What Helps Eczema

Coconut Oil is made from pressing coconut “meat”, or the fleshy part of a mature coconut, the fruit of a Coconut Palm, or Cocos Nucifera. Primarily produced in the Philippines, the oil, rich in saturated fat, also contains medium-chain triglycerides, which are rapidly absorbed by the human body and therefore a quick energy source.

Coconut Oil may help eczema by improving skin hydration, which is compromised by the condition.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential fats absorbed through food including fish (mackerel, salmon, seabass), vegetable oils (flax oil, soybean oil), nuts (walnuts) and seeds (flax, chia, hemp). There are three main Omega-3 Fatty Acids: ALA also known as Alpha-Linolenic Acid, EPA also known as Eicosapentaenoic Acid and DHA also known as Docosahexaenoic Acid. ALA is found naturally in plants, while EPA and DHA are found in fish. Omega-3 Fatty Acids maintain heart, vascular, lung, brain, immune and endocrine system health, while reducing inflammation.

Omega-3 Fish Oil may help eczema by reducing inflammation, which is a key component of the condition.

Quercetin is a flavonoid and powerful antioxidant helping to combat free radical damage. Part of the diverse group of phytonutrients responsible for pigmentation, the compound is found in vegetables (watercress, cilantro, radicchio, asparagus, okra)  and fruits (elderberry, cranberry, blueberry, blackberry, fig).

Quercetin may help Eczema by reducing inflammation.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin found in foods including fish (salmon, trout, sardines) and mushrooms (morel, chanterelle, oyster, shiitake), but more substantially from sun exposure, as the sun’s ultraviolet rays trigger synthesis. 

Vitamin D may help eczema by decreasing severity and improving symptoms.

Apple Cider Vinegar is fermented apple juice, containing health-benefiting acetic acid. Used by the Ancient Greeks as an antiseptic and historically as a disinfectant and food preservative, Apple Cider Vinegar contains antioxidant-rich polyphenols, which help neutralize free radicals, while reducing inflammation.

Apple Cider Vinegar may help eczema by improving the skin barrier and preventing infections, but supporting data is inconclusive.

Rich in Omega-6, gamma-Linolenic acid (GLA), Evening Primrose Oil is extracted from pressing Oenothera biennis seeds. Native to North and South America, the plant presents lemon-scented, yellow flowers that bloom in the evening and remain closed during the day. 

Evening Primrose Oil may help eczema due to the presence of anti-inflammatory gamma-Linolenic acid.

Aloe Vera or Aloe barbadensis miller is a succulent plant native to the Arabian Peninsula. The name Aloe is derived from the Arabic word alloeh meaning shiny bitter substance as its fleshy leaves contain a bitter yellow sap. Uses include skin care, digestion and topical antiseptic, and it can be traced back 6,000 years to Egyptian stone carvings.

Aloe Vera may help eczema by its antibacterial properties, which keep irritated skin healthy, while soothing symptoms of the condition.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that naturally live in the human body. They typically include strains from the common bacteria groups, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, as well as the yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii. Found naturally in fermented foods (kombucha, tempeh, kimchi, miso and sauerkraut) and dairy (yogurt, buttermilk, cottage cheese), probiotics are part of the microbiome or the healthy community of organisms that keep the body healthy.