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Are clay masks good for Eczema?
Eczema is a problem for many people around the world. Although the condition often affects infants and children under ten, it unfortunately isn’t uncommon for adults to suffer from it throughout their lives.
I often get asked, “are clay masks good for eczema?”
Clay masks for eczema have gained popularity in recent years, and there’s a lot of information online about which clays are best and how to use them. Here I will give you a breakdown of eczema and its causes, as well as the benefits of clay for calming the craziness that eczema causes.
At a Glance
What is eczema?
Eczema is a skin condition that affects 31.6 million Americans. Different areas of the body are affected, especially the face, hands, back of the knees and feet. It appears on the skin in patches as irritated, red, cracked and/or itchy skin.
What causes eczema?
There could be many reasons for eczema. Some causes are direct skin contact with a coarse or rough material, extreme temperatures or temperature changes, respiratory infections or colds, stress, certain foods, skin irritants, or hormonal changes.
Are Clay Masks good for Eczema? How do I apply the clay to my eczema?
Yes! In fact, Bentonite clay has been researched in multiple studies for it’s efficacy on treating contact and atopic dermatitis.
What are the best clays for eczema?
Bentonite and French Green Clays have been named healing clays and have been studied for their healing benefits on eczema.
How to apply Clay to your eczema irritation?
You can apply the clay as a face mask, mix it in a bath, or as a poultice to specific areas.
Clay, specifically bentonite clay, has been studied to be an effective remedy for eczema.
And the best part? It’s not steroids. It’s an all natural solution direct from mother earth. If you are reading this, you probably know one of the common doctor’s recommendations for treating eczema is a steriod cream.
Let’s dive in and explore why clay works for eczema.
What is Eczema?
The condition affects 31.6 million people in the United States alone. Ouch! Even scarier:
1 out of 10 people will develop eczema in their lifetime.
Of the seven types of eczema, the most common type is atopic dermatitis. It is usually inherited and is commonly linked to other allergic conditions like hay fever as well as asthma.
Eczema is most common among children, however 1 in 4 adults reported they had adult onset of eczema.
All of those with the condition, they generally have outbreaks in similar areas. The most common area for eczema is:
- face
- back of the knees
- wrists
- hands
- feet
The skin will break out in a rash and/or begin itching. After time the inflamed skin will turn tough, dry and itchy.
It is important to note that eczema is not contagious and cannot pass from person to person.
What causes Eczema?
There is no exact known cause of eczema, but there are theories that point to an irritation in the body’s immune system. The condition is often genetic and usually found in families with a history of allergies and asthma.
Certain issues can cause flare ups for people, and there is somewhat of a common denominator for some people. Here is a list of the most frequently reported triggers:
- Direct skin contact with a coarse or rough material
- Extreme temperatures or temperature changes
- Respiratory infections or colds
- Stress
- Certain foods such as dairy, nuts, soy and eggs
- Irritants to the skin including soaps, shampoos, & detergents
- Hormonal changes, especially for women during pregnancy or certain stages of their menstrual cycle
Eczema is unfortunately a skin condition that does not have any direct cure. There are several ways to decrease flare ups and outbreaks of eczema, including clay for eczema!
Do clay masks work for eczema?
Clay has an incredible amount of benefits, and many of them can be helpful for calming the symptoms of an eczema flare up. Clay is all natural, and has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and disinfectant properties.
Clay, specifically Bentonite, has been commonly used for eczema, and my sister actually uses it for her eczema too!
Here’s where we get nerdy. Here’s some studies I researched that studied Bentonite and it’s healing capabilities:
– This 2001 study with 33 participants, found a 50% improvement for hand dermatitis (eczema) after using a hand cream with quaternium-18-bentonite.
– Using the same quaternium-18-bentonite, this research found that application of this hand cream also prevented contact dermititis where participants were voluntarily subjected to poison ivy. I definitely would not want to be one of the 211 people in this research!
– This study found that 88% of participants had relief from diaper dermatitis in the first 6 hours vs only 54% from calendula. Diaper dermatitis is a form of contact dermatitis, one of the 7 forms of eczema.
– This study found that after inflicting a wound on a rat, the wounds that received bentonite clay applications, after 7 days were 91.6% healed vs 33.3% that let the wound heal on it’s own.
The most important thing for most people suffering from eczema or other bothersome skin infections is to reduce the itching. Research has shown its ability to treat various skin conditions by drawing out toxins, heavy metals and other harmful substances away from the tissue.
When applied topically to your skin, clay’s negative electromagnetic ions attract the positively charged ions of fungi, toxins, viruses and bacteria from your skin and body.
Imagine clay like a sponge that is attaching to and pulling out all of the irritants that are in the skin. Clay mask for eczema is an excellent choice to ease symptoms and remove bacteria from the surface of the skin and its pores.
What is the best clay for eczema?
Every clay has many different uses and benefits, but for eczema I would definitely recommend Bentonite (definitive guide to bentonite) and French Green clay.
French Green clay contains high amounts of decomposed plant matter, making it a prime candidate as an addition to a natural skincare routine. It is also known as a healing clay. It helps absorb excess oils, reduce the appearance of your pores, and removes toxins and heavy metals from your skin.
Bentonite is another favorite of mine here because it provides immediate relief from itching and irritation that eczema causes. This clay works like a sponge, pulling out unwanted micro-organisms and therefore detoxifying and cleansing the skin.
If you are looking for a skin-soothing remedy to a flare up, clay masks for eczema are an excellent choice.
How to use Bentonite Clay for Eczema
Clay for eczema outbreaks can be used in multiple ways. How you apply it will be determined on where and the density of your irritation.
The 3 most common ways to apply Bentonite Clay for eczema is:
- face mask
- bath
- full body mask
- poultice
If you are having an outbreak in a certain area, you can apply a mask directly or make a poultice.
These methods are all pretty self explanatory, except for poultice. What is a Poultice?
A poultice is a thick layer of clay covered with a moist paper towel or towel to maintain moisture for approx 15 minutes.
Since bentonite will help to clear some skin infections, such as eczema, when used topically, it is up to you how you want to apply it.
I have a couple of great recipes for eczema clay face masks. I chose these because they also include other healing antioxidant rich properties.
– Soothing Yogurt French Green Clay Mask
–Green Tea + French Green Clay
Or just simply apply a simple bentonite and ACV or classic french green clay mask. Relax with it on for about 5-10 minutes, remember to always remove the clay before it dries. Do not forget to moisturize afterwards, this is very important, especially for eczema.
If this is your first time using clay, make sure to read how to use a dry clay mask.
You can also choose to add the clay powder directly to a bath. Mix 1/4 cup of bentonite with a cup of water first, even let it sit for an hour and then add to the bath. You will find simply dumping the clay powder in will not mix well.
*Tip: Why not try both types of clay? Get our facial clay masks assortment pack with 4 types of clay!
If you have eczema outbreaks or any similar skin condition, I urge you to give clay a try! With so many healing properties and medicinal benefits, I am confident clay masks for eczema will be helpful to you.
If you have eczema, it’s likely your skin is also sensitive. Read more about how clay works for sensitive skin here.
Disclaimer: Our content does not constitute a dermatologist or medical advice.
