Using ACV as a “medicine” is certainly not a new phenomenon.  In fact, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, used ACV in 400 BC as a natural remedy for detox cleansing, energizing, and overall healing.  Later in 1958, Dr. D.C. Jarvis touted apple cider vinegar’s amazing curative abilities in his published book, Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health. So what makes this golden vinegar so potent, especially for eczema?

Properties of apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is made from fermentation of fresh ripe apples, in which sugar in apple cider broken down by bacteria and yeast.  ACV contains a myriad of essential vitamins and minerals including, pectin, beta-carotene, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorous, sulphur, and iron.  ACV also contains lactic, acetic, and malic acids, giving it powerful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Why apple cider vinegar is a good treatment for eczema

Apple cider vinegar is beneficial for eczema because of its immune boosting abilities due to the host of vitamins and minerals it contains.   Strengthening the immune system is one of the cornerstones to healing eczema.  Beta-carotene is a particularly important antioxidant which helps to improve the skin’s cell renewal process, firmness and overall skin health.  Potassium is important for alleviating the effects of allergies

The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties are especially beneficial for combating dry skin and skin infections, relieving the skin from inflammation, itchiness, and dryness.

Apple cider vinegar may also provide indirect benefits by promoting regularity and improving digestion and elimination.  Pectin, the fiber in the vinegar helps to regulate blood pressure and reduce cholesterol.  It also helps the body maintain a healthy natural weight by breaking down fats.

Alternative medicine suggests that apple cider vinegar helps to restore a healthy alkaline/acid balance.  The theory behind alkaline/acid balance is our blood is slightly alkaline, with a normal pH level of between 7.35 and 7.45. Our diet should reflect this pH level and be slightly alkaline.  A body too acidic may manifest illness and disorders, including eczema.

Using apple cider vinegar as a natural treatment for eczema

You can receive the benefits of apple cider vinegar internally and externally.  To use ACV to treat eczema, do the following:

• Three times a day, 30 minutes before meals, Dilute 1 Tbsp of ACV in 16 oz. of tepid water.  You can add a little honey, maple syrup, or blackstrap molasses for taste.  If you absolutely can’t stand the taste of three large doses a day, you can add a tsp of ACV to your drinking water throughout the day.  Drinking with water is best, but another option is to add ACV to a fresh fruit or veggie juice.
• Add 2 cups of ACV to warm (not hot) bathwater and soak for 15-30 minutes, following up with a cold rinse in the shower for one minute.  You can take these baths 3-4 times a week for best results.
• For immediate relief from itching and dryness, make a well diluted mixture of ACV and water, mixing 1 Tbsp to a half cup of water. Apply the mixture to the affected areas several times daily.
• If you suffer from seborrheic dermatitis, create a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse and apply it on the scalp.  Leave the solution on the scalp for at least 30 minutes before rinsing from your hair.

Other tips…

• If you are using an apple cider vinegar solution on a child, make the mixture more diluted to prevent a burning or stinging sensation.
• Always use unfiltered and unpasteurized ACV.  This vinegar will appear to be dark and cloudy, with sediment at the bottom of the bottle.  You can easily found this type of ACV at health food stores, online, and some grocery stores.

Adjust Your Thermostat…

One of the most important eczema home treatments is maintaining the right temperature.  Believe it or not, the temperature in your home may be the cause of some of those annoying flare-ups.  If your home is too hot, you may find yourself sweating too much, which may lead to a break out. Air that is too cold coupled with low humidity can dry out your skin. So your goal is to achieve the perfect temperature.  Observe how the temperatures may be affecting your skin.  If you find that warm temperatures contribute to outbreaks, keep your home moist and cool.  If cold air is the culprit, keep the temperature at a warm, comfortable level.  Finding the perfect balance of your home’s temperature may take some trial and error, but mastering it can ultimately bring you much needed relief.
Keep The Air Moist…

You probably already know the importance of keeping the body hydrated from the inside out by drinking water and moisturizing throughout the day. But if the air in your house is too dry, it may be sucking all of that moisture right out of your skin. You can easily remedy this by investing in a humidifier.  A humidifier will combat the effects of dry air.  But beware, too much of a good thing can be bad if you’re not careful. Humidity levels should remain with 30%-50% range; high humidity levels can create allergen problems in the home by providing the perfect humid environment for dust mites.  Mold and mildew can also grow easily in a high humidity, unventilated home.  You should also make sure to keep your unit cleaned and maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Clear The Air…

In addition to keeping the air moist with a humidifier, you may also want to invest in a quality air purifier with a HEPA filter.  Purifiers are designed to filter allergens such as dust, pollen mold, bacteria, and pet dander.  Coupling an air purifier with a humidifier is helpful at keeping your skin moist as it filters allergens out of the air.  Keeping your air moist and allergen free is an easy and effective eczema remedy.

Install a Shower Filter

Did you know that filtering your shower water is just as, if not more important than filtering your drinking water?  Having a shower water filter is an absolutely essential treatment for eczema.  The nasty contaminants and chemicals such as chlorine and chloramines may prove to be too much for your skin to bear.  During warm showers the pores in the skin opens up and becomes absorbent like a sponge.  Chlorine is also to be unstable hot water, evaporating out of the water and being inhaled into the lungs. So these chemicals are not only drying out your skin, but also causes an imbalance inside of the body that can be irritating to your condition.

Not all shower filters are created equal. KDF filters are the most common filtration medium, but some models are not very effective in removing chlormine.  Some filters are only good at removing chemicals in cold water. In fact, the best shower filters for removing both chlorine and chloramine are Vitamin C shower filters. These are available as shower heads with replacement filters or multi-use shower filters.

