Natural Treatment for Eczema in Ears

When you have eczema in your ears it's hard to say what's worse- is it the insane itching in your outer ear and ear canal? Or is it the yellow, crusty ear wax that coats the whole inside of your ear and is even visible on the outside? If you're tired of constantly trying to rid yourself of ear eczema (or you've just now found out that's what your ear condition is) it's time to take action, and you can do this simply and easily right from home.

Ear eczema is just like the itchy, red, completely irritating skin condition people commonly get on their arms, legs, and even faces. What makes it worse in the ear is that we pick and pick and scratch and scratch inside the ear canal trying to rid ourselves of that deep-rooted itching that we just can't quite reach, and even worse, we are constantly picking out those huge, yellowish ear wax scabs that reoccur as soon as we pick them off. It's visible and embarrassing, and so itchy (and sometimes bloody and scabbed over from constant picking and scratching) that relief seems null and void. What's worse, is we don't quite know how to treat the condition, and without treatment eczema in the ears can last for weeks, months, or even years at a time. While the condition can ebb and wane from time to time without proper combating, the yellowish earwax buildup, the temporary hearing interference (due to earwax buildup) and the danger of infection due to untreatment is always prominent. If you have ear eczema and have simply gotten used to it, or just plain don't know what to do, take action now to kill the current outbreak and get your pretty, healthy ears back.

To treat the ear eczema, you have to do two things; kill the infection to manage the outbreak, and hydrate the ears to promote healing and ease that crazy itching. To do this, there are many natural remedies you can use for instant relief in both itchiness and pain that will also work to kill the bacteria caused by your fingers from that constant picking and scratching to make the condition leave you alone. Honey is a great way to start. The purer the honey, the better it works, so for the honey treatment I recommend hitting your local health foods store to get the purest honey possible. Warm a few teaspoonfuls of honey (not hot, which will burn and encourage bacteria growth) and apply honey directly to the outer and visible part of the inner ear (do not go any deeper than you would with a cotton swab) with a clean, thin cloth. Let the solution dry and leave on for around 10 minutes, then rinse off and dry the ears completely with a clean towel. Honey is a natural anti-inflammatory which eases the itchiness and pain, and the antibacterial properties it has kill the infection (if any) and bacteria in the ear.

Follow the honey treatment with a Zinc ointment. Zinc cream will not only provide a lovely cooling sensation to the affected parts of your ear, but will wick moisture from the ear that bacteria thrives in while keeping itching and infection at bay at the same time. Simply rub lotion in and around your ear and you will instantly feel relief from both your pain and itchiness, and the antibacterial properties in zinc will work for long periods to make an uninhabitable home for bacteria and kill off preexisting bacteria. Apply Zinc cream often throughout the day to combat itchiness and to keep the moisture out of the ear that bacteria thrives in. The cream will moisturize the ear as well, and without the irritation that keeps getting to you, you're ear will begin to stop producing the earwax yellowy crusty scabs that are embarrassing and tempting to pick at.

The best way for these remedies to work is to use them together. In the morning and before bed (for severe outbreaks) apply the honey treatment and immediately follow with the Zinc cream. Avoid picking at or scratching the ears, and when the itching returns apply more Zinc cream. Keep the ears dry and don't use dirty cloths or cotton swabs to clean the ears, and don't pick off the earwax crusties as they will dissipate within a few days. The less you pick at your poor ears, the better while they heal.

For active ear infections that are acute, you can pour Listerine mouth wash into the ears, Vodka, or Hydrogen Peroxide, holding them in with a cotton ball, prior to the honey and Zinc cream treatment. This will further enable you to combat the bacterial infection quickly. For less severe ear infections, the honey will take care of the infection and the Zinc will keep it at bay while providing Ahh relief.

If your condition is so severe it is interfering with your ability to balance, see well or focus, or is causing acute hearing loss, see your doctor as you may have an inner-ear problem that needs immediate attention. Your doctor can diagnose your ear eczema and provide further relief if needed.

The Treatments for Ear Eczema

Ear eczema is a skin condition that causes irritation and inflammation inside or outside of the ears. The term eczema is actually a general term used to refer to a number of skin conditions that can cause redness, swelling, and bleeding skin lesions to develop. Understanding the possible causes, symptoms, and treatment options for ear eczema is likely necessary to obtain relief.

Several types of eczema can produce rashes or skin lesions within the external ear canal, ear drum, or behind and around the ears. One of the most common types of eczema is allergic atopic dermatitis, an allergic skin response that tends to run in families and often shows up in those who suffer from other allergy-based responses, such as asthma. The allergic response or skin sensitivity is triggered by an abnormal response of the immune system to a food or other environmental substance that is viewed as foreign. In the ears, the condition can show up on the back folds of the ear.

1. Avoid Scratching

Even though your ears will undoubtedly be itchy, it is best if you can avoid scratching. This will only irritate the skin further, prolong the condition and open yourself up for infection.

2. Have Your Ear Cleaned

If your ear or ears are really sore and leaking discharge, then you should definitely see your doctor about having them cleaned professionally. This will likely involve a rinse solution. Likewise, the doctor will then use ear drops to help soothe the inflammation and kill the infection or fungus. These ear drops might contain substances like antibiotics, antifungals or steroids.

3. Prescription Painkillers

If the ear is really inflamed, your doctor might prescribe a painkiller to help make dealing with the condition more manageable. Usually, the less painful something is, the less you bother with it as well, which helps to speed up the healing process.

4. Antibiotics

If your ear is very infected, it is important to begin a course of oral antibiotics along with the ear drops. Your doctor will likely prescribe the type he thinks is best to treat your specific infection. This will help to stop the spreading of infection quickly.

