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Eczema is a skin condition that is characterized by inflamed and red skin, which often itches. Different kinds of treatments are used to treat eczema. One such treatment is using tea tree oil for eczema. Tea tree oil is a natural remedy that can help reduce irritation and itchiness associated with this skin condition. As a result, more people have started turning to tea tree oil as an alternative to conventional medicine to treat different kinds of situations, including eczema. Many people have reported excellent results from using tea tree oil for eczema, which has led scientists to investigate further the benefits of this product in treating various conditions affecting the human body.
What is eczema?
Eczema (also known as dermatitis) is a common and chronic skin condition, which often comes with an itchy rash and dry or cracked skin that sometimes oozes fluid. Although this isn’t contagious, the blisters can be very uncomfortable. Doctors aren’t sure what causes eczema, but they believe that genetics and environmental factors such as irritants play a role in triggering the signs of this disorder.
What are the symptoms of eczema?
- Itchy skin.
- Dry, scaly patches of skin that may be red and inflamed.
- Blisters or oozing from the affected areas will often crust over before healing.
- Small bumps on the skin with a whitish-yellow centre
- Skin folds in places such as the inner elbow or behind the knee can also break out in blisters and become very itchy.
- Thickened, leathery-looking skin.
- Someone with eczema may feel exhausted from lack of sleep due to insomnia triggered by chronic itching.
What causes eczema?
No one knows what causes eczema. Scientists have tried to find a link between the condition and various things, including genetics, stress, certain foods, irritants such as skincare products or detergents, and even weather conditions. However, no conclusive research has linked many of these factors to the development of this skin disorder.
What is tea tree oil?
Tea tree oil is derived from Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia. This essential oil has been used for centuries in the treatment of various skin conditions, including eczema. The components that makeup tea tree oil are responsible for its potency in treating different kinds of skin disorders like eczema because they kill bacteria and fungus, which can cause infections in the affected area.
How does tea tree oil work?
- Tea tree oil contains antiseptic properties, which make it effective in killing bacteria and fungus. These two microorganisms often attack areas with damaged skin, especially those suffering from any condition that causes the skin to become dry and scaly such as eczema. When these microbes infect eczema lesions, they can cause them to worsen by introducing further inflammation in the affected area, making it harder for it to heal. Using tea tree oil will help eliminate these microorganisms, thus allowing the skin to heal faster.
- Tea tree oil can prevent infection because of its ability to fight against bacteria responsible for causing diseases such as staphylococci, and streptococcal germs that often live on the skin’s surface but can penetrate deeper into the tissues is a break in the skin’s protective barrier. These microorganisms are what usually bring about secondary infections in cases of eczema.
- The components in tea tree oil have strong anti-inflammatory properties making them effective in diminishing and redness associated with eczema and other skin conditions. When the affected area is treated with tea tree oil, these components will reduce inflammation and swelling, thus allowing enough oxygen to flow into the skin’s layers to heal quickly.
- Tea tree oil also has analgesic properties which help ease the pain caused by itching and burning associated with eczema. The specific terpene found in this essential oil (known as terpinen-4-ol) is ten times more potent than aspirin when used for relieving discomfort from aches and pains associated with different kinds of inflammatory disorders such as muscle cramps and arthritis.
- Tea tree oil helps decrease redness and scaling on the affected areas because it works excellently in penetrating the skin and killing bacteria that may cause these symptoms.
- The components in tea tree oil have fungicidal properties, making this essential oil effective against fungi responsible for causing infections such as athlete’s foot and ringworm. Using tea tree oil can help eliminate microorganisms, thus preventing chronic illness on areas with damaged skin such as the scalp and other body parts where eczema manifests itself most often.
- A study shows that tea tree oil has antioxidant properties which enhance wound healing by increasing blood flow to an affected area. Antioxidants work by neutralizing harmful free radicals of oxygen- a by-product of cellular metabolism that damages healthy cells and cell membranes, leading to various diseases such as heart diseases and cancer. Free radicals of oxygen can also promote the development of eczema because they damage skin cells, thus inhibiting collagen production, which leads to dry and scaly skin. By increasing blood flow to an affected area, antioxidants like those found in tea tree oil will improve wound healing.
- Tea tree oil is highly effective against lice and scabies, which are common causes of infections on areas with damaged skin, such as eczema lesions. These microorganisms cause itchiness and pain in these areas; however, using tea tree oil with its antiseptic properties can immediately kill these organisms before further aggravating the condition by introducing bacteria that can lead to infection. This essential oil will make it easier for the skin’s protective barrier to function normally, thus improving its overall health.
- Studies show that tea tree oil also contains components with anticancer properties, which effectively prevent the development of cancerous cells. This essential oil has been proven to work effectively on killing 90% of cancerous cells within only eight hours after it was applied to these cells.
