Many people choose to seek natural remedies for the treatment of eczema and psoriasis. These skin problems can give one a lot of discomfort and for some may be debilitating. Most of us use the term eczema and psoriasis very loosely and yet these two concerns are similar, yet distinctly different. The terms eczema and psoriasis are both of Greek origin. Eczema literally means ‘to boil out’ whilst psoriasis means ‘to itch’. Eczema affects both children and adults whereas psoriasis seems to predominantly affect adults. Surveys suggest that nearly 20% of children living in UK, and five percent of the adult population suffer from eczema whilst three percent of the adults suffer from psoriasis. When you put these percentages into numbers, we are talking in terms of millions of sufferers and it is no wonder that there are hundreds of both natural and pharmaceutical products aimed at both these concerns.

What is the difference between eczema & psoriasis?

There are subtle differences between eczema and psoriasis but predominantly the difference lies in the causes. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition which means that your immune system is not working correctly leading to cells being produced at a much faster rate leading to a build-up on skin.

The cause of eczema is more complicated because environmental and genetics plays a role. The use of some topical products can result in inflammation of skin leading to dry, itchy skin and eczema type rashes. With eczema, the itch starts before the rash develops, whilst with psoriasis there is an increased growth in the outer part of skin, which gets inflamed resulting in white thick layers of skin

Particularly with eczema, and to a lesser extent with psoriasis, it is important to stop the urge to itch. Itching causes the spread of underlying toxins to nearby tissue exacerbating the problem and in severe cases can cause bleeding which can lead to infections. It is vital to moisturise and hydrate the skin both topically and from within the body. With a vast array of natural eczema and psoriasis creams available on the market, making the right choice can be confusing. Many dermatologically tested eczema treatment creams contain fragrances, petrochemical derivatives, commercial grade lanolin and paraben which can cause itching and skin discomfort.

Whilst there are different types of eczema and psoriasis, essentially the treatment of eczema and psoriasis remains similar.

Treatment of eczema and psoriasis

With steroidal based eczema creams not being recommended for long term use, many people resort to finding the right creams for the treatment of eczema and psoriasis. Natural eczema creams over the counter for the treatment of eczema should be completely free from steroids, perfumes, petrochemicals and paraben, and be able hydrate skin effectively. Hope’s Relief is a range of face and body creams for the treatment of eczema and dry skin conditions, shampoos for itchy scalp and psoriasis as well as moisturising lotions & bathing products for dry, itchy skin concerns.

To summarise, Hope’s Relief natural creams for eczema and psoriasis soothe, protect, hydrate and calm inflamed skin and are suitable for even the most sensitive skin types including children.  

Best supplements to treat eczema and psoriasis

Observational studies indicate that the consumption of oily fish, ideally on a daily basis, can help to reduce the symptoms of most inflammatory skin concerns including eczema and psoriasis. For most of us, our dietary intake of oily fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids is simply not sufficient on a weekly basis let alone on a daily basis. These essential fatty acids appear to improve our immune system’s response to inflammation and thus encourage quicker healing of skin. Unfortunately, our diet tends to be very high in omega 6 fatty acids derived from vegetable oils, eggs, poultry, cereals, nuts and wholegrain breads. Omega 6 fatty acids are converted into inflammatory molecules within our bodies. It is therefore vital to increase our dietary intake of oily fish and preferable to take the cleanest and most utilised form of omega 3 by way of using a supplement such as Neubria Krill Oil.

In recent years, there has been compelling research indicating that eczema is associated with a faulty skin barrier. This defect in the skin’s barrier function allows irritants and bacteria to enter the skin easily causing inflammation and at the same time allows the dehydration of skin. This barrier is composed mainly of ceramides and lipids which act like mortar holding the cells in place. Ceramides are present in many of the foods we eat including wheat and rice but the problem is that we cannot get sufficient quantities to optimally rejuvenate skin. Fortunately, there is a supplement containing ceramides called Skin Restoring Ceramides. Ceramide supplementation has proven to be effective in combating the itching and inflammation caused by eczema and psoriasis. In addition, ceramide supplementation has been shown to normalise skin surface lipids and reduce chronic dry skin in patients with these conditions.

According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, treating the liver may help to improve the appearance of psoriasis prone skin. The liver is a detoxifier and blood stagnation in the liver can cause inflammation. Healthaid Milk Thistle Complex is a very good liver supplement containing several herbs and nutrients to enhance liver detoxification.

I would also urge anyone suffering from these concerns to look at their diet. Food allergies are known to be involved in eczema and to an extent in psoriasis too. The most common food allergen is gluten and hence it would be prudent to reduce wheat and some other grains. Dairy products, tomatoes and potatoes are also big culprits that may cause inflammation.

An inside-outside approach using fragrance-free eczema creams such Hope's Relief Intensive Dry Skin Rescue Cream to start with followed by Hope's Relief Nourishing All Day Long Moisturising Lotion to maintain healthy skin, and an appropriate supplement mentioned above when used diligently will help almost everyone.

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