How to Treat Eczema

Eczema has many other names such as hand and foot eczema, rice grain eczema and blistering eczema on hands and feet. ^{[1] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to the Source} Eczema is determined by the presence of small blisters on the palms, fingers, and soles of the feet. ^{[2] XTrusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} The cause of Eczema is not known, but there are many factors that can trigger this skin disorder, including exposure to nickel or cobalt , fungal infections, allergies and/or extreme stress. The blistered skin often becomes thicker and scaly, causing itching, inflammation, and redness. You can treat eczema with ingredients at home or receive medical intervention in severe cases.

Table of Contents

Treating Eczema at Home

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Apply cold and wet compresses to reduce irritation. Cold compresses help relieve itching and/or burning sensations caused by eczema. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the Source} Cold compresses also help reduce inflammation in the blisters and numb the irritated nerves that cause pain. You can soak a soft, clean towel in cold water and then put it in the fridge for hours. Then, wrap the towel around the affected hand or foot area.

Apply ice to the inflamed area for at least 15 minutes, two to three times daily or more if needed.
To keep cold compresses longer, you can put crushed ice cubes in a small plastic bag and then wrap a soft towel outside before applying it to your skin.
Avoid soaking your inflamed hands or feet in ice cubes. This only relieves the initial irritation, which then causes vascular shock and leads to frostbite.

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Use aloe vera (aloe vera). Aloe vera gel is a well-known herbal ingredient for inflamed and irritated skin. The gel has the ability to soothe itchy skin caused by irritation and reduce swelling caused by eczema, while significantly speeding up the healing of the skin. Aloe vera also has antibacterial properties, so it is very helpful if you have eczema caused by a fungal or bacterial infection. Applying aloe vera gel several times a day for the first few days after you notice red, irritated hands or feet can help treat eczema very effectively.

Aloe vera contains ppysaccharides (complex sugars) that help rehydrate the skin and moisturize it. In addition, aloe vera also stimulates the production of cplage, thereby increasing skin elasticity.
If you have aloe in your garden, you can break the leaves and apply the gel/water inside the aloe leaf directly to the irritated skin.
Or you can buy bottles of pure aloe vera gel at the drugstore. For best results, keep the gel in the refrigerator and apply it to the skin after it cools down.

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Consider applying oats. Oats are another home remedy that helps soothe irritated skin. Oats work relatively quickly in reducing skin inflammation and itching. Oat extract contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, which help in soothing eczema-prone skin. ^{[4] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} So you can make a batch of oats (not too thick), refrigerate for a few hours, then apply the mixture directly on inflamed skin and wait to dry. Rinse the oats under running water and remember to wash them very gently as oats are also mild exfoliants that can irritate the skin.

Or you can buy pureed oatmeal (available in colloidal form at health food stores or pharmacies) and mix it with cold water in a small tub or bowl. Then, soak your hands or feet in the mixture for 15-20 minutes every day.
To save even more money, you can make your own finely ground oatmeal by putting a handful of oats in a blender and grinding until a smooth, fine powder is formed. Finely ground oatmeal is easier to mix with water.

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Apply a thick ointment or cream to moisturize the skin. Thick ointments such as moisturizing wax (Vaseline), mineral oil, or food grade fat are often recommended for people with eczema because they help moisturize the skin and create a barrier against potential irritants. ^{[5] X Source of Research} Alternatively, you can use creams like Eucerin and Lubriderm that are thicker than most lotions and have the same effect. However, for creams, you need to reapply more often than for ointments because the cream penetrates faster. Moisturize skin throughout the day, especially after bathing, to keep water in the skin and prevent dry/chapped skin.

If the area with eczema is itchy and irritated, you can apply Hydrocortisone cream. Hydrocortisone cream (less than 1%) available over-the-counter is helpful in reducing pain and swelling quickly.
Take the time to massage the cream or ointment into the skin between the fingers and/or toes as these areas are often affected by eczema.

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Take an antihistamine to relieve itching. Over-the-counter antihistamines such as Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or Loratadine (Claritin, Alavert, and others) can help relieve itching and inflammation caused by eczema. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} More specifically, antihistamines block the action of histamine, which is produced during an allergic reaction.

Reducing the amount of circulating histamine usually helps to limit the dilation of small blood vessels under the skin, thereby helping to reduce redness and itching in the skin.
Antihistamines can cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, and confusion, so do not drive or operate machinery while taking antihistamines.

Avoid skin irritation

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Lower the temperature of the bath water to avoid drying out the skin. Hot showers can cause dryness and irritation of the skin as the high temperatures strip away the skin’s natural protective oils. Therefore, people with eczema should only bathe in cool or warm water. Taking a cool shower for at least 15 minutes a day can help rehydrate the skin because the skin is quite absorbent. ^{[7] X Research Source} On the other hand, hot showers often strip water from the skin, especially if you take a salt water bath.

