Compress
Chamomile compress
When eczema itches so much you cannot stop scratching, moisturiser is not what you need in that moment. Cold is.
A cold chamomile compress does two things at once: the cold numbs the itch immediately, and the chamomile calms the inflammation in the skin meanwhile. It is one of the oldest treatments there is, and it still works.
Make the tea twice as strong as you would drink it, and let it get properly cold. Fridge cold, not room temperature.
Ingredients
- 3 tsp dried chamomile flowers
- 200 ml boiling water
- A clean cloth of cotton or gauze
Equipment
- Bowl
- Strainer
- Clean cloth or gauze
- Fridge
Method
- 1
Pour 200 ml boiling water over 3 tsp dried chamomile, steep 10 minutes, strain and cool.
- 2
Dip a clean cloth in the tea and lay it as a cooling compress for 10-15 minutes.
Dosage
Leave the compress on for 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times daily or whenever the itch becomes too much.
Dab the skin dry afterwards, do not rub. Apply an unperfumed moisturiser straight away, while the skin is still damp.
Shelf life
Use the tea the same day. It keeps 1 day refrigerated, then discard it.
Safety
Chamomile is in the daisy family. If you are allergic to mugwort, ragweed or ox-eye daisy, try the compress on a small area first and wait a day.
Use a clean cloth every time. A used cloth brings bacteria back to skin that is already vulnerable.
Do not apply to open, weeping or infected wounds. Chamomile is for eczema that itches, not for skin that has broken.
If the eczema turns wet, yellow, crusted or hot, that is likely infection. Then see a doctor, not the teapot.
Eczema that spreads, or that does not improve, belongs with a doctor or dermatologist. Treatment exists that works, and this is relief along the way, not a cure.
How the herbs work
Chamomile contains bisabolol and chamazulene, which calm inflammation in skin and ease itching. They are the same compounds that make chamomile a classic in skincare.
The cold does its work immediately. It numbs the nerve endings that carry the itch signal, and constricts the blood vessels, so swelling and redness subside.
Together the two break the itch-scratch cycle, and it is that cycle that makes eczema worse, not the eczema itself.
The content here is general knowledge and folk herbal lore, not medical treatment. In illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding or alongside medication: always talk to your doctor first.