So, there you have it: the best home treatment for eczema is actually treating the home.  Making sure your home has the right temperature, clean and moist air, and filtered water can make a world of a difference in your skin.

Some cases of eczema (atopic dermatitis) are caused by a skin disorder that is a result of abnormal skin cell growth and turnover.  The epidermis, which is the outer layer of the skin is made up of moist, living cells and dry dead cells known as the stratum corneum.  The stratum corneum functions as a barrier, protecting the deeper layers of the skin from damage caused by infections and irritants and help to keep the skin from drying out.  When this barrier is broken down or damaged, the skin is no longer protected from irritants and may also lose moisture and become infected by bacteria.

Antioxidants are powerful treatments for eczema since they act as chemical scavengers, intercepting reactive molecules called free radicals before they have a chance to damage cells.   Free radicals are so dangerous because they not only kill cells, but also injures the cell and damage the cell’s DNA. When the DNA is changed, the cell mutates, growing and reproducing abnormally quickly.

Treating eczema with antioxidants may help prevent or regulate abnormal skin cell growth and turnover.

How to treat eczema with antioxidants

The most important antioxidants that are beneficial to helping eczema is vitamins A, C, E, and selenium.  Vitamin A is important for regulation of rapid turnover in skin cells, vitamin C helps to strengthen the skin, vitamin E helps to heal the skin, and selenium helps to detoxify heavy metals in the body.  The best way to get these antioxidants is by making sure that your diet is rich with this vital vitamins.

Foods rich in vitamin A:

• Carrots
• Yams
• Red bell peppers
• Liver
• Cantaloupe

Foods rich in vitamin C:

• Red bell peppers
• Broccoli
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Mango
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Green leafy vegetables

Foods rich in vitamin E:

• Peanuts
• Almonds
• Sunflower seeds
• Hazelnuts

Foods rich in Selenium

• Brazil Nuts
• Wheat germ
• Tuna and other oily fish
• Brewers yeast
• Sunflower seeds
• Cashews
• Lentils
• Shellfish

You can also take supplements for these particular antioxidants.  The suggested doses are as follows:  vitamin C, 1000 mg twice daily; vitamin E, 400 IU/day; vitamin A, 5000-10,000 IU/day; selenium, 50-200 mcg/day.  The best supplements are natural whole food supplements rather than synthetic man made.

Other Antioxidants for healing eczema

Grape seed and grape skin.  The antioxidant components of grapes are great for preventing formation of free radicals, which can be an effective treatment for eczema.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).  CoQ10 helps the cells convert nutrients into energy, increasing oxygen when necessary, and reducing oxygen before it reaches toxic levels.

Green tea extract.  Green tea extract helps to boost the immune system and supports the kidneys.

Milk Thistle extract.  Helps to detoxify the liver.

Making sure that you intake an adequate amount of antioxidants daily may prove to be one of the most practical and sufficient eczema treatments.

Very seldom is one treatment effective enough for treating eczema.  In fact, most medical research studies show that the most effective eczema treatments involves a combination of oral and topical treatments, along with lifestyle changes.

Eczema medications prescribed are based on several factors including the type of eczema, any past treatments, and the personal preference of the patient. The most commonly prescribed medications are both topical and oral.  However, those with severe cases of eczema may undergo phototherapy treatments.

Below are the most common treatments for eczema:

Moisturizers.  The #1 remedy for eczema that specialists recommend is frequent skin moisturizing.  Dryness of the skin aggravates the problem of eczema; hence it is important to always retain moisture in the skin by regularly applying moisturizers.  The best type of moisturizers have a low water and high oil content, and is free from any irritants such as fragrance.  Emollients are often recommended as they are effective at rehydrating the skin while having a mild inflammatory effect.  Avoiding over-bathing is also important for retention of the skin’s natural oils.

Corticosteroids or Topical Steroids. These creams are typically prescribed to decrease inflammation and are available in different strengths.  Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a dermatologist may prescribe a mild, medium, or high-potency cream. High potency steroid creams usually have undesirable side effects, especially if used for eczema on the face.  A common side effect that is a cause for concern is thinning of the skin when used for a prolonged period of time.

There are other types of non-steroidal creams that a doctor may prescribe to treat eczema.  Two topical non-steroidal creams, Protopic and Elidel have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of eczema.  However, in 2005 the FDA issued a warning that these drugs may contribute to the development of certain types of cancers.  Furthermore, these drugs are known as calcineurin inhibitors, which are immune system suppressants.  Because of the potential dangers and side effects of these drugs, doctors tend to precribe them if a patient is unresponsive to other forms of treatments, and limit use for short time periods.  Protopic and Elidel should also be avoided in peple who have compromised immune systems.

Oral antihistamines. These drugs are prescribe to control severe itching.  Antihistamines are used to fight the histamines that trigger symptoms of inflammation.  Antihistamines are sedatives, so drowsiness may occur.  The most commonly prescribed histamines are diphenhydramine [Benadryl], hydroxyzine [Atarax, Vistaril], and cyproheptadine).

Oral corticosteroids. These are prescribed to control acute cases of eczema.  Oral corticosteroids, such as Prednisone, are also known to produce harmful side effects, so long-term use is discouraged.  Cyclosporine, an oral immunosuppressant drug is also used to treat some cases of eczema.

It is important to know that even though all of these methods will provide some eczema relief, none will actually cure eczema.