Tips For Using Essential Oils For Eczema

Eczema is a skin condition where the skin becomes red, dry, itchy, and scaly. It can be found in children as well as adults. Essential oils have been used since people knew about their properties to treat various problems, including eczema. Eczema is a complex condition that may also arise due to many different reasons. In some cases, food allergy or contact dermatitis might cause the disease, while in others, an essential oil sensitivity may be responsible for causing rashes and other allergic reactions. These essential oils are chamomile (Roman), bergamot, and ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata). It’s best to consult a healthcare professional before using essential oils on eczema patients, especially if you’re unsure which oil to use.

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are the natural chemical compounds found in seeds, stems, flowers, roots of plants. They are also known as volatile oils or ethereal oils, which means they evaporate quickly when exposed to air. These chemical compounds are not to be confused with vegetable oils like olive oil, which remain greasy even after they’re applied onto skin or baths, unlike essential oils that quickly evaporate once they contact the skin, giving you a pleasant aroma and moisturizing your skin at the same time.

How can Essential Oils Benefit an Eczema Patient?

If you’ve been diagnosed with eczema and want to use essential oils on yourself but don’t know where to start or what to do, then here’s a guide that will help you.

– Apply lavender essential oil on skin that is affected by eczema, either indirect or diluted form. This will help relieve itching and redness while moisturizing the skin. It’s also helpful for reducing scars caused due to eczema.

– Chamomile tea bags are also effective in treating mild cases of eczema. They contain anti-inflammatory properties which reduce swelling, redness and relieve itchiness.

– A mixture of chamomile oil and lavender oil can be applied to the affected areas. This will help reduce redness, itching, and inflammation.

– Inhalation of essential oils is another way of using them for eczema treatment. You can either use a diffuser or pour a few drops into hot water and inhale the steam to relieve symptoms like dry skin, itchiness, and irritation.

Are essential oils safe to use on my skin, especially if I have eczema?

It is better to consult a healthcare professional before using essential oils on the skin. Use only 100% pure and undiluted essential oil as diluted ones may not give you desired results. When applying essential oil directly on the skin, mix a drop of the oil in a teaspoon of carrier oil like coconut or jojoba and apply it on your skin. This helps you save from skin inflammation caused due to direct application of essential oils. Some essential oils can cause skin irritation, while others may not suit your skin type.

– Avoid using citrus fruits peels as ingredients in skin care products if you have eczema as they can trigger contact dermatitis resulting in rashes.

– If you’re going to use lavender essential oil, then ensure that it’s high quality and pure lavender oil. It should not be mixed with any other compound. An excellent way to check whether the lavender is pure or not is by checking its aroma once applied to the affected areas. A good quality lavender oil has a solid and pleasant fragrance.

– If you’re using essential oils for dry skin treatment, then choose those that contain antibacterial and antifungal properties as they will help protect your skin from germs and infections.

– Essential oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, thyme, etc., can cause skin irritation, so don’t use them if your skin is sensitive or damaged.

Eczema is a complex condition triggered by physical trauma or emotional stress in some cases. In contrast, it can be brought on in others due to an allergic reaction caused by food items containing gluten, dairy products, yeast infection, etc. In some people, this problem may be so there are chances of worsening even after finding the right soothing agent. If you’ve been prescribed topical steroid drugs by your doctor to treat skin rashes, then it’s better to avoid using essential oils as they may interfere with the action of the medicine and cause skin problems.

The skin conditions where eczema is usually found include:

1. Allergic contact dermatitis due to food allergy resulting in (atopic dermatitis) and other causes like poison ivy, oak, and sumac. If you’re using an essential oil that causes an allergic reaction, you should avoid it, as it could cause more harm than good. It’s best to consult a healthcare professional for proper guidance and find out the correct oil to use, if any at all.
2. Sensitivity reactions such as redness and rashes after topical application of certain oils on the skin, so again, consultation with a healthcare professional may be helpful for those who are not sure of their sensitivities or allergies, especially those who have been subjected to several reactions as mentioned above.
3. Eczema as a result of bacterial infections or fungal infections that can cause rashes and irritation; however, it’s advisable not to use the essential oils until you’re sure which oil is suitable for your skin condition because essential oils might irritate certain skin conditions especially where there are signs of infection.
4. Psoriasis – this skin condition has similar characteristics as eczema, so people with psoriasis may also be affected by eczema symptoms depending on the severity of the condition and how it heals too so if you find yourself having difficulty in determining whether your condition is psoriasis or eczema, consult a healthcare professional for proper guidance before using essential oils.
5. Irritant contact dermatitis – this skin condition is characterized by rashes and irritation. The chemical compounds in essential oils can cause such a reaction if they directly contact the skin, especially topical application of undiluted oil. It’s best to consult a healthcare professional for proper guidance and find out which oil is suitable to use on your skin type before using essential oils for eczema.
6. Hives or urticaria – these could be signs that you’re allergic to essential oil, especially those containing phenols like chamomile (Roman), thyme, oregano, davana, fennel, dill seed, basil (sweet), etc. Consult a healthcare professional for proper guidance to avoid an allergic reaction.
7. Other skin conditions – psoriasis has similar characteristics as eczema, so people with psoriasis may also be affected by eczema symptoms depending on the severity of the disease and how it heals, too, especially where it is is there are signs of infection like hives or urticaria (hives). If you’re unsure, consult a healthcare professional before using essential oils that may irritate your condition.
8. Infections due to bacterial infections or fungal infections – consultation with a healthcare professional is essential, especially since essential oils could make the situation worse instead of bringing any relief if they come into direct contact with the infected area(s) because certain oils like eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary, thyme, etc. might irritate the skin more especially if it’s infected so use diluted or purchase carrier oils to dilute some essential oils for topical application on the area(s) of concern.
9. Conditions with rashes and irritation – as mentioned above, some people have had adverse reactions even with the smallest amount of essential oil applied to their skin, so better safe than sorry, especially since you would not want any infection to occur. Consult a healthcare professional before using your selected essential oil on these skin conditions to be sure that it’s suitable for your situation and avoid an adverse reaction instead.
10. Chapped or inflamed areas of the skin – some essential oils contain chemical components that could further irritate the skin, especially rashes or inflammation. Again, consultation with a healthcare professional is necessary to avoid any adverse reactions.

