Eczema, also know as dermatitis, is an inflammation of the skin characterized by itching, redness, swelling as well as skin lesions such as blisters, scabbing and scaling. One of the most common forms of chronic dermatitis is called atopic dermatitis, which, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, affects up to 30 percent of American children and teenagers. Supplements such as evening primrose oil, vitamin D and homeopathic remedies may help children suffering with eczema. Supplements and homeopathic remedies do not replace conventional treatment for eczema. Consult a qualified professional to find out more about optimal dosage and possible drug interactions of supplements for the treatment of eczema.
Evening Primrose Oil
Swapan Senapati and colleagues from Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, India performed a randomized placebo-controlled trial that assessed the efficacy of evening primrose oil in eczema patients, which was published in 2008 in the "Indian Journal of Dermatology." At the end of the fifth month, researchers found that 96 percent of the participants who received supplementation with evening primrose oil showed improvement compared to placebo group in which only 8 percent of the patients had improvement in their symptoms. Additionally, there were no significant side effects reported by any patient or child's guardian during the study. The scientists suggested that further large trials are needed to fully assess the benefits of evening primrose oil in eczema patients.
Vitamin D
The purpose of a study published in 2009 in "Acta-Demato-venereologica" was to assess if vitamin D supplementation during the first year of life is associated with atopic diseases in children. The study involved 123 children. The researchers concluded that vitamin D intake during the first 12 months of life plays a role in the development of eczema later in childhood, although larger studies are needed to further evaluate these findings.
Homeopathic Supplements
As noted by European Committee for Homeopathy, in 2006, a multi-centre cohort study, conducted by a research team at Berlin's Charité University, Germany investigated the efficacy of homeopathy for eczema and psoriasis. The study involved almost 4000 individuals who received homeopathic treatment for skin conditions including 225 children with eczema. The most improvement was seen during the first three months of treatment and improvement continued for the duration of the study. The researchers found that the symptoms of eczema were significantly relieved and the need of conventional treatment was also decreased.
References
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Dermatitis
- "Indian Journal of Dermatology"; Evening primrose oil is effective in atopic dermatitis: A randomized placebo-controlled trial
- PubMed.gov: Does vitamin D intake during infancy promote the development of atopic allergy?
- European Committee for Homeopathy; Homeopathy works in eczema and psoriasis
