Winter Eczema Tips

Written by Contributing Writer, Kelly @ Eyes On The Source

Since my oldest son was born, he has dealt with eczema/psoriasis issues.  Some cases/times of year are more severe than others.  However, since moving to Florida two years ago, his skin has fallen in love with the Florida humidity and salty seasides.  🙂 Since then his struggles have not been nearly as severe as they were in the cold, dry Illinois winters.

He turned ten years old this month, (still can’t believe that!) so we have been ’round the block many, many times with trial and error attempts at solving these skin issues.  When his doctor noticed a couple small dry patches of skin at his recent well visit, I knew it was time to dive into my eczema list archives and deal with it before it could grow into another serious issue.

I keep an outline for myself of all the natural solutions that have been effective for us over the years as a resource to go back to when we come to that point again.  It has been almost three years since his skin has really flared up and now when there is even a hint of eczema, we have a plethora of ideas to fall back on.

As my list is about eight pages long… 🙂 I’m going to condense it for you into my top three tips today!

Winter Eczema Tips:

1. Water is your friend

You can’t be hydrated on the outside, if you’re not hydrating your inside!  Drinking plenty of water removes toxins, balances ph levels, moves nutrients through our bodies and so much more.  A salt water bath can bring quick healing and relief (or a dip in the ocean is even better!).  Just add 1-2 cups of epsom salts to a warm (not hot) bath to remove toxins, exfoliate, reduce inflammation and increase blood circulation.  

2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

Not all creams and lotions are created equal!  In fact, many can do more harm than good. 🙁  Unscented products with fewer ingredients are best.  My favorites are Aquaphor, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil and topical Vitamin E.  We make our own healing lotion bars that can be used daily for skin irritations, cuts, bug bites, burns and more.  

3. Supplement

Just as we need water to moisturize from the inside out, certain supplements provide the essential fatty acids our bodies need to maintain moisture.  Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that also helps fight asthma and other allergy issues.  Omega 3’s provide a natural emollient, reduce redness and swelling and repair skin cells.  Probiotics and prebiotics help the body to retain nutrients/enzymes that hold water, can reduce itching and strengthen the immune system.  We use this brand of supplements because of their guarantee of purity and potency!

These ideas are a great start towards healthy skin!  Other things to consider are diet changes, using natural household cleaners, getting plenty of sleep, etc.  There is always an answer and it’s different for each person.  If you are struggling with eczema and psoriasis, there is hope and healing!  

What are your best tips for healthy skin?