Treating eczema and other dry skin complaints, naturally…
“I always suffer with dry itchy skin, especially come winter time, I had come to just accept it and cream up. I bought this just to give it a go and wouldn’t have believed it could be so good. All of my dry patches disappear, even on the elbows and it requires no effort at all, just wash with it!!! Not only does it get rid of the dry bits, but it makes skin super soft. I cannot recommend this enough.” Jacey-Lee Kirby
If your skin feels tight and uncomfortable, try adding some moisture to your bathwater. Oats are fantastic for soothing eczema and other itchy skin conditions. Try tying a small handful of organic porridge oats into the toe of a pair of tights and drop it into the bath while the water’s running. Glide the bag across your skin while you’re soaking, paying particular attention to any patches of irritation. You can even add a generous amount of almond milk or oat milk directly to the bathwater, to keep your skin soft. Try mixing a drop or two of chamomile essential oil or lavender essential oil into your oat milk for extra healing benefits.
It’s important to keep your skin moisturised, while avoiding anything that might cause irritation, such as artificial colours or fragrances. Coconut oil is a great choice for top to toe moisturising, as it’s very nourishing, but light enough to absorb easily. You don’t need much, just allow a small amount to melt in your hands then massage it into your skin. If itchiness is a problem, try adding a few drops of grapefruit seed extract to your oil.
Organic shea butter is a superbly rich moisturiser which will benefit the driest of skin problems. It’s packed with vitamins and much richer than coconut oil, so does take a bit longer to soak in. Try using it straight after a warm bath or shower to allow your skin to drink it in easily. Olive oil is another great skin food and we’ve combined it with shea butter in our creamy Shea and Olive Body Butter. Again, it’s best to apply it straight after a bath or shower, while your skin is still warm and hungry.
If you prefer a lighter body oil, you may enjoy using our nourishing hemp body oil – specifically designed for dry skin conditions. It’s packed with oils famed for their restorative qualities, including hemp, avocado, evening primrose, rosehip and chamomile oil. It’s very gentle so makes an ideal massage oil for babies and children.
If you prefer to use a simple single oil, then you can’t go wrong with rosehip, argan, avocado, baobab, hemp or jojoba oil. They are all great skin foods that can help your dry skin. If you suffer from dry patches caused by hormonal fluctuations, evening primrose oil is a great choice.
When it comes to treating dry skin on your face, you’ll want a cream that’s rich enough to add moisture, but isn’t so thick that it’ll block pores. Our Replenishing Rose Face Cream provides a real boost of antioxidants and vitamins, and is suitable for even sensitive skin. It nourishes and hydrates skin with a blend of natural ingredients, including rosehip seed oil. Pomegranate oil is quite a thick oil but it is lovely and rich and you will notice the difference – just try a few drops at a time.
When an eczema or psoriasis flare-up hits, you’ll want instant relief, so it’s worth having some Calendula and Chamomile Balm to hand, as it can help to calm distressed skin. Take the heat out of the inflammation by using chilled chamomile tea, or organic rosewater – before applying any moisturiser.
As well as being careful what toiletries you use, you may also need to consider switching your shampoo and soap powder to a gentler version. Look for more natural, gentler detergents, such as those by Bio-D and Ecover. Children, in particular, may also benefit from switching to 100% cotton or bamboo clothing, so that their skin can breathe and they’re less likely to overheat.
Do you have any tips to share for treating eczema, psoriasis or other dry skin complaints? Please leave a comment below, or tweet me @Akamuti.