Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsProbioticsTopical Lotions and OilsGamma-Linolenic AcidCoconut OilColloidal OatmealVaseline (Petroleum Jelly)Honey
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Probiotics
Topical Lotions and Oils
Gamma-Linolenic Acid
Coconut Oil
Colloidal Oatmeal
Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)
Honey
Home remedies foreczemacan help you manage your symptoms without a prescription. Although there is no cure for eczema, applying a natural remedy like honey or coconut oil to your skin can help alleviate itching, inflammation, and other irritated skin symptoms. Some home remedies for eczema may even reduce the frequency of flareups.
This article details seven home remedies for eczema, including their possible benefits as well as the research for (or against) their use.
eyewave / iStockphoto
Probiotics, or “good” bacteria, are live microbial organisms naturally found in fermented foods as well as the human digestive tract. Probiotics are thought to control the growth of potentially harmful bacteria, influence immune function, and strengthen the digestive tract’s protective barrier.
With that being said, after researchers reviewed 39 clinical trials involving 2,599 people with eczema, they were unable to find any evidence that the use of probiotics was effective in reducing eczema symptoms or improving quality of life.
Probiotics may have some use in preventing eczema, though. For a review published inPLoS Medicinein 2018, researchers found evidence from 19 studies suggesting that maternal probiotic supplementation during late pregnancy and lactation may reduce the risk of eczema. However, further research is needed.
Consult a qualified health professional before using probiotics to discuss whether they are appropriate for you or your child. Children with immune deficiencies should not take probiotics unless under a healthcare provider’s supervision. Also, one study found increased allergic rhinoconjunctivitis at ages 5 to 10 years after perinatal (the period right before and after birth) probiotic use.
For a research review published in 2017, researchers found that moisturizers showed some benefits in people with eczema.Specifically, moisturizers prolonged the time between flare-ups, reduced the number of flare-ups, and decreased the amount of topical corticosteroid medication needed for a similar reduction in severity.
The researchers also found that a cream containing the licorice-compound glycyrrhetinic acid was more effective at reducing eczema severity than a cream without the substance. Four studies in the review evaluated a urea cream, and participants reported more improvement with the urea cream than with a cream without urea.
Consult your healthcare provider before using any topical applications. Some herbs, such aschamomile, should not be put on eczema in certain people. This is because they are known to cause allergic contact dermatitis. Additionally, when choosing a moisturizer, avoid scented products, which may further irritate your skin.
Tea tree oil is often used as a natural remedy for eczema. However, according to a study inContact Dermatitis, tea tree oil producesascaridolewhen the oil is oxidized, which may cause allergic contact dermatitis.
According to a report published inPediatric Dermatology, olive oil may exacerbate dry skin and eczema.
Gamma-Linolenic Acid (Evening Primrose Oil and Borage Oil)
Gamma-linolenic acids(GLA), such asevening primrose oilandborage oil, are a type of essential fatty acid. GLA is thought to correct deficiencies in skin lipids that can trigger inflammation, which is why it is used for eczema. However, clinical studies of GLA have generally found that it does not help with eczema.
After reviewing 27 previously published studies investigating the effectiveness of evening primrose oil or borage oil oral supplements, researchers found that evening primrose oil or borage oil did not significantly improve eczema symptoms compared to placebo treatment.
The researchers also noted potential risks associated with evening primrose supplements such as inflammation, thrombosis (blood clots), immunosuppression, and increased risk of bleeding.
Coconut oil is an emollient, which means it has a moisturizing effect when applied directly to the skin. Studies have found it to be a helpful home remedy for treating mild to moderate eczema.
A small 2014 study looked at the effectiveness of coconut oil in treating eczema in patients between the ages of 1 and 13. It found that 47% of those who applied 5 milliliters (ml) of virgin coconut oil to the skin twice daily had moderate improvement in symptoms, and 46% had excellent improvements.
Colloidal oatmeal is a finely ground oatmeal that is mixed with a liquid base. It is used as a topical skin treatment for various skin conditions. Colloidal oatmeal can also be an effective home remedy for eczema.
A 2020 study found that a colloidal oat cream was superior to a standard moisturizer in patients with eczema. The group that received a 1% colloidal oat cream reported a 51% improvement in the extent and severity of their eczema symptoms.
Vaseline can be a soothing home remedy for eczema. It can help keep your skin moist and add a protective layer between your skin and external irritants.
Vaseline is made from mineral oil and natural waxes. It is safe to use even on sensitive skin. Because it can be greasy, many dermatologists recommend limiting the use of this natural remedy to the most severe eczema patches.
The use of natural honey as a treatment for eczema has not been well-studied. A few small studies have had mixed results. One 2014 study found no difference in symptom improvement between participants who used kanuka honey on their eczema lesions and those in a control group.
Another study, however, did find a significant improvement in the appearance of eczema lesions aftermanuka honeywas applied for seven days.
Note that you should only use medical-grade honey to treat your eczema. Medical-grade honey has been processed to remove any potentially dangerous contaminants.
Summary
Effective home remedies for eczema include honey, coconut oil, unscented moisturizers, colloidal oatmeal, and petroleum jelly. While they may reduce itching, dryness, and irritation, they won’t cure your eczema.
