. Health insurance does not cover this treatment, which can be expensive.
Diet
No clinical trials have linked any diet to preventing flares. But there are foods that cause inflammation, and it’s best to avoid them. Many people are convinced that olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Manuka honey, fatty acids, and antioxidants help relieve atopic dermatitis.
Some foods have been associated with the symptoms of atopic dermatitis in certain people. These include cow’s milk, eggs, and soy products. Fermented mass foods and yogurt contain prebiotics which, according to some clinical trials, provide benefits for people with atopic dermatitis.
Manage Stress Levels
Stress and anxiety can worsen the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. Try to relax. When you feel stressed, close your eyes and breathe deeply. You can also practice tai chi.
Dress Well
If you have atopic dermatitis, you should avoid fabrics that irritate the skin or make you feel overheated because that can cause itching and lead to new flare-ups. Try to not wear wool clothing or use makeup and other beauty products that contain lanolin, a derivative of sheep’s wool. It’s better to wear clothes made with natural fibers. Cotton is a good choice, especially if the cotton is organic, because you will have fewer allergens and dyes that can irritate the skin.
Bamboo can also be beneficial for your skin if you have atopic dermatitis. According to experts, it absorbs more sweat than cotton and has antibacterial properties, which is ideal for preventing skin infections.
The factors that irritate the skin and result in flare-ups vary from person to person. Use unscented laundry detergent with no dyes, and always wash new clothes before wearing them.
Show Sources
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SOURCES:
Mayo Clinic: “Atopic dermatitis (ezcema).”
National Eczema Association: “Alternative Eczema Treatments from Natural Oils to Elimination Diets,” “Sherpas and Shackets and Skiwear, Oh My: Staying Warm, Stylish and Flare-Free This Winter,” “What is eczema?”
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: “Eczema Treatment.”
National Library of Medicine: “Management of Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: The Role of Emollient Therapy.”
National Library of Medicine: “Prebiotics and Probiotics in Atopic Dermatitis.”
