Besides anti-histamines, you’ll want to stay away from the steroid-based ointments and creams unless they are absolutely necessary, for example, to avoid infections.  Generally, doctors will tell you that 1-2% hydrocortisone creams are quite harmless unless used for an extended period of time. However, these system-suppressing steroids do have side-effects. Also, once you start using hydrocortisone medication on a regular basis, it becomes very hard to stop since the rash generally comes back with a vengeance requiring stronger dosage, etc.

I just know I can’t let my son be dependant on medications.   How else to stop that crazy itch?  I have done some research and reading up and found some natural itch busters which we can use for even young children.  Here’s a list of natural methods you can try.  These methods are from my own research and observation.  I have tried some of them with success.  Please keep in mind that there is no one method which is right for everyone.  Each individual is different.  Our body response is different.  A method can be effective for one but cause a reaction for another.  Do do try with small amounts and observe if there is any reaction.   Keep trying and you will find one which works.  Some achieve better results when combine several methods.

Stay tune for my next few posts on natural itch busters.

Any one with eczema can tell you how the itch can really drive you crazy. How many times have you keep awake at night scratching to drive away that itch only have it comes back with a vengeance? How many times have you scratch yourself till bleed and yet you just could not stop? How many times you just wish to scrap off your skin just to stop that crazy itch?

Well, for me, watching my young son of 2 years scratching and crying from intense itch and pain is even more heart-breaking.

Since his birth, I have been using anti-histamine medication to relieve the itch. I was told it is safe to use and is harmless even to a baby. After 2 years of using the medication, the itch keeps coming back whenever he is not given anti-histamine. Needless to say, my son has become dependant on the medication. I knew something is not right.

If you think using anti-histamine is safe in the long run, there is something your doctor is not telling you. What anti-histamine does is actually suppressing your immune response. The danger in this (besides the list of side effects) is that it gives a false sense of security to the body. The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism against foreign allergens. By suppressing the immune system, the healing process is impeded; thus the suffering becomes long term. The abundance of histamine release is the immune system’s alarm to an individual that there has been a major foreign invasion of a toxic force to his or her system. Instead of suppressing this alarm, you should address it.

Read some of the patient’s feedback on one of the widely used anti-histamine here:

http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19835&name=ZYRTEC

Scroll down and read how this medication has affected both adults and children negatively.

To be objective, not all children are affected , but as a mother, I would not want to take the risk. Would you?

Relaxing in a hot tub spa is indeed one of life’s great pleasures. And as every spa enthusiast knows, keeping the water clear and sanitary is critically important. In order to keep your spa water free of bacteria and other harmful microbes, chlorine or bromine sanitizers are generally used. But are you aware of the dangers posed by these harsh chemicals? The same properties responsible for the effectiveness of chlorine and bromine as sanitizers can also pose health risks to humans. However, there is a solution.

Health Risks of Chlorine and Bromine

In addition to causing the usual red eyes, several studies have reported that chlorinated water is a skin irritant that can cause rashes or eczema. It can also destroy polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E in the body while generating toxins capable of free radical damage due to oxidation. This explains why diet supplements containing essential fatty acids and antioxidants, like vitamin E, help so many skin maladies.

Chlorinated water destroys intestinal flora, the friendly bacteria that help in the digestion of food and protect the body from harmful pathogens. These bacteria also assist in the manufacture of several important vitamins, including vitamin B12 and vitamin K. Chronic digestive disorders and skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, seborrhea and eczema often clear up or significantly improve after switching to non-chlorinated drinking water and taking lactobacillus or acidophilus supplements.

Chemical compounds in chlorinated water, known as trihalomethanes, are carcinogens resulting from the combination of chlorine with organic compounds in water. These chemicals, also called organo-chlorides, do not degrade well and are usually stored in the fatty tissues of the body (breast, mother’s milk, blood, semen and other fatty areas). Organo-chlorides can cause mutations by altering DNA, suppressing immune function and interfering with normal cell growth.

Studies implicate chlorine in aggravating asthma, especially in children who frequent chlorinated swimming pools and spas. Other documentation ties chlorine and chlorinated by-products to greater incidences of bladder, breast and bowel cancer as well as malignant melanoma. One study even links the use of chlorinated tap water to congenital cardiac anomalies.

