Facial eczema very well may be the most horrifying place on the body for the disease. Your face can't be easily hidden from the world, so facial eczema can be stressful and downright embarrassing. Fortunately, you can get that eczema under control, and it won't even take expensive medications or creams. Of course, the severity of your particular condition will determine how easy it will be to manage.
Eczema on the face is actually the same as having eczema anywhere else on the body. The most common type of face eczema is atopic dermatitis, but sebborheic eczema may affect the face and scalp as well. Facial eczema symptoms are marked by intense dryness, itchiness, and redness and severe eczema may also exhibit scaling, weeping, and cracking of the skin.
Facial Eczema Treatment
Although the cause and severity of eczema differs for each individual, below are three easy steps that anyone should follow to reduce facial eczema.
1. Apply an oatmeal and honey facial. Oatmeal is great for treating eczema anywhere on the body because it is a natural cleanser that reduces and soothes skin inflammation. Honey is a natural antiseptic that fights bacterial colonization on your skin. To create 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, water, and honey together until it forms a thick paste. Then, apply the mixture onto your face thinly. Allow the mask to sit for at least 20 minutes, then wash off with lukewarm 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. Soap can be drying to the skin, so always cleanse your face with a mild, fragrance free non-soap cleanser. There are many cleansers like this on the market such as Cetaphil, which is a great gentle cleanser that has even earned the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance.
3. Make sure your skin stays hydrated. Lubricating and maintaining the skin's moisture is the most important weapon against facial eczema. Moisturize your skin throughout the day, and up the ante in the winter season as cold air tends to dry out the skin even more.
Always moisturize your face immediately after cleansing. The moisturizer or cream should always be perfume/fragrance-free. Some individuals have found gentle moisturizers such as Aveeno, Eucerin and Aquaphor to work very well. 100% Aloe Vera gel is an all natural option; this a very effective moisturizer that is both soothing and healing to the skin.
