What is Eczema?
The terms eczema or dermatitis is a general term encompassing various inflamed skin conditions including allergic contact dermatitis and nummular dermatitis. Eczema can be red, blistering, oozing, scaly, brownish, or thickened and usually itches.

One of the most common forms of eczema is atopic dermatitis (or "atopic eczema"). Approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of the world population is affected by this chronic, relapsing, and very itchy rash. It can occur at any age but is most common in infants young adults.

In teens and young adults, the patches typically occur on the hands and feet. However, any area such as the bends of the elbows, backs of the knees, ankles, wrists, face, neck, and upper chest may be affected. When it appears on the palms, backs of the hands, fingers, or on the feet, there can be episodes of crusting and oozing. Other eczema patches in this stage are typically dry, red to brownish-gray, and may be scaly or thickened. The thickened areas may last for years without treatment. The intense, almost unbearable itching can continue, and may be most noticeable at night. Some patients scratch the skin until it bleeds and crusts. When this occurs, the skin can get infected.

Most people with atopic dermatitis have family members with similar problems, but about 20% of them are the only ones in their family with the condition.

Atopic dermatitis will come and go, often based on external factors. Although its cause is unknown, the condition appears to be an abnormal response of the body’s immune system. In people with eczema, the inflammatory response to irritating substances is overactive, causing itching and scratching.

Eczema is not contagious and, like many diseases, currently cannot be cured. However, for most patients the condition may be managed well with treatment and avoidance of triggers.

How does it work? ECZMEND has a significant anti-inflammatory effect. It naturally reduces the severe itching and irritation in both dry and wet eczema. As the herbs enter the bloodstream through the skin, it reduces the allergic and inflammatory response in the immune system, which enables the skin to clear and repair itself.

Improvement when? Individual cases vary, but typically relief from itching is experienced within 4-6 weeks of commencing use and usually within 6-9 months complete disappearance of eczema occurs.

Recommendations : The results are both improved and accelerated when used in conjunction with a diet which eliminates all dairy (cow's milk, cheese etc.) and all bread except gluten and yeast free bread. Regular sugar and caffeine (chocolate, tea, cola) intake depletes vitamins and minerals that are especially important to the health of the skin and also reduces the body's ability to suppress the inflammation of the skin, therefore sugar and caffeine should be considerably reduced or ideally eliminated from your diet.

Additional moisturisers should be used and applied whenever the skin feels dry.

Also wool and synthetics should be avoided and replaced by cotton based loose fitting fabrics.

Vitamin E : It is not ultimately proven that vitamin E can be absorbed through the skin. Studies at the University of California, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, suggest that a 10-day period of a 5 percent vitamin E application sent the skin extra vitamin E protection. Another study showed a 2.5 percent vitamin E gel reduced skin damage caused by UV rays. Because antioxidants absorb for example radiation, vitamin E increases the protection and lessens the damaging effects to skin.

No research has yet determined the exact amount and strength of vitamin E needed to repair and protect skin. While some criticise products bought over the counter for their low potency, other studies show the effects of products with vitamin E appear to be cumulative. For example, commercial soaps containing vitamin E increased skin softness, while soap made without the vitamin made skin stiffer.