Eczema is often considered a minor condition by those who don't have it because it only affects the skin. However, those who suffer from it tell a completely different story.
This skin disorder can be very disturbing for individuals, young and old, who suffer from it and for the parents of children who suffer from it. Whether it is due to severe itching, the appearance of the skin, multiple nighttime awakenings caused by discomfort, or possible complications related to the infection, the affected person wishes for a complete recovery from their condition.
Current medical treatments consist almost entirely of recommending corticosteroid (cortisone) creams to reduce inflammation and itching. These ointments are relatively effective when used in mild cases, but they are useless for stopping or significantly relieving chronic eczema.
For over twenty-five years, my professional experience as a naturopath has allowed me to observe that eczema can be cured. To achieve this, you must identify the cause and change your lifestyle habits, because this skin condition appears in a context conducive to its development. Your genetic heritage may be the cause, but there are factors that stimulate the appearance of eczema in your body or in that of your child.
WHAT IS ECZEMA?
Eczema is a non-contagious inflammation of the skin, sometimes called "atopic dermatitis." This skin condition is not caused by an infection. It encompasses several types of skin problems that "express" themselves in varying ways through redness, very dry patches of skin, scales, and tiny oozing blisters that form crusts and cause itching.
This skin disorder can be temporary or chronic, mild or severe, and more rarely very serious. It is often associated with allergies or asthma.
This condition is therefore quite common, particularly among children born into a family with a history of allergies. It now affects nearly 20% of children in France, compared to 3% or 5% 30 years ago.
Eczema can worsen if a bacterial infection occurs in the scratched lesions, if the affected person contracts impetigo or the herpes simplex virus, or if they experience a severe allergic reaction following contact dermatitis. For example, contact with poison ivy can trigger a severe allergic reaction.
TYPES OF ECZEMA
There are several types of eczema, and I'll cover the two most common: atopic eczema and contact eczema. There's also seborrheic eczema, varicose vein eczema, nummular eczema, and bullous eczema.
ATOPIC ECZEMA (ATOPIC DERMATITIS)
Atopic eczema is the most common form of chronic eczema. In 90% of cases, this condition appears in children before the age of 5. There may be a hereditary component, and one or more family members may suffer from seasonal or food allergies or asthma.
This type of eczema manifests itself by redness and dryness of the skin which most often appears in the folds of the elbows or knees, on the face or even on the legs, on the back and even on the stomach.
CONTACT ECZEMA (CONTACT DERMATITIS)
Contact eczema occurs when skin irritation is caused by contact with products that irritate or are allergenic to the affected individual. In babies, the causes of contact eczema can be numerous. For example, babies may be irritated by scented soap, diapers, certain skin creams, metal buttons on their clothing, or even certain jewelry. In adults, the causes of contact eczema can be related to perfume, bath foam, cream, various chemicals used at home or at work, jewelry, metal, etc. Irritation can be rapid or delayed over time. The intensity also varies greatly: from mild redness to severe ulcers. In very severe cases, such as a latex allergy, the irritation can lead to anaphylactic shock.
CAUSES OF ECZEMA
The body is a living, intelligent organism. It therefore has the capacity to adapt, transform, and heal itself. A disease like eczema, or another condition, tells you that your internal environment is experiencing an imbalance. Your "terrain" has changed, allowing "weeds" to grow in place of the usual "flowers."
Your physical (structure), biochemical (pH, oxidation, nutrients), energetic (meridian) and emotional environment are continually under attack that your body tries to balance and compensate for. If you do not make the necessary changes through prevention, illness will then be the solution for your body to regain a certain balance.
So, while there may be underlying causes of these imbalances, you need to discover which ones apply to you. You then need to proceed step by step, simply until your health is restored.
FOOD
The first food that is involved in skin problems like eczema is cow's milk . It is also one of the main allergenic foods in children, just like eggs.
Excessive consumption of dairy products during pregnancy overexposes the baby to this food. The child may then develop a sensitivity to cow's milk or bovine protein after birth.
Here's a simple suggestion. For one month, stop consuming 100% dairy products: milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and dairy ingredients. Read labels carefully. Note any changes, or lack thereof, in your or your child's health.
Other foods can trigger eczema. The main edible allergens other than milk are eggs, nuts, soy, fish, wheat, and peanuts. A child may also react to carrots, goat's milk, or any other food.
If you have been on an elimination diet, attempting to remove foods that you believe are problematic, and the problem persists, it may be helpful to have an allergy test performed by an allergist to identify foods that trigger immunoglobulin E (IgE). However, the results can be disappointing, as food intolerances are often the cause of eczema, and therefore type III allergies involving immunoglobulin G (IgG). IgG involves delayed reactions.
Dietary-wise, another important consideration is the balance of acidic and alkaline foods. Many people with eczema have noticed that their symptoms worsen when they eat more acidic foods like oranges, grapefruit, lemons, tomatoes, kiwis, pineapples, or certain varieties of apples or juices. Carbonated drinks, sweets, and excessive consumption of red meat also have a strong acidifying effect.
