20 years is a very long time to be suffering from eczema. You have not mentioned anything about medical treatment. Have you taken her to a good doctor? Is she being treated correctly for it? There are several kinds of eczema and just as many causes for them. You have not mentioned what kind of eczema she has and which is the affected area. Eczema can be hereditary; if her family has had a history of it then she would too. It could also be caused due to an allergic reaction to soap, cleaning liquids, detergents, certain cosmetics, chemicals, etc. at times extreme climatic conditions, excessive or constant stress or emotional trauma may also cause eczema. Blood circulation problems or vitamin B6 deficiency could also cause eczema in certain cases. Symptoms of eczema include dryness, flaking, itching and redness of skin.
You would need to find out the cause for her problem in order to treat it effectively. If she is allergic to certain foods or cosmetics avoid using them. If she is not eating well then her condition could be due to nutritional deficiency. In this case you would need to see to it that she has a well balanced diet. If it is due to certain soaps or detergents then you should stop using it and switch to another brand. Avoid artificial fabrics, and ask her to switch to natural organic fabrics like linen and pure cotton. This allows the skin to breathe and reduces skin irritation.
The most common thing to keep in mind in order to treat eczema effectively is to take care that the affected skin is clean and well moisturized. Regularly apply pure natural vitamin E oil on the affected area regularly to keep it moist and soft. Nutmeg is also good in treating eczema. Use finely ground nutmeg to make a smooth paste. Apply this on the affected area, wait until dry and then wash off with plain water.
Take a teaspoon each of camphor and sandalwood. Make a smooth paste using pure rose water. Apply it on the affected area, leave until dry and then wash off using plain water. Pat dry and apply good moisturizer or vitamin E oil.
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and is also great for the skin. Mix a teaspoon of pure turmeric root powder in a glass of warm water and ask her to drink this every morning on an empty stomach. You could also apply the paste of turmeric powder on the affected area.
answered by G M