Keep in mind that the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. If you’re considering the use of any remedy, talk with your primary care provider first to be sure it’s right for you.
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13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Huey Shi L, Balakrishnan K, Thiagarajah K, Mohd Ismail N, Shao Yin O.Beneficial properties of probiotics.Trop Life Sci Res. 2016 Aug;27(2):73-90. doi:10.21315/tlsr2016.27.2.6Makrgeorgou A, Leonardi-Bee J, Bath-Hextall F, et al.Probiotics for treating eczema.Coch Data Syst Rev. 2018 Nov;2018(11):CD006135. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006135.pub3Garcia-larsen V, Ierodiakonou D, Jarrold K, et al.Diet during pregnancy and infancy and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS Med. 2018;15(2):e1002507. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002507Peldan P, Kukkonen AK, Savilahti E, Kuitunen M.Perinatal probiotics decreased eczema up to 10 years of age, but at 5-10 years, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis was increased.Clin Exp Allergy. 2017;47(7):975-979. doi:10.1111/cea.12924Van zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Christensen R, Lavrijsen A, Arents BWM.Emollients and moisturisers for eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2:CD012119. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012119.pub2Christoffers WA, Blömeke B, Coenraads PJ, Schuttelaar ML.The optimal patch test concentration for ascaridole as a sensitizing component of tea tree oil.Contact Derm. 2014;71(3):129-37. doi:10.1111/cod.12199Karagounis TK, Gittler JK, Rotemberg V, Morel KD.Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oil.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(1):9-15. doi:10.1111/pde.13621Bamford JT, Ray S, Musekiwa A, Van gool C, Humphreys R, Ernst E.Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(4):CD004416. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004416.pub2Evangelista MT, Abad‐Casintahan F, Lopez‐Villafuerte L.The effect of topical virgin coconut oil on SCORAD index, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance in mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double‐blind, clinical trial.Int J Dermatol. 2014;53(1):100-8.Capone K, Kirchner F, Klein SL, Tierney NK.Effects of colloidal oatmeal topical atopic dermatitis cream on skin microbiome and skin barrier properties.J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(5):524-531. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.4924National Eczema Association.Basic skin care for eczema.Fingleton J, Helm C, Tofield C, Weatherall M, Beasley R.A randomised controlled trial of topical Kanuka honey for the treatment of eczema.JRSM Open. 2014;5(1):2042533313509263. doi:10.1177%2F2042533313509263Alangari AA, Morris K, Lwaleed BA, et al.Honey is potentially effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: clinical and mechanistic studies.Immun Inflamm Dis. 2017;5(2):190-199. doi:10.1002/iid3.153
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Huey Shi L, Balakrishnan K, Thiagarajah K, Mohd Ismail N, Shao Yin O.Beneficial properties of probiotics.Trop Life Sci Res. 2016 Aug;27(2):73-90. doi:10.21315/tlsr2016.27.2.6Makrgeorgou A, Leonardi-Bee J, Bath-Hextall F, et al.Probiotics for treating eczema.Coch Data Syst Rev. 2018 Nov;2018(11):CD006135. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006135.pub3Garcia-larsen V, Ierodiakonou D, Jarrold K, et al.Diet during pregnancy and infancy and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS Med. 2018;15(2):e1002507. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002507Peldan P, Kukkonen AK, Savilahti E, Kuitunen M.Perinatal probiotics decreased eczema up to 10 years of age, but at 5-10 years, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis was increased.Clin Exp Allergy. 2017;47(7):975-979. doi:10.1111/cea.12924Van zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Christensen R, Lavrijsen A, Arents BWM.Emollients and moisturisers for eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2:CD012119. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012119.pub2Christoffers WA, Blömeke B, Coenraads PJ, Schuttelaar ML.The optimal patch test concentration for ascaridole as a sensitizing component of tea tree oil.Contact Derm. 2014;71(3):129-37. doi:10.1111/cod.12199Karagounis TK, Gittler JK, Rotemberg V, Morel KD.Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oil.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(1):9-15. doi:10.1111/pde.13621Bamford JT, Ray S, Musekiwa A, Van gool C, Humphreys R, Ernst E.Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(4):CD004416. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004416.pub2Evangelista MT, Abad‐Casintahan F, Lopez‐Villafuerte L.The effect of topical virgin coconut oil on SCORAD index, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance in mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double‐blind, clinical trial.Int J Dermatol. 2014;53(1):100-8.Capone K, Kirchner F, Klein SL, Tierney NK.Effects of colloidal oatmeal topical atopic dermatitis cream on skin microbiome and skin barrier properties.J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(5):524-531. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.4924National Eczema Association.Basic skin care for eczema.Fingleton J, Helm C, Tofield C, Weatherall M, Beasley R.A randomised controlled trial of topical Kanuka honey for the treatment of eczema.JRSM Open. 2014;5(1):2042533313509263. doi:10.1177%2F2042533313509263Alangari AA, Morris K, Lwaleed BA, et al.Honey is potentially effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: clinical and mechanistic studies.Immun Inflamm Dis. 2017;5(2):190-199. doi:10.1002/iid3.153
