General practitioners are seeing an increasing number of cases of dermatitis and eczema with up to 1 in 4 children suffering from skin problems! Sometimes related to allergies, eczema can often be accompanied by asthma and hay fever or can simply present as contact dermatitis.
Orthodox treatments tend to focus on the external application of certain creams, often harsh steroid and cortisone-based preparations, which carry the risk of being absorbed through the skin and causing long-term side effects.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis literally means inflammation of the skin and is similar to eczema. The main cause seems to be contact allergy. You could be allergic to metals in jewelry, perfumes, or cosmetics, to detergents in shampoos, soaps, or cleaning products. If you have a contact allergy, you most likely also have a food allergy. Dairy products and wheat are the most common allergens. Symptoms will be more aggressive if you lack essential fatty acids in your diet.
What can you do?
Choose organic products and try to avoid meat. Fish, especially fatty ones like salmon and mackerel, are fine, but a vegetarian or vegan diet is preferable. Avoid dairy and wheat for a couple of weeks and see if there is any improvement. Try an herbal cleansing supplement or cleansing diet. Add flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil to your diet and make sure you get enough zinc, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and E.
Eczema
The most common triggers are a combination of food allergies, lack of essential fatty acids, and environmental factors. The environment is increasingly seen as a serious trigger, beginning in the womb when the baby is conceived.
child eczema
In most cases, childhood eczema can be improved by making dietary and lifestyle changes.
What can you do?
Breastfeed instead of bottle. Research has shown that bottle-fed babies are much more likely to get eczema.
Babies who are breastfed and do not receive any solid food, cow’s milk or eggs in the first 4 months are less likely to develop eczema. Breast milk contains the perfect balance of essential fatty acids and natural antibodies. Previous studies have shown that people with eczema have significantly lower levels of essential fatty acids compared to people without eczema.
Scientists in Canada have found that an isolated soy protein formula used as a replacement for cow’s milk can significantly decrease eczema symptoms.
Parental smoking has been found to be a major risk factor for allergic eczema.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce itching and scaling. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in Flaxseed (Flax) Oil 54%, Echium Oil 45%, Chia Oil 30%, Hemp Seed Oil 20%, Pumpkin Seed Oil 15%, Soybean Oil 7%, walnut oil 5% and wheat germ. oil 5%. Only use organic cold pressed oils. For cold use only, try it on your salad, rice, pasta or potatoes.
A poorly functioning digestive system causes toxins to proliferate in the intestines and some of these toxins have been shown to contribute to the development of atopic eczema. Lactobacillus Acidophilus, found in live plain yogurt, is a friendly bacteria that colonizes the intestines and can help correct the situation.
People with eczema and psoriasis have been shown to have low levels of folic acid. Folic acid is found in green leafy vegetables and brewer’s yeast.
Several studies have shown that a gluten-free diet can have a marked effect on skin lesions in patients with eczema and psoriasis. Gluten is a sticky protein found in bread and other wheat and rye products. Rice and corn are gluten-free foods.
Meats and dairy products contain arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that contributes to the inflammation experienced in eczema and psoriasis, as well as rheumatism and arthritis. Animal fats can aggravate itching and irritation. Many people experience an improvement in their symptoms after introducing an adequate supply of important nutrients, such as essential fatty acids from fish and evening primrose oil. Others experience a difference after adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Examples of common food allergens are; oranges, chocolate, eggs and dairy products, wheat, peanuts, tomatoes and food additives. Avoiding exposure to dietary allergens for at least 6 weeks can produce significant improvements.
A standard elimination diet that avoids cow’s milk, eggs, tomatoes, dyes and preservatives can help up to three quarters of people with eczema.
Tap water, with its high content of inorganic minerals, nitrates and nitrites, hormones and other “toxic” compounds, has been shown to worsen the symptoms of eczema patients. Plenty of pure and clean spring water is of great importance to our health.
Try to avoid soaps and detergents as they remove natural lipids from the skin’s surface and cause the skin to dry out even more. Choose products made with truly natural ingredients, rich in vegetable oils and free of perfumes, petrochemicals, artificial preservatives and foaming agents such as sodium lauryl sulfate. Products containing herbal extracts and essential oils of chamomile, lavender, and sandalwood will often help soothe dry eczema.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a completely different type of skin condition than eczema or dermatitis and does not respond as well to nutritional interventions. Psoriasis can come and go.
What can you do?
Start with a cleansing toner followed by a cleansing diet. Make sure you get plenty of essential fatty acids. Limit your intake of meat and dairy products; the fish is fine. Supplement your diet with essential oils like flaxseed and evening primrose. Make sure you get enough zinc, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and E, and give yourself a chance to relax and de-stress.