Cleanwater Blue is the Safe Alternative

So what is a hot tub lover to do in order to maintain clean, healthy water in the face of such risks? The Spa Depot (http://www.spadepot.com) has the answer with their new, EPA-registered product: Cleanwater Blue. A unique bactericide and algaecide, Cleanwater Blue is a mineral product which kills bacteria and algae by introducing copper ions into the water. These ions disrupt the cell structure and chemical makeup of harmful microorganisms, eliminating them in a safe way.

Since ancient times, drinking water vessels were often made of copper to freshen the water. And while crossing the plains, American settlers put copper pennies in their water barrels to inhibit stagnation, though no one really understood why or how it worked. Cleanwater Blue harnesses advanced copper-ion technology in a new way– keeping your water clear, fresh and healthy for pennies a day with less maintenance than chlorine or bromine. When bacteria or algae contacts Cleanwater Blue CW-286 molecules, copper ions are released and quickly absorbed. This destroys the microbes and prevents them from reproducing. And there is no need to purchase a separate algaecide.

No More Red Eyes, Irritated Skin, or Harsh Odors

Cleanwater Blue is odorless in hot tub water. And the liquid is concentrated and inexpensive to use. You can easily monitor the copper ion level using the companion copper 3-way Test Strips to assure proper sanitation. Cleanwater Blue will not dry or irritate skin, cause eye redness, or fade bathing suits. Unlike bromine or chlorine, this product will not degrade spa cover vinyl or floating thermal blankets, nor will it degrade liners in soft spas, or cause discoloration of jewelry. Spa water properly treated with Cleanwater Blue is safe to people and pets, since the copper level in your hot tub is lower than the standard set by the EPA for drinking water. Depending upon your spa size and use pattern, one bottle can last up to 6 months. Very low maintenance effort is required because the spa water requires testing and adjustment just twice a month, not weekly as with chlorine or bromine.

So enjoy your hot tub spa, but do it safely.

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/06/prweb403603.htm 

Studies suggest that tea — whether green, black, or oolong — can prevent some allergic reactions. To find out if tea could benefit patients with atopic dermatitis, researchers in Japan recruited patients with atopic dermatitis who had not respond to other treatment. The patients were instructed to continue following their treatment plan and to drink one liter of oolong tea every day. The liter was to be divided into thirds so that one-third of it was drunk after each of three meals. Of the 118 patients who completed the study, 63% showed marked to moderate improvement after one month. This effect was first noticed after one or two weeks. It should be noted that green, black, and oolong teas contain caffeine, which can increase restlessness, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Having atopic dermatitis produces these feelings in many patients, and caffeine may intensify these feelings.

Some people swear by a tea that does not contain caffeine. While chamomile is used worldwide to treat many conditions including atopic dermatitis, there is not enough reliable research in humans to support its use as a tea, essential oil, or in any other form.

One reason may be that too many cases of people developing an allergic reaction after eating or coming into contact with the chamomile plant have been reported. A few cases of anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, have occurred. Anaphylaxis makes blood pressure drop suddenly. Breathing becomes difficult. Some people loss consciousness and some die.

Bottom line

Limited research suggests that drinking oolong tea may help patients with atopic dermatitis when used along with treatment prescribed by a dermatologist. Chamomile has been shown to cause an allergic reaction, which in a few cases has been life threatening.

Article courtesy of American Academy of Dermatology

Adding a therapy called “behavior modification” to a treatment plan prescribed by a dermatologist may lead to clearer skin. Behavior modification is a technique used to help people change what they do so that they can get better results.

One behavior modification technique that has proven helpful for patients with atopic dermatitis is the combined approach. Used mostly in the United Kingdom, this approach teaches patients techniques that can help them avoid scratching. Patients also receive one-on-one training, usually from a nurse, on how to use moisturizer and their medications.

When tested in research studies, the combined approach produced dramatic results. Without the habitual scratching — people with atopic dermatitis may scratch their skin 500 to 1,000 times per day — and with proper use of topical therapy, even patients with severe long-term atopic dermatitis saw significantly clearer skin.

Bottom line: Avoiding scratching and using medication as directed allows the skin to heal. The combined approach is but one effective technique. To find tips that dermatologists tell their patients to help them reduce scratching, visit Preventing Flare-Ups.

ArticleCourtesy of SkincarePhysicians.com/eczemanet