How often and how long should I use the household remedies?

How often and how long the household remedies should be used depends on the severity and type of eczema. For most of the household remedies listed above, it applies that they can be used over a longer period of time without any major side effects.

However, caution should be exercised when using lemon as it can cause local irritation and should therefore be avoided, especially in the case of larger, open or pronounced eczema.

Treatment of the disease only with home remedies or only as supportive therapy?

Since there are many different types of eczema, no general statement can be made about the right treatment. In principle, eczema can only be treated with household remedies if it is not a systemic disease, i.e. affecting the whole body. In the latter case, for example in the case of neurodermatitis, it is not advisable to treat eczema with household remedies alone. However, household remedies can then continue to be used to support the treatment.

When do I have to go to the doctor?

Eczema can vary in size and be accompanied by symptoms of varying severity. For small localized eczema, treatment with home remedies can be attempted. In this case a doctor does not have to be consulted immediately. However, if the eczema occurs over a large area in many different places or is accompanied by pronounced symptoms such as severe itching, a visit to a doctor is recommended. Also with the suspicion on an allergy this should be clarified medically, since so also possibly existing cross allergies or further allergies can be clarified.

Which alternative therapy can still help?

Other therapy methods for the treatment of eczema are dietary changes. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the consumption of meat products should be restricted when eczema occurs and should be limited to poultry in particular. Preference should be given to steamed vegetables.

From the fruit assortment, apples and melons are preferred. The consumption of highly salted or sugared food is also not recommended when changing your diet. From the field of orthomolecular medicine there are also various options for the treatment of eczema.

These include, for example, the daily intake of vitamin A, with an application period of up to a quarter of a year being recommended. Zinc is also an important element that plays a role in the healing of eczema and is present in many people in a state of deficiency. Therefore a daily intake of about 40mg should be aimed at.

A longer intake period is also recommended. Eczema can occur in different parts of the face. Typical localizations are the edge of the lower jaw or the cheeks.

There are numerous possible causes for this. Eczema is often caused by the interaction of several factors in the face, whereby stress often plays a central role. The use of various cosmetics can also lead to the appearance of eczema on the face.When treating eczema of the face, a connection to newly used cosmetic products should be clarified accordingly.

Eczema on the hand is particularly unpleasant for most of those affected because the hands are exposed to many different stimuli, such as mechanical pressure or acids, for example when peeling fruit. Adequate treatment of eczema on the hand is therefore very important. In addition, the hand should be protected as far as possible during the onset of eczema and, for example, peeling an orange should be avoided.

For this reason, a compress or wrapping is recommended during treatment to shield the eczema from external irritants. If eczema occurs in the scalp area, it is usually a so-called seborrhoeic eczema. This describes a scaly skin rash of the sebaceous glands, which presents itself with the detachment of yellowish skin particles.

This type of eczema often occurs in small children in the scalp area and is occasionally accompanied by inflammation of the eyes. Since the scalp area is often more difficult to see and to avoid ambiguity, a doctor should be consulted for clarification in the case of eczema of the scalp. Eczema of the eye is usually very unpleasant for the person affected and can be accompanied by severe itching.

The possible causes include skin diseases such as neurodermatitis or rosacea. Other possible triggers are make-up products or the frequent use of eye drops. Therefore, all products for application in the eye area should be avoided.

If there is no improvement, a doctor should be consulted within a few days for clarification. Eczema can also occur on the feet. Possible causes are excessive irritation of the sole of the foot, for example by special insoles.

In children, eczema on the hands can sometimes be caused by the so-called hand-foot-mouth disease. Eczema on the feet usually responds well to treatment with foot baths, for example with the addition of olive oil. However, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible if there is no improvement.