Certain teas offer anti-inflammatory and calming properties that may help soothe eczema symptoms. However, more research is needed to confirm the benefits of tea for eczema.

Eczema is a chronic condition that causes inflamed, red, flakey, and itchy skin. More than 31 million Americans are affected by it, and there’s currently no cure.

A variety of treatments, such as topical creams and prescription medications, are available to help with the discomforts of eczema. Home remedies, including teas that you may already have in your kitchen cupboards, may also provide relief.

Certain teas have anti-inflammatory and calming properties that may be useful in soothing symptoms of eczema. You may find relief by drinking them or applying them as a dressing to an affected area of the body. However, more research is still needed to understand the best ways to use tea to soothe eczema.

This article explores the types of tea that might be beneficial for soothing eczema, as well as other home remedies for eczema.

There are a variety of teas that might be beneficial for reducing symptoms of eczema due to their anti-inflammatory and calming properties. These include:

Researchers have seen improvements in eczema both when individuals drink tea and when they use tea as a topical dressing over an affected area.

One of the few studies on tea and eczema is an older 2001 study on the use of oolong tea for eczema. This study required participants to steep a 10-gram teabag of oolong tea in 1000 milliliters (mL) of boiling water for 5 minutes.

The resulting tea was divided into 3 servings. Participants would consume 1 serving after 3 meals. In addition to drinking the oolong tea, those studied continued their normal dermatological treatment plan for their eczema.

Beneficial changes for participants began appearing as soon as 1 to 2 weeks. 63% of participants showed improvements to their skin after 1 month, and 54% were still experiencing positive results after 6 months.

A more recent 2019 study explored the use of black tea dressings to treat facial eczema. Participants used an emollient cream for 6 days in addition to the black tea dressings.

Researchers found significant improvement over the first 3 days of applying the dressings with continued improvements for the remainder of the 6 days.

If you’re interested in using tea to soothe your eczema symptoms, your doctor can advise you how to apply the tea for your specific case.

Side effects from tea use are unlikely, and the 2019 study on black tea dressings found no side effects on the participants.

However, it’s important to note that drinking too much tea can cause:

You can read more about the potential side effects of drinking too much tea here.

Some other home remedies for eczema include:

  • soaking in colloidal oatmeal baths
  • moisturizing with coconut or sunflower oil
  • making dietary and lifestyle changes to avoid any known eczema triggers
  • wearing loose, breathable fabrics and avoiding detergents with potential allergens
  • practicing relaxation techniques, such as:

Hypnosis or acupuncture may also help to reduce uncomfortable itching.

If interested, you can read more about natural remedies for eczema here.

Your doctor may recommend medical treatments depending on the location and severity of your eczema. These can include:

Tea may be a helpful way to address eczema’s uncomfortable symptoms. Some teas can be applied as dressings to the affected area, but you may also wish to drink it.

If you choose to drink tea to soothe your eczema symptoms, it’s important to avoid consuming excessive amounts, so you don’t develop side effects.

More research into the use of tea for eczema is still needed. If you have eczema, it’s important to talk with your doctor about a treatment plan. They can help you determine what medical and home-based remedies will be most effective to relieve your symptoms.