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Huey Shi L, Balakrishnan K, Thiagarajah K, Mohd Ismail N, Shao Yin O.Beneficial properties of probiotics.Trop Life Sci Res. 2016 Aug;27(2):73-90. doi:10.21315/tlsr2016.27.2.6Makrgeorgou A, Leonardi-Bee J, Bath-Hextall F, et al.Probiotics for treating eczema.Coch Data Syst Rev. 2018 Nov;2018(11):CD006135. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006135.pub3Garcia-larsen V, Ierodiakonou D, Jarrold K, et al.Diet during pregnancy and infancy and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS Med. 2018;15(2):e1002507. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002507Peldan P, Kukkonen AK, Savilahti E, Kuitunen M.Perinatal probiotics decreased eczema up to 10 years of age, but at 5-10 years, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis was increased.Clin Exp Allergy. 2017;47(7):975-979. doi:10.1111/cea.12924Van zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Christensen R, Lavrijsen A, Arents BWM.Emollients and moisturisers for eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2:CD012119. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012119.pub2Christoffers WA, Blömeke B, Coenraads PJ, Schuttelaar ML.The optimal patch test concentration for ascaridole as a sensitizing component of tea tree oil.Contact Derm. 2014;71(3):129-37. doi:10.1111/cod.12199Karagounis TK, Gittler JK, Rotemberg V, Morel KD.Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oil.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(1):9-15. doi:10.1111/pde.13621Bamford JT, Ray S, Musekiwa A, Van gool C, Humphreys R, Ernst E.Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(4):CD004416. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004416.pub2Evangelista MT, Abad‐Casintahan F, Lopez‐Villafuerte L.The effect of topical virgin coconut oil on SCORAD index, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance in mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double‐blind, clinical trial.Int J Dermatol. 2014;53(1):100-8.Capone K, Kirchner F, Klein SL, Tierney NK.Effects of colloidal oatmeal topical atopic dermatitis cream on skin microbiome and skin barrier properties.J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(5):524-531. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.4924National Eczema Association.Basic skin care for eczema.Fingleton J, Helm C, Tofield C, Weatherall M, Beasley R.A randomised controlled trial of topical Kanuka honey for the treatment of eczema.JRSM Open. 2014;5(1):2042533313509263. doi:10.1177%2F2042533313509263Alangari AA, Morris K, Lwaleed BA, et al.Honey is potentially effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: clinical and mechanistic studies.Immun Inflamm Dis. 2017;5(2):190-199. doi:10.1002/iid3.153
Huey Shi L, Balakrishnan K, Thiagarajah K, Mohd Ismail N, Shao Yin O.Beneficial properties of probiotics.Trop Life Sci Res. 2016 Aug;27(2):73-90. doi:10.21315/tlsr2016.27.2.6
Makrgeorgou A, Leonardi-Bee J, Bath-Hextall F, et al.Probiotics for treating eczema.Coch Data Syst Rev. 2018 Nov;2018(11):CD006135. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006135.pub3
Garcia-larsen V, Ierodiakonou D, Jarrold K, et al.Diet during pregnancy and infancy and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS Med. 2018;15(2):e1002507. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002507
Peldan P, Kukkonen AK, Savilahti E, Kuitunen M.Perinatal probiotics decreased eczema up to 10 years of age, but at 5-10 years, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis was increased.Clin Exp Allergy. 2017;47(7):975-979. doi:10.1111/cea.12924
Van zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Christensen R, Lavrijsen A, Arents BWM.Emollients and moisturisers for eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2:CD012119. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012119.pub2
Christoffers WA, Blömeke B, Coenraads PJ, Schuttelaar ML.The optimal patch test concentration for ascaridole as a sensitizing component of tea tree oil.Contact Derm. 2014;71(3):129-37. doi:10.1111/cod.12199
Karagounis TK, Gittler JK, Rotemberg V, Morel KD.Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oil.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(1):9-15. doi:10.1111/pde.13621
Bamford JT, Ray S, Musekiwa A, Van gool C, Humphreys R, Ernst E.Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(4):CD004416. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004416.pub2
Evangelista MT, Abad‐Casintahan F, Lopez‐Villafuerte L.The effect of topical virgin coconut oil on SCORAD index, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance in mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double‐blind, clinical trial.Int J Dermatol. 2014;53(1):100-8.
Capone K, Kirchner F, Klein SL, Tierney NK.Effects of colloidal oatmeal topical atopic dermatitis cream on skin microbiome and skin barrier properties.J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(5):524-531. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.4924
National Eczema Association.Basic skin care for eczema.
Fingleton J, Helm C, Tofield C, Weatherall M, Beasley R.A randomised controlled trial of topical Kanuka honey for the treatment of eczema.JRSM Open. 2014;5(1):2042533313509263. doi:10.1177%2F2042533313509263
Alangari AA, Morris K, Lwaleed BA, et al.Honey is potentially effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: clinical and mechanistic studies.Immun Inflamm Dis. 2017;5(2):190-199. doi:10.1002/iid3.153
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