Baths with Epsom salts are generally not recommended for patients with eczema (although the salts are antiseptic) because they cause dehydration of the skin.
Buy a shower filter that filters out chemicals that can irritate your skin like chlorine and nitrite.

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Use mild soaps and natural cleaning products. Regular soap can cause dryness and irritation of the skin in some cases of eczema. Therefore, you should choose soaps with natural ingredients, without fragrances and containing natural moisturizers (vitamin E, olive oil, aloe vera). ^{[8] X Research Source} Non-irritating hygiene products formulated for sensitive skin (such as Neutrogene, Aveeno) are also suitable for people with eczema because they are less likely to dry out the skin. Remember not to use a towel or washcloth to rub too hard on the skin when cleaning the eczema area.

In fact, certain detergents, chemicals, and compounds found in soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, and perfumes can trigger eczema, similar to triggering an allergic reaction. ^{[9] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}
To be on the safe side, you should always wear protective gloves when using household cleaning products to avoid exposing your skin to or soaking up chemicals.
Clothes should be washed with non-irritating detergents and fabric softeners to avoid creating sticky residues on clothes that can damage the skin.

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Do not scratch. You should avoid scratching your eczema to help the inflamed skin and blisters heal, especially for open wounds or blisters. Friction and pressure from scratching can aggravate eczema and make the skin more inflamed and red. Scratching also increases the risk of bacterial or fungal infections. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Nails should be kept short to avoid breaking the blisters caused by unconsciously scratching the itch.
Consider wearing gloves and/or thin cotton socks to prevent scratching in these areas.

Seek medical help

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Get the right blister treatment. If your eczema is severe and your skin is full of watery blisters, don’t poke or pop the pimples. Instead, it is advisable to see a doctor for proper treatment. Your doctor can either treat you directly or refer you to a dermatologist (who specializes in skin diseases). Your doctor will apply some antibiotic cream and wrap an antiseptic bandage around the blister to minimize the risk of infection, reduce scarring, and promote healing. If the blister is large, your doctor will likely remove the water from the blister first. ^{[11] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

Change the dressing every day (or immediately after it becomes wet and dirty) and take great care to avoid skin irritation.
When the blisters break, apply antibiotic ointment to the area and cover with a clean gauze bandage (don’t wrap it too tightly).
Your doctor may consider other potential causes of skin disease. Other skin conditions that can be easily confused with eczema include fungal infections, bacterial infections, scabies, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and chickenpox. ^{[12] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source}

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Ask your doctor about prescription corticosteroid creams. Cortisone, prednisone, and other corticosteroids that modulate the body’s immune response are thought to help reduce the redness, irritation, and itchiness caused by eczema. ^{[13] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to the source} Corticosteroids also have anti-inflammatory properties. Prednisone is stronger than Cortisone and is generally better for people with eczema. Prednisone helps reduce inflammation by reducing the size of capillaries under the skin and suppressing the inflammatory response of the immune system.

Wrapping plastic wrap around the area where the cream is applied can help improve the absorption of the corticosteroid cream and help the blisters disappear faster. ^{[14] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
If eczema is severe, your doctor may recommend that you take steroids for several days to fight inflammation and reduce discomfort.
Long-term side effects of corticosteroids include thinning of the skin, edema (water retention), and a suppressed immune response.

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Consider using an immunosuppressive cream. Immune system suppressing creams and ointments such as Tacrpimus (Protopic) and Pimecrpimus (Elidel) can be helpful in severe cases of eczema, especially if you want to avoid the side effects of corticosteroids. ^{[15] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} As their name suggests, these medications suppress the body’s immune response to eczema irritants, thereby helping to reduce inflammation, redness and itchy. However, these drugs can increase the risk of skin infections and even skin cancer. Therefore, it should only be used when other methods have not worked. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Pregnant women and young children should not use immunosuppressive creams and ointments.
Suppressing the immune system can make you more susceptible to infections and infections like the common cold and flu.

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Receiving phototherapy. If other treatments don’t work, your doctor may recommend phototherapy that combines exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light with certain medications that make it easier for the skin to absorb UV radiation. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the source} Phototherapy works by increasing vitamin D production in the skin and killing disease-causing microorganisms in the skin. As a result, in about 60-70% of cases, the skin is reduced inflammation, less itching and faster recovery. ^{[18] X Trusted Source National Eczema Association Go to Source}

Narrow-spectrum ultraviolet B (UVB) light is the most common type of phototherapy used to treat skin diseases.
Broad-spectrum UVB phototherapy, PUVA (Psoralen and UVA), and UVA1 are other phototherapy commonly used to treat eczema.
Phototherapy avoids the UVA part of the sun, which is harmful to the skin, can accelerate skin aging and increase the risk of skin cancer.

Advice

After a few weeks or months, eczema usually clears up completely and doesn’t cause any problems. However, symptoms can recur cyclically.
Too much scratching can cause thickening of the skin and chronic irritation.

Steps

Treating Eczema at Home

Avoid skin irritation

Seek medical help

Advice

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