Natural Remedies for Eczema: What to Know

1. Anti-inflammatory Diet

Reducing inflammation and reversing eczema starts with the food you eat, especially when it comes to atopic dermatitis, which is rooted in an overactive immune system.

Eat more anti-inflammatory foods like:

• Omega-3 foods: the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that can reduce inflammation in the gut, joints, brain, and skin. The best natural sources of omega-3s are wild-caught salmon, sardines, and fish oil.
• High-fiber vegetables: produce like artichokes, raw garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, and dense leafy greens feed healthy gut bacteria and reduce intestinal inflammation.
• Probiotics: probiotics are living bacterial cultures that reinforce the gut lining and protect the bloodstream from inflammatory agents.
• Collagen: collagen supplements and bone broth can strengthen the skin matrix and rejuvenate damaged skin cells. It’s also a powerful nutrient for healing the gut lining.
• Vitamin A-rich foods: yellow and orange vegetables like carrots are high in vitamin A and are great for skin health.

Avoid inflammatory foods like:

• Fried foods: canola and safflower oil from deep-fried foods promotes inflammation.
• Sugar: processed sugar feeds unhealthy gut bacteria and promotes inflammation throughout the body.
• Additives: additives in processed foods are known to exacerbate eczema.
• Dairy: products like cheese and milk are difficult to process and tend to promote inflammation, especially in people with autoimmune conditions.
• Gluten: removing gluten can improve autoimmune conditions like eczema.

2. Sun Exposure (Phototherapy)

Sun exposure and phototherapy are proven to calm inflammation and reduce itching. UVB spectrum light helps the skin fight bacteria, boosts vitamin D production, and may help prevent eczema flares.

Just 10-15 minutes of sunlight a day may be all it takes to mitigate symptoms and speed healing. One recent study found that 74.4% of patients had complete resolution of eczema symptoms during the sunny summer months.

3. Vitamin D

During winter in the Northern hemisphere, you might not have access to sunlight or phototherapy. That’s unfortunate, because vitamin D3 deficiency can compromise the immune system and increase the risk of eczema. (5)

Luckily, you can still reduce the risk of eczema by supplementing with vitamin D.

Taking 2,000-5,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily can support the skin’s natural ability to fight inflammation. Another option is to eat foods that contain vitamin D, like sardines, salmon, and cod liver oil, all of which are high in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.

4. CBD Ointments and Creams

As cannabis and cannabinoid use becomes more common, the broad medicinal benefits of non-psychoactive CBD (cannabidiol) have been gaining widespread attention. New research also shows that it may deliver eczema relief to some patients.

For example, a 2019 publication in the medical journal Molecules confirms that “… cutaneous cannabinoid signaling is deeply involved in the maintenance of skin homeostasis, barrier formation and regeneration, and its dysregulation was implicated to contribute to several highly prevalent diseases and disorders, e.g., atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, scleroderma, acne…”

In other words, the skin contains natural receptor sites for phytocannabinoids like CBD, which at least partially explains its therapeutic potential.

Another 2019 study found that topical CBD ointment, without THC, had therapeutic effects in inflammatory skin conditions and cutaneous scars.

5. Therapeutic Oils

Moisturizing oils like coconut oil and essential oils like lavender and primrose are proven to reduce symptoms associated with eczema and protect the skin.

Primrose in particular contains high levels of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which may account for its benefits in treating atopic dermatitis.

At the same time, lavender essential oil may help reduce the mental health conditions associated with eczema. For example, Harvard Medical School found that people with eczema have higher rates of anxiety and insomnia. They also exercise less and drink more alcohol.