Eczema
What is Eczema?
Eczema is an inflammation of the skin that causes it to become red, dry and itchy. Severity varies from person to person. Some experience nothing more than a mild itchy rash on a small part of the body. For others, the eczema can cover the entire body, and it can be extremely itchy and painful with cracks appearing that, if left untreated, can become infected.
Eczema can develop on any part of the body but in children, it’s most common on the face, scalp and the skin folds where moisture can be trapped.
Shop products suitable for eczema-prone skin
Symptoms include:
- Itchiness
- Redness
- Dryness
- Scaling
- Inflammation
- Pale skin and possible loss of pigmentation
- Thick leathery skin
Managing Eczema
Avoid your triggers as much as possible, particularly anything that will dry the skin further like soaps, perfumes and chemicals. The most important aspect of treating eczema is to keep the skin well moisturised as this relieves the itching sensation.
Thankfully there has been a move away from steroid based creams which do have side effects and are unsuitable for long term use.
There are now many natural alternatives to relieve the symptoms of eczema and here at MV we recognise the growing number of people looking for more natural solutions to better manage this frustrating condition. Click below for our recommended Daily Routine to de-sentise and strengthen the skin.
Also a visit to a naturopath is an important way to manage eczema internally. They can help guide you through elimination diets to determine your main food triggers and recommend supplements that may help including fish oil and Omega 3, 6 and 9 which are varieties of essential fatty acid oils.
MORNING:
Cleanse
Where the skin is severely reactive, use Pure Jojoba on a slightly damp make-up removal disc to cleanse the face or, for mild skin sensitivity, smooth Gentle Cream Cleanser over the face before slowly* removing with a warm damp muslin cleansing cloth or face washer.
*Firm rubbing, friction or the use of hot water is not recommended for sensitive skin conditions.
Moisturise
Where the skin is extremely reactive, spritz a fine veil of pure spring water over the face or immerse a muslin cloth in *Oatmeal Water and press on the skin. Then, while the skin is still damp, moisturise following the instructions below.
Mix 2-3 drops of Pure Jojoba with half a pump of Rose Soothing & Protective Moisturiser. While skin is still damp, gently smooth over the face and neck.
NB Where the skin is extremely reactive, apply the Pure Jojoba before the Rose Moisturiser rather than blending them together.
EVENING:
Repeat the morning cleansing routine then, while the skin is still damp, follow with the Pure Jojoba as your night treatment. Where the skin is particularly dry, tight and itchy, apply half a pump of Rose Soothing & Protective Moisturiser after the Pure Jojoba.
NB As it is essential to lock in moisture to relax the skin and relieve itching, this is one of the few instances MV recommends the use of the moisturiser at night.
AFTER 6 WEEKS:
Introduce the Rose Plus Booster or Daily Soother Booster and, as a weekly treat, the Signature Mineral Mask.
View the MV Mask Ritual video for correct application and removal tips.
NB Always patch test a newly introduced product first and, if irritation occurs, discontinue use.
To dampen the skin with Oatmeal Water* before moisturising, simply place 2 teaspoons of oats in a bowl with a small amount of warm water. The water will become cloudy as the mucilage seeps out. You can then dampen a make-up disc or cotton ball in the Oatmeal Water and smooth over the face before applying your daily moisturiser.
*Oatmeal Water is incredibly soothing and anti-inflammatory and is obtained simply by soaking oats in water.
Never allow moisture to evaporate on the skin. While the skin is still damp from the Oatmeal Water or Spring Water, apply Pure Jojoba and follow with the Rose Soothing & Protective Moisturiser. Alternatively, blend a few drops of Pure Jojoba with half a pump of Rose Moisturiser before smoothing over the skin. This helps to lock in much needed moisture to hydrate and relax the surface of the skin.
Bathing or Showering:
Where eczema is present on the body, bathing in Oatmeal Water is wonderfully soothing. Make it easier and more convenient to use this treatment by preparing 'oatmeal balls' in advance.
You will need an inexpensive pair of stockings and some organic oats.
How to: place a hand inside a stocking, once you reach the toe, take a handful of oats, make a fist then remove while turning the stocking inside out. Tie a knot to form an oatmeal ball then cut and repeat until you have approximately 10-12 oatmeal balls. Store in a dry place and keep on hand to help relieve some of the symptoms associated with eczema and dermatitis such as itching, burning and tightness.
Place an oatmeal ball in a warm (not hot) bath or take in the shower and use like a sponge – cleansing the body while soothing the skin.
Sharon's key tips
For both young and mature skins with dry eczema.
1. Avoid splashing your face with water either at the sink or in the shower. In particular, avoid using foaming cleansers and exfoliants as they can strip our protective barrier.
2. Instead, use a warm (not hot) compress cloth to cleanse
3. Always protect your skin with a few drops of Pure Jojoba before showering
4. Watch the MV 3 Minute Skin Ritual to get the very most from your MV products
5. Watch the MV 3 Minute Mask Ritual to familiarise yourself with correct mask consistency, application and removal.
6. For a minimum of 6 weeks, use the MV Basics to desensitize, strengthen, hydrate and protect the skin.
7. Once improvement is noted, you may then introduce MV’s Daily Soother Booster (2 drops blended with half a pump of Rose Soothing & Protective Moisturiser).
8. You may also find MV’s Signature Mineral Mask beneficial but please note, you should NEVER allow this mask to dry completely. This will draw moisture from the surface of the skin resulting in extreme dehydration and irritation.
With eczema, we strongly recommend initially using the top 3 products for this condition for a minimum of 6 weeks. These can all be found in MV’s Travel Essentials for Hypersensitive Skin. Introducing too many products at one time may lead to further irritation resulting in disappointment and frustration.
Causes and Triggers:
A common belief is that eczema is caused by food allergens. Whilst this may be partly the case, there are many other possible causes and these vary from person to person.
What triggers the skin to break out in eczema also varies from person to person. Eczema is most common in people with a family history of asthma, eczema or hayfever, indicating a genetic component to the condition.
Common Triggers:
- Foods such as cows milk, wheat, nuts, rice, alcohol, coffee and food additives
- Environmental factors including dust mites, pollens, animal hair and saliva and fungal spores
- Man made products such as washing detergents, household cleaning products, perfumed soaps, bubble baths and shampoos, fragranced moisturisers and personal care items
- Emotional stress, woollen clothing, synthetic fabrics which can overheat the skin, excessive bathing and hot showers
Keep in mind...
Many skin conditions and disorders are the body’s way of throwing off what it is not happy with. Allowing the skin to be an ‘exit point’ is a much healthier approach to suppressing a condition than with a steroid cream, which in turn, can compromise the immune system and internal organs associated with detoxification. Where the condition is through contact, removing the trigger is more straightforward but not always practical. If contact with aggravators is an unavoidable part of your job, such as in hairdressing, then gloves should be worn.