Eczema is a chronic condition. It comes and goes. However, it probably won’t go away completely. You’ve probably tried creams, medications, special baths, and therapies. While they work in the short term, you can still experience flare-ups.
So, it is absolutely normal to ask if your eczema will go away?
Here’s the answer: you can keep eczema away and prevent flare-ups. Some documented cases do show it can go into remission. It is possible for eczema to go away, especially if it develops at a young age.
Children are more likely to experience improvement in symptoms as they age. A Swedish study evaluated eczema in preschool children until they reached their teens. The study found half of the children who had eczema in preschool reached complete remission by school age.
An eczema rash often goes away. However, certain triggers can cause flare-ups when exposed to them. Avoiding triggers is key to making symptoms for a while.
To make your eczema go away and avoid flare-ups for as long as possible, try the following techniques.
Avoid Triggers as Much as Possible
Triggers tend to cause flare-ups that last longer and don’t always respond to treatment. Common triggers include:
- Environmental factors like pollen, dust, air pollution, cold and hot weather
- Food allergies, particularly to sugar, gluten, and dairy
- Household cleaners and personal care products
- Certain fabrics and materials
- Stress
Choose hypoallergenic, eco-friendly products to use in your home. For example, vinegar and baking soda make great homemade cleaners.
Avoid products with fragrance chemicals as they can also trigger symptoms. You can also create your own moisturizing creams with natural bases like avocado, coconut, olive, and sesame oil.
In some cases, it may be the fabric rather than the detergent causing symptoms. Choose fabrics like cotton and silk instead of wool or synthetics like polyester.
Keep your stress level downs to prevent flare-ups. The stress hormone cortisol can cause inflammation throughout the body when in excess. Incorporate a daily routine of meditation, yoga, tai chi, and deep breathing to manage stress.
Finding the Right Treatment
There are many treatment options for managing eczema. Moisturizers and corticosteroid creams are considered first-line therapy. More severe cases require oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, antihistamines, and even monoclonal antibodies. Phototherapy is another option for cases that don’t respond enough to other therapies.
The National Eczema Society recommends having an in-depth consultation with your doctor before trying more treatments. This is to assess why the eczema is not well controlled with first-line therapy.
When you see your doctor discuss the following topics:
- Were all creams and ointments used at the maximum dose?
- Have all known chemicals and irritants been avoided?
- Were bacterial infections treated?
- Is eczema the correct diagnosis for your skin condition?
These questions will better help you and your doctor find the right treatment to help eczema go away.
Natural Ways to Make Eczema Go Away
There are things you can do beyond treatments and avoiding potential triggers. Journaling your symptoms and daily activities is helpful to identify potential triggers. It can also help identify whether the triggers are food or environmental.
Dietary changes involving the elimination of food allergens can improve eczema, according to research studies. Along with avoiding food allergens, reduce processed foods and maintain a healthy diet. A balanced and healthy diet consists of plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, healthy oils, nuts, seeds, fish, and lean meat. Eliminating gluten and cow’s dairy can also help eczema go away.
Ideally, you should receive a majority of your nutrients through your diet. Vitamin D is an exception, though. You can obtain this through exposure to sunlight. You can use supplements to manage nutrient deficiencies as well. For example, Vitamins D, B12, and E are key to helping eczema go away.
Keep other associated conditions under control to avoid eczema flare-ups. For example, allergies and asthma are common comorbidities. Any skin infection should also be treated promptly with antibiotics.
Conclusion
So, can eczema go away? While there is no cure for the skin condition, you can manage the flare-ups and reactions. Doing so includes avoiding triggers like chemicals, certain weather, and food allergens.
There are also plenty of treatment options available such as creams and medications. Managing any nutrient deficiencies may also help relieve eczema symptoms.
