Treating Eczema with Essential Oils

How to Get Rid of Extremely Dry Skin Naturally

Aug 31, 2009 Brenna Coleman

From diet to medication, there are many ways to treat eczema; essential oils offer a natural, yet effective treatment for dry skin.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic condition characterized by extremely dry skin, inflammation, and red clusters of bumps, which can become scaly, or thicken and crust over. Most people who have this illness experience symptoms as a baby, prodding many parents to search for natural remedies for eczema, not wanting to expose their young children to heavy medications at a young age. Generally, the symptoms do subside as children with eczema age, only to reoccur when triggered by stress, allergies, changes in weather, or a weak immune system.

For some, trying to figure out how to get rid of dry skin can become a constant battle. Although a natural treatment may take longer to heal eczema, essential oils and other natural remedies tend to have a more-lasting effect without the negative side effects of drug therapy.

Essential Oil Blends for Dry Skin

One way to treat eczema with essential oils is to make a blend. By taking a natural carrier oil and mixing it with several drops of healing essential oils, you have a therapeutic topical remedy to protect the body from infection and inflammation, and to nourish extremely dry skin. By making your own natural remedy, you can choose whichever oils you prefer to make your healing eczema essential oils blend.

Always keep in mind that essential oils are the highly concentrated extractions of plants - they should not be applied directly to the skin, but need to be diluted. Ideal carrier oils for eczema are omega-fatty acid rich evening primrose oil, avocado oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil, although any natural cold-pressed vegetable oil is fine, including olive oil. Blend twenty-five drops of essential oil for every two ounces of a carrier oil. This mixture can be stored in an airtight plastic or glass container, away from heat and light. Apply the eczema essential oils blend once a day, preferably after bathing, or use as a therapeutic massage oil.

How to Make a Natural Eczema Cream with Essential Oils

Another option for treating eczema with essential oils is to make a cream. Using natural, unscented lotion, blend twenty-five drops for every eight ounces of lotion. Apply this treatment to the whole body, or to specific patches of extremely dry skin once a day. A natural eczema cream will last longer than the oil blend because the carrier oils are sensitive to heat, light, and oxygen exposure. Store the eczema essential oils cream in an airtight container, again, away from heat and light.

Useful Essential Oils for Eczema

Chamomile - Chamomile essential oil has strong anti-inflammatory and calming properties.
Clary Sage - Also an anti-inflammatory, this essential oil minimizes stress and anxiety, which are common triggers of eczema.
Frankincense - This is a wonderful healing essential oil; it has cleansing, antiseptic properties, helps to reduce inflammation, and promotes cellular regeneration.
Geranium - Geranium essential oil is often used in skin treatments for its normalizing and balancing properties.
Lavender - Lavender is probably the most pertinent eczema essential oil. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, calming, and normalizing properties. It also supports immune health, and is extremely beneficial for alleviating stress.
Linden - Also known as lime blossom, this essential oil is moisturizing for the skin, as well as calming.
Sandalwood - Sandalwood essential oil works as an antiseptic and a skin moisturizer.
Tea Tree - Tea tree oil is one of the best cleansing essential oils. It is extremely effective in protecting the skin from infection, as an antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal essential oil. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.

All of the oils blend well together except for tea tree oil, which has a more distinct green smell. Use a blend of any of these essential oils as a treatment for dry skin and eczema.

Sources:

Balch, Phyllis A. "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Fourth Edition (Penguin Books, 2006).

The copyright of the article Treating Eczema with Essential Oils in Natural Medicine is owned by Brenna Coleman. Permission to republish Treating Eczema with Essential Oils in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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