If you suffer from eczema on your face or body, you can try homemade eczema creams to see whether the folk treatments will alleviate some of your pain and discomfort. However, homemade eczema creams are not scientifically proven to work. Speak with your doctor about how homemade eczema treatments may or may not complement your already existing medical treatment plan.
Nutmeg Cream
Step 1
Scrape a whole nutmeg against a cheese grater over a small bowl until the nutmeg yields 1 tbsp. nutmeg powder. Nutmeg has shown to reduce inflammation and ease pain in laboratory animals, says Drugs.com. However, further studies need to be conducted to determine the scientific validity of this folk remedy.
Step 2
Mix the nutmeg powder with 1 tsp. olive oil to make a thick paste.
Step 3
Apply the nutmeg cream to affected area and leave the cream on your skin for 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4
Rinse off the nutmeg cream with cool water.
Step 5
Store the leftover cream in a pantry or covered cupboard.
Sandalwood-Camphor Cream
Step 1
Mix 1 tbsp. camphor powder with 1 tbsp. sandalwood powder, available from online herb suppliers or health food stores, in a small bowl. Sandalwood powder is widely used by East Indian folk therapists to treat eruptive skin conditions, says Drugs.com.
Step 2
Add 2 tsp. liquid coconut oil to the mixture and stir thoroughly.
Step 3
Apply sandalwood-camphor cream to affected area, and massage the cream into your skin well.
Step 4
Let the cream sit on your skin for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 5
Rinse off the cream with cool water.
Step 6
Store the leftover cream in a covered cupboard or pantry.
Oatmeal Cream Paste
Step 1
Place 1/4 cup plain, uncooked oatmeal in a blender or food processor, process on low until smooth, and pour into a small bowl. Oatmeal baths are recommended by the Mayo Clinic to soothe eczema, and this condensed oatmeal remedy most likely stems from folk interpretations of this medical suggestion, although there is no clinical data to support that this treatment works better than oatmeal baths.
Step 2
Add 1 tbsp. cold milk to the oatmeal to make a thick paste.
Step 3
Apply the oatmeal cream paste to the affected area, and massage the cream paste into your skin well.
Step 4
Let the cream sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 5
Rinse off the cream with cool water.
Step 6
Store the leftover paste in your refrigerator for up to three days.
Turmeric and Almond Oil Cream
Step 1
Mix 1 tsp. turmeric powder, available from grocery stores, East Indian specialty food stores or health food stores, with 1 tbsp. almond oil in a small bowl. Turmeric contains an active ingredient called circumin, states Northwestern Health Sciences University, that makes it an effective treatment for eczema.
Step 2
Apply the turmeric and almond oil cream to the affected area, and massage the cream into your skin for one to two minutes.
Step 3
Let the cream sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4
Rinse off the cream with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry.
Step 5
Store the leftover cream in a cupboard or pantry.
Evening Primrose-Chamomile-Rosemary Oil Cream
Step 1
Mix 1 tsp. each evening primrose oil, chamomile oil and rosemary essential oils together in a small bowl. The Mayo Clinic states that these oils are popular herbal remedies for eczema, although there is no conclusive clinical evidence to support these claims. However, the Mayo Clinic does suggest keeping affected eczema areas moisturized with oils or creams.
Step 2
Apply the cream to your affected area, and massage the cream into your skin with your fingertips.
Step 3
Let the cream sit on your skin for 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4
Rinse off the cream with lukewarm water.
Step 5
Store the leftover cream in a pantry or bathroom cabinet.
Tips and Warnings
- Apply a small amount of any homemade eczema cream to skin and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes to make sure you do not have an allergic reaction to the treatment before applying it to your affected area.
- Stop using any homemade eczema treatment if it makes your symptoms worse or irritates your skin further in any way, and see your doctor for treatment if the irritation persists for more than a couple of days.
Things You'll Need
- Whole nutmeg
- Cheese grater
- Olive oil
- Camphor powder
- Sandalwood powder
- Liquid coconut oil
- Plain uncooked oatmeal
- Blender or food processor
- Cold milk
- Turmeric powder
- Almond oil
- Evening primrose oil
- Chamomile oil
- Rosemary essential oil
Member Comments