5. Antihistamines

Antihistamines are sometimes prescribed in the treatment of ear eczema as they can reduce the itchiness and urge to scratch that is so often the major complaint of sufferers. Again, it depends on your specific case, but if the ear is itchy, you will likely be prescribed this.

Eczema and Your Baby

There is nothing worse than seeing your baby suffer from Eczema. Eczema is an allergic reaction to the environment and/or food that causes the skin to become inflamed, dry, and often ooze. I have found that it is best to treat this condition naturally rather than use often dangerous steroidal creams that usually do not work.

The causes of eczema are many and varied and depend on the particular type of eczema that a person has. Atopic eczema is thought to be a hereditary condition, being genetically linked. Some people with atopic eczema are sensitive to allergens in the environment. There is an excessive reaction by the immune system producing inflamed, irritated and sore skin. Associated atopic conditions include asthma and hay fever. Other types of eczema are caused by irritants such as chemicals and detergents and allergens such as nickel.
 

As eczema is a very individual condition, finding the right treatments is a trial-and-error process. Fortunately, there are many ways to ease the suffering and a huge number of products on the market especially formulated for treating the condition including soap-free washes, emollients, topical steroids and other treatments such as wet-wrapping, natural therapies, immunosuppressant creams, etc. The right treatment regime for the individual can make a big difference to the condition of the skin.
 
It is important to have the condition properly diagnosed by your GP and it is wise to visit a Dermatologist who specialises in skin conditions.
 
Some other strategies for reducing the severity of eczema include the use of cotton clothing and bedding, reduction of dust mites and keeping the sufferer as cool as possible. The use of a suitable infant formula and following an appropriate diet (strictly under the direction of a professional dietitian) can also help.

 

• "Oil" your baby's diet. The skin's softness is highly influenced by the amount and types of healthy fats in your baby's diet. In older children, I regard dry, scaly skin as a clue that the child may not be incorporating enough healthy fats, such as omega 3's, into the diet. In fact, one of the newest treatments of eczema in both children and adults is to eat oily seafood and take daily fish oil capsules. If you are breastfeeding, you can increase the healthy fats in your breast milk by upping your own dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids. I suggest eating at least four ounces of wild salmon twice weekly (wild Alaskan salmon is not only the highest in omega-3 fats, but also the lowest in pollutants) as well as taking a daily fish oil capsule at a dose of at least one gram. An especially good supplement for pregnant and lactating mothers is Neuromins, which contains DHA, a highly nutritional omega-3 fatty acid that is also added to most infant formulas. If you are formula-feeding, be sure you feed your baby a formula whose label reads "enriched with DHA and ARA." If dry skin is still a problem as your baby gets older and begins eating solid foods, offer her such healthy-fat foods as wild salmon, avocado, and flax oil.
• "Wet" your baby's skin. It's quite possible that your baby's skin is under-hydrated, both inside and out. If you're formula-feeding, offer your baby an extra four to eight ounces of water a day. If you're nursing, try adding one extra feeding to give her additional fluids. After her baths, instead of toweling her completely dry, gently blot her skin of excess water. Let the areas of skin that are particularly problematic air-dry. Dressing your baby in loose-fitting cotton clothing and sleepwear also allows the skin to breathe.
• Dry heat (such as central home heating) is one of the main causes of dry, scaly skin conditions. So it makes sense that your baby's skin is suffering in the cold winter months. To counteract the dry heat, use a moist heat source: Run one or two vaporizers in your baby's nursery. The condensation of the water releases heat and humidifies the air, making your baby's sleeping environment more skin-friendly. As an extra perk, the humidified air will keep her tiny breathing passages from drying out.

How to treat Newborn Eczema

Many parents are faced with the problems associated with having a baby or young child with eczema. It can be heart-breaking seeing your little one suffering, trying to do all you can to cope with the condition and not finding relief. These problems can have a huge impact on the whole family with sleepless nights being a very common side effect.
 
Eczema affects up to 30% of the Australian population at some time of life. Although there is no known cure for eczema, the condition can be controlled.
 
Eczema, or dermatitis as it is sometimes called, is a disorder which results in dry, inflamed and sometimes weeping or infected skin. It can cause redness and intense itching. The most common form is Atopic. Although it can look unpleasant, eczema is not contagious. With suitable treatment, the inflammation and itchiness of eczema can be reduced.

• Wash your baby only once or twice a week to prevent drying his/her skin.
• Only pat your baby's skin after a bath. You want his/her skin to be moist when applying a moisturizer. The moisture helps the skin hold on to the moisturizer.
• Most importantly, have your baby tested for allergies (food or environment). Once those allergens are avoided, your baby's eczema may clear up almost immediately.

Steps

 1. Give the infant a bath in an infant bathtub with about 8 drops of tea tree oil. The tea tree oil soothes and heals the eczema. It also prevents an infection from occurring.
 2. If the infant has eczema on his/her scalp, add tea tree oil to his/her gentle, fragrance-free shampoo (i.e. "California Baby"), shampoo the hair, letting it sit on the scalp for about 5 minutes before thoroughly rinsing.
 3. After drying baby (Do not dry skin completely), apply Witch Hazel (a natural anti-inflammatory) only to the red, inflamed areas. You might want to dilute the witch hazel (50:50) with water.
 4.Microwave about a table spoon of Organic Cold Pressed olive oil. Massage infant's entire body with olive oil.
 5. Immediately after applying the warm olive oil, apply raw shea butter the the entire body. This will leave the baby's skin moisturized through most of the day.
 6. If the baby is itching, aloe vera gel can help. Apply this to the itchy areas throughout the day.
 7 .Keep repeating the above steps. I noticed a difference in my baby in about 1 week. Just remember...you must eliminate the allergens that are causing your baby's eczema in order to see a very dramatic difference. Good luck!