Keep these things in mind before using essential oils:

Patch test: Before using any essential oil on your skin, it’s best to do a patch test first on a small area on your inner arm or leg where there is no history of eczema so that you can know how your body reacts to it in case if it’s causing an allergic reaction. So apply a small amount of diluted oil on your skin, say 1-2 drops only and wait for an hour before checking if there are any adverse reactions like redness, rash, or irritation. If you find that the essential oils caused some irritant, discontinue its use immediately because obviously, it’s not suited for your skin type.

Dilution ratio: The next important thing to remember is to dilute the oil with carrier oils like jojoba oil and grapeseed/ sweet almond oil before topical application because raw essential oils (neat) can cause an allergic reaction applied directly to the affected area(s). Even though some people claim they don’t have any side effects by using these pure essential oils, but I would still recommend doing the patch test first to be sure instead of taking any chances since your skin is sensitive. It’s not fun having an outbreak like psoriasis on the face, which you’re trying to treat instead.

Topical application: It’s best to dilute or mix essential oils with carrier oils before topical application because some crucial oil molecules are too small that they easily penetrate deep down into the dermal layers so they could get absorbed more than enough for them to cause an adverse reaction if applied directly without dilution. Most people who have used these pure, undiluted essential oils ended up disappointed when using these on their skin because there were no results, especially when they were expecting some miracle cure even though the claims sounded promising in some cases.

Which essential oils can you use for eczema?

1. Coconut oil

Coconut oil contains potent antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that benefit people suffering from eczema. These components help reduce the bacterial infection that triggers breakouts on your skin, mainly when applied topically. Coconut oil is also suitable for all skin types, including babies who have been suffering from eczema, because it doesn’t contain any chemicals that may cause an allergic reaction.

2. Lavender oil

Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils that are known for its gentle yet soothing properties, making it an ideal oil to use on skin conditions like eczema because lavender helps in reducing inflammation and redness, which can be triggered by inflammatory responses when your skin gets irritated or itchy due to allergy or exposure to harsh weather elements like cold or dry air.

3. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is another popular essential oil that has been used for hundreds of years because it’s known to have antibacterial properties, which are beneficial in treating skin conditions like eczema by inhibiting the growth of bacteria or fungi on your skin.

4. Rosemary oil

Rosemary essential oil plays a significant role in preventing acne breakout, itchiness, and irritation, especially during summer months because rosemary acts as a natural anti-aging aid by increasing blood circulation to promote healthy-looking skin if applied topically on specific areas(s) of your skin.

5. Basil oil

Basil oil has been used for hundreds of years as a natural treatment for cancer and other related conditions because basil essential oil is known to contain strong antibacterial properties that help in preventing the growth of cancer cells. Basil helps reduce inflammation, redness, itchiness, and dryness, which can be triggered by various factors, including extreme weather conditions like hot or cold temperatures during the summer and winter months.

Homeopathic treatment for eczema:

Although homeopathy is not proven to be effective by modern medical standards, it doesn’t mean that the treatments didn’t work for some people who had tried them.

– Homeopathic remedies for eczema (like belladonna, Kreosotum, phosphorus, staphisagria) are known to have worked in some instances because they help in suppressing the production of histamine, which can trigger an inflammatory response when your body starts producing antibodies against allergens or any other substances that you come into contact with.

– Homeopathic treatment for eczema treats the cause of the condition, which helps make it easier for your skin to heal, so you may not need to keep hiding under clothes anymore because it’s only possible when your skin heals appropriately after using homeopathic remedies.

– Remember that treatment with homeopathy will require several weeks before you notice an improvement in your eczema symptoms, even though this therapy doesn’t contain any chemicals that can cause an adverse side effect or interact with other medications you are taking, including over-the-counter drugs, supplements, herbal products, etc. You can consult a homeopathy doctor through OHO Homeopathy for more information!