Eczema on the face is no different from eczema anywhere else on the body.  Common symptoms include redness, dryness, and itchiness; if the eczema is very severe, then you may experience scabbing, skin cracking, scaling, and weeping.  Atopic dermatitis is the most prevalent form of face eczema, though seborrheic eczema is known to affect the face and scalp as well.

Treatment for eczema on the face

Eczema causes and treatments differ from person to person.  Fortunately, there are a few universal steps anyone can do to naturally treat face eczema:

1.Try an oatmeal and honey facial.  Oatmeal is a natural cleansing agent that reduces inflammation, redness, and itchiness, while honey is a natural antiseptic that eradicates bacteria.  To make an oatmeal facial you will need:

3/4 cup of unflavored oatmeal
1/3 cup of warm (not hot) water
1-2 tsp. of honey
Mix the oatmeal with water and honey until it becomes a thick paste.  Thinly apply the mixture onto your face, and let the mask sit for at least 20 minutes. Wash the mask off with water.

For best results, use organic oatmeal and raw honey.  This mixture is gentle enough to do daily, so you can give yourself a facial everyday (if you like) without any adverse effects.

2.  Cleanse your face with a mild, fragrance free non-soap cleanser.  Cetaphil is a great gentle cleanser that has even earned the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance.  Aquanil is another good product is gentle on the skin and dermatologist recommended.

3.  Keep the skin moist.  Lubricating and maintaining the skin’s moisture is the most important element in combating eczema on the face.  Moisturize your skin often throughout the day, and be particularly vigilant in the winter season as cold air tends to dry out the skin even more.

Always moisturize your face after cleansing with gentle fragrance-free lotion or cream.  Some individuals have found gentle moisturizers such as Aveeno, Eucerin and Aquaphor to work very well.  100% Aloe Vera gel is great all natural moisturizer that is both soothing and healing to the skin.

Treating eczema on the face with creams

The skin in your face is the most sensitive, so only certain kinds of anti-itch creams should be used.  Topical steroids are the most commonly used anti-itch creams, but beware.  Your face may be especially more prone to side effects such as thinning of the skin, lightening or darkening of the skin, rosacea, acne, and increased risk of infections.  Using topical steroids on the face should be avoided, but if it is absolutely necessary only use the lowest potency steroid creams.  The cream should be applied in the smallest amounts, and used for short periods of time.  You can also request a non-steroidal cream, such as Elidel, from your doctor.

Some eczema sufferers have had success with local anesthetic creams such as Lanacane. Be that as it may, local anethetics are also known to cause undesirable side effects such as contact dermatitis.  Please be aware that any cream medication that gets in eyes can cause damaging side effects such as cataracts or glaucoma.

There are safer, more natural alternatives to cortisone creams.  For instance, Florasone is a homeopathic, cortisone-free cream that is very effective for treating eczema rashes and itchiness.  Repcillan balm is another natural facial eczema treatment that is worth considering.

Other tips to treat eczema on face

• Avoid harsh chemicals in your cosmetics.  Stay away from soaps, body washes, and hair products that contain harsh ingredients such as sulfates, cocomide DEA, parabens, and linalool.
• For gentlemen:  Shaving with a blade can dry out the skin; invest in an electric razor instead.
• Adjust your diet, as needed.  Eczema outbreaks on any part of the body may result from a reaction to a food allergy.
• Install a water filtration system.  Harmful chemicals in the water such as chlorine and chloramides may make your eczema condition worse.  A whole-house water filter would be the best investment, but a good quality under-counter and/or shower filter will suffice.
• Consult a dermatologist if over-the-counter cleansers and/or moisturizers are not helping your eczema condition.