Approximately 30 million Americans suffer from eczema, according to the National Eczema Association. Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a skin condition that usually appears during childhood. The most common areas affected are the inside of the legs and arms and it can also appear on the face and other parts of the body.
Eczema is a chronic condition and is often treated with steroid creams. Natural and alternative remedies for eczema include making your own homemade natural eczema creams.
Ingredients That Can be Used in Making Natural Eczema Cream at Home
Collect the following:
- aloe vera gel – a quarter cup
- lavender essential oil – about 4 drops per quarter cup of aloe vera
- lidded tin
- wax paper
- amber glass bottle – to use instead of the tin
- bowl
- mixing spoon
How to Mix Ingredients to Make Natural Eczema Cream at Home
Mix the ingredients in the following manner:
- Mix quarter cup of aloe vera gel and the lavender essential oil together. You can use aloe vera gel bought at a health store or scrape aloe vera plant leaves.
- Line the tin with wax paper. If no tin is available use the glass amber bottle. Carefully pour the mixture of aloe vera gel and lavender essential oil into the container.
- Seal the container and place in refrigerator immediately. The cream should be fresh and usable for three to four weeks.
Making Larges Amounts of Natural Eczema Cream and Variations
You can make larger batches of the cream by remembering to add four drops of essential oil to every one third cup of aloe vera gel. Lavender is nice essential oil and you can experiment with other essential oils instead of lavender.
Things to be Careful of With Eczema and Natural Eczema Cream
You should always test the cream on a small part of your body to ensure rash or irritation do not occur. If rash or irritation does occur, discontinue use. The cream does have an expiry date so be sure to write the date of production on the tin and expected expiry date. Eczema is sensitive to harsh chemicals and soaps so do your best to avoid irritating products. If problem does not get better, speak to your doctor.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice
References:
National Eczema Association. "Eczema Quick Fact Sheet" (accessed September 24, 2010)
Mayo Clinic. "Atopic dermatitis (eczema)" (accessed September 24, 2010)
Sew Craftful. "How to make an all-natural eczema cream" (accessed September 24, 2010)
Tamara Laschinsky - Health and wellness advocate, author, researcher and owner of Natural e GREEN: Natural Health & Wellness store!
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