- Research studies also show that tea tree oil is effective against acne because it can destroy the bacteria responsible for causing this skin condition; however, more clinical studies are still needed before this claim can be supported with scientific facts. What researchers do know, though, is that adding 5-8 drops of tea tree essential oil into your favourite cleanser will help treat acne better than using cleaners without it because the cleansing agents and other ingredients in your cleanser will be more effective against acne-causing bacteria.
How to use tea tree oil for eczema?
- Add 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil to one tablespoon of carrier oil such as coconut oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil. Mix well, then apply this blend to the affected areas.
- Put a few drops of tea tree essential oil into your bath water and soak in it for 15-20 minutes several times a week to help treat the symptoms of eczema.
- Add 4-5 drops of tea tree essential oil to a bowl containing steaming hot water, lean over it and cover your head with a towel before inhaling the steam for five minutes until you feel better. This method will also help ease the pain caused by itching and burning associated with eczema, making you uncomfortable because it can affect your sleep.
- Add 5-6 drops of tea tree essential oil to one liter of water, mix well, and use it as an all-purpose cleaner by simply adding more water. This will help prevent bacteria’s growth, aggravating eczema if they contaminate areas around you that are prone to this condition, such as carpets, bathtubs, and tiles.
- Dilute 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil with half a cup of plain yogurt, then apply this mixture to affected areas after each bath or shower for faster healing and relief from itching.
- Massage 2-3 drops of tea tree oil into your scalp after shampooing or just before bedtime to promote hair growth while having a good night’s sleep.
- Add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil to your favorite shampoo before washing your hair daily; this way, you will rid yourself of harmful microorganisms that can cause various skin conditions, including eczema, especially on the scalp is a higher concentration of these organisms.
- Dilute 2-5 drops of tea tree oil with one cup of water. Apply the solution using cotton balls onto affected areas for intense itchiness caused by scabies or lice, which are also common in children with eczema because their immune system is still weak at this age.
- Combine five drops of lemon essential oil and lavender essential oil plus 10 ml coconut carrier oil, then apply this blend on affected areas three times every day to relieve pain and discomfort.
- If rashes brought about by allergies cause your eczema, you can also use tea tree oil to treat the itching that comes with this condition. Dilute ten drops of tea tree essential oil with 100 ml carrier oil, then apply it onto affected areas to ease the itchiness associated with allergies before each meal.
What are the other ways to prevent eczema?
- You should also avoid taking a hot shower or bath because both can cause dryness to your skin.
- Minimize using soap on the affected areas because it can aggravate inflammation and infection that come with this condition. You can use non-soap cleansers instead, such as those containing oatmeal or green tea extracts, which are safe for eczema patients.
- Do not scratch the affected areas too much because you will only make them worse by irritating them more and increasing inflammation associated with eczema flare-ups.
- Wear clothes made from natural materials such as cotton and silk, which are both breathable and ideal in helping your skin retain moisture while reducing it’s of developing allergic reactions due to exposure to harsh chemicals.
- Keep your home clean and tidy, with carpets steam-cleaned periodically, to help reduce exposure to allergens that can cause eczema symptoms to worsen.
- Keep pets out of the bedroom if you have allergies that might trigger an outbreak of eczema flare-ups because some animals are known to carry many allergens on their fur or dander.
- You should also learn how you might be exposing yourself to everyday things that could make your condition worse, such as pollen grains which are responsible for triggering asthma symptoms in some people, especially those who are allergic to plants, dust mites which are microscopic organisms that thrive inside pillows, beddings, curtains, upholstery, and carpet fibers indoors, and the like.
- Minimize stress levels by doing yoga or meditation, or talking about your feelings to someone you trust, because high levels of stress may trigger eczema symptoms to act up.
- As much as possible, avoid self-medication on your own without consulting a doctor first because you cannot determine if they are safe for use on people with eczema. The counter drugs might instead worsen symptoms if misused.
How can homeopathic medicine treat eczema?
Eczema can be hard to treat because flare-ups occur when the immune system is weakened due to dry skin dryness caused by hot showers, environmental allergens such as pollen grains from plants, and dust mites that live in pillows and bedsheets, and stress.
Homeopathic treatment for eczema is one of the best options because it can address the root cause of this skin problem and provide relief from itching, irritation, dryness, inflammation, and other uncomfortable symptoms associated with eczema. Homeopathy doctors can determine the proper homeopathic medicine to prescribe depending on your symptoms, age, and other factors that may affect your condition.
Homeopathy treatment for eczema is usually based upon the theory of administering doses so low that they do not cause side effects, which are known to aggravate the symptoms of eczema. The dosage prescribed by the doctor is also carefully selected to target the root cause of your condition without causing any side effects. You can consult a homeopathy doctor if you have concerns about treating or preventing flare-ups associated with eczema. Homeopathic treatment for eczema aims to strengthen your immune system and provide relief from uncomfortable symptoms caused by eczema. For more information, you can book an appointment through OHO Homeopahty and get the treatment you need.