Eczema Can Ruin Your Summer. Don’t Let It!

Your summer plans may call for beach trips, barbecues, picnics and other warm-weather activities. If you suffer from eczema, though, it’s hard to focus on the fun when you’re burning and scratching, or worried about how your skin looks to others.

The word “eczema” refers to a series of chronic skin disorders that cause redness, inflammation and itching. Contrary to popular belief, to deal with those problems you don’t have to seek prescription drugs or steroid creams. Instead, you can get to the foundation of the issue and heal from within by properly nourishing your body. In the meantime, you must consume more eczema-fighting foods and avoid certain other foods that can lead to flare-ups. It really can be that simple. You can rely on solutions that are completely natural both short and long-term. But first the immediate symptoms. You need relief now. There are a few foods to eat and a few more you must avoid right away.

Top Five Foods That Ward Off Eczema

Among the most helpful foods for dealing with eczema are those with omega-3 fatty acids such as wild river salmon. They can bring down inflammation and strengthen the skin.

Likewise, foods with probiotics, which are bacteria that are beneficial to human beings, can boost the immune system and make the appearance of eczema less likely. Yogurt is a good example.

Then there are bananas, which can reduce the amount of histamine in your system. Histamine is a compound that your white blood cells produce, and it’s often involved in immune system responses. However, in some people, it triggers eczema outbreaks.

Similarly, green onions can lower your quantity of histamine. These onions are full of vitamin K as well, which can heal and nourish the skin.

For their part, pineapples aren’t just juicy and delicious; they also contain bromelain, an enzyme blend that reduces inflammation.

Top Five Foods That Trigger Eczema

Now let’s look at items that eczema patients may want to stay away from. First, sugary foods are always a nightmare and can play a role with eczema. Processed breads can raise your level of insulin. Even long before diabetes develops, blasts of sugar throughout our lives create damaging cascades across systems, a situation that can result in inflamed skin and eczema eruptions in many adults. Steering clear of baked goods will often be necessary for eczema sufferers as well.

Acidic fruits like lemons and oranges have been linked to eczema. Of course, that’s a shame since they’re so high in nutrients.

Also, it’s a good idea to abstain from common allergens unless your doctor specifically tells you that they’re not affecting your eczema. Pasteurized cow’s milk is bad news generally, but can often exacerbate eczema conditions specifically, and should be avoided.

Now Let’s Look At the Foundational Long-Term Strategy To Heal

Let’s face it: eczema and skin health starts with poor nutrition. Most of us are avoiding fat and eating too much sugar, as we already mentioned, but even simple things like avoiding skin on chicken is a big mistake. Our bodies need those whole food components to nourish our own skin. The foods recommended for immediate eczema relief really wouldn’t touch the foundational reasons, nor help to heal much of anything with eczema long-term. The bottom line is we need fat. Lot’s of it; good, saturated fat in fish, eggs and other animals. Even the saturated fat in coconut would be very useful, but most vegetable based fats will NOT help your eczema. Eating the skin of the chicken itself will halt autoimmune attacks for a time. It’s that dramatic!

Beyond nutritional supplements that concentrate some of the nutritional benefits outlined above; therapies like black currant seed oil and flaxseed oil, which will provide you with the fatty acids your diet may be lacking; especially omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Plus, whole food B complex vitamins ― whole food B-6 in particular ― are useful in the battle against eczema both shoter and long-term. That’s because vitamin B deficiencies so often degrade the skin and induce eczema. Furthermore, enzyme therapies can stabilize your body’s inflammatory response pathways, preventing eczema breakouts in the process.

Topical herbal applications are more tools for getting rid of eczema symptoms. For example, aloe could rejuvenate your skin, and a chamomile tea compress might lessen inflammation. Pure essential lavender oil treatments, meanwhile, can stop itching. On top of that, coconut oil hinders eczema-related bacteria, and sunflower seed oil minimizes itching.

The bad news is that, when summer arrives, heat and sweat can worsen eczema effects. The good news is, you now have a plan!