Furthermore, teething in toddlers alters the acid-base balance and can promote the onset of eczema in susceptible individuals. Periods of significant stress also alter the acid-base balance, which can trigger eczema flare-ups in some individuals.
However, for an imbalance to occur, the body must already be on the verge of "imbalance," otherwise it would not react with eczema. The goal in therapy is then to reduce your acidity level in order to be able to cope with the unexpected (which increases your stress) without developing eczema.
To reduce metabolic acidosis, we must first thoroughly clear the residual air from our lungs, as CO2 generates acids in the body. Hence the importance of ventilating our lungs with fresh air through deep abdominal breathing, brisk walking, cycling, running, playing soccer, tennis, or singing. In addition, eating large quantities of vegetables provides minerals that have an alkalizing effect on the body.
I encourage you to keep a health journal in which you write down your diet in detail when eczema arises and over time you will discover which foods or situations are problematic for you or your child. Also note the context of life: stress, lack of sleep, constipation, use of chemical products, new soaps, etc.
Furthermore, the presence of chlorine in household water is a very irritating element for the skin of toddlers and even older children. Chlorine dries out the skin. If you or your child experience increased redness or itching after showering or bathing, avoid using soap the next time to check if the redness persists. If so, you can add a charcoal shower filter to remove chlorine. These are easy to find online or in health food stores.
Gut health is also important in eczema. Check that bowel movements are occurring daily and in abundance. Constipation should never be tolerated, regardless of age. The accumulation of toxins in the intestine overloads the liver and disrupts the microbiota. The balance between good and bad bacteria is disrupted, and acidity in the body builds up further.
To promote healthy bowel movements, you must consume enough quality, non-chlorinated water. Chlorine is added to our municipal water to eliminate pathogenic bacteria. When we drink chlorinated water several times a day, we weaken our microbiota. In addition, it is essential to eat plenty of fiber: raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, whole grains (while reducing gluten and excess grains). Movement and physical activity such as walking or various sports also activate your peristalsis, or the movement of your intestines, which allows for better intestinal elimination.
Consider adding age-appropriate probiotics. These good bacteria, the soldiers of your gut, can be found in health food stores or some pharmacies. They are much more concentrated than what is found in yogurts and are of better quality, as they do not contain added sugar and contain strains known for their effectiveness. There are products adapted to the needs of infants, children, and adults.
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES
Certain nutritional deficiencies disrupt the balance of the terrain and promote the appearance of eczema. This is the case of the imbalance between the intake of omega-6 and omega-3 in our diet. Modern diets provide more omega-6 fatty acids (sunflower oil, safflower, corn, soybean, grape seed, industrial meat, etc.) than omega-3 fatty acids (in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) for vegetable oils - flax, hemp, canola, walnut, soybean - and EPA and DHA for fish). The omega-6:omega-3 consumption ratio for Westerners varies between 10:1 and 30:1. This is why there are so many advertisements about the need to consume omega-3 fats. According to recent studies, the ideal ratio of omega-6:omega-3 is 1:1 to 4:1. An excess of omega-6 fats increases inflammation problems in the body, among other things, while omega-3 fats do the opposite.
Nuts, seeds, and their cold-pressed oils, as well as fish fats, provide the body with essential fatty acids for metabolism. These fats maintain the integrity of cell membranes and support the immune, hormonal, and cardiovascular systems. They help maintain skin integrity, reduce allergic reactions, and possess anti-inflammatory properties. They are therefore essential for good health.
Another key nutrient to consider for skin and mucous membrane health is zinc. Generally, either dietary zinc intake is insufficient, or the body has increased needs. In children, a deficiency of this nutrient is common. Young people who eat little meat and few nuts or seeds are potentially at risk of zinc deficiency.
In addition, the heavy metal load that the child inherits from his mother during pregnancy and breastfeeding draws on his zinc reserves, because this mineral is an important antagonist of several toxic metals. Several signs warn you of this potential deficiency: teeth grinding (bruxism), dry skin, taste suppression (the child only eats what he wants to eat), nasal voice, white spots on the nails, acne in adolescents, etc.
Adolescents and adults can also regularly experience zinc deficiency. It's important to remember that pollution is omnipresent in our air, water, and food. It exposes us to a multitude of toxic substances that increase our zinc needs.
FOOD SOURCES OF ZINC
Oyster, meat, liver, egg, lean fish (cod, halibut), clams, whole grain, pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds, nuts, legumes, shiitake mushrooms, brewer's yeast and spirulina.
We live in a time-poor society where everything moves too fast. It's no surprise, then, that many people are looking for a miracle cream or pill to instantly cure minor and major ailments. But the solution can't be that simple. The human body is complex, and for it to achieve lasting healing, it's best to understand and listen to it more closely in order to find appropriate solutions.
It's a good idea to use a cream to relieve the itching associated with eczema. There are several types available in health food stores. You should try them and rotate them often to maintain effectiveness. This is only a temporary solution since you need to get to the source of the problem.
This is what I invite you to do to resolve once and for all this problem that is bothering you.
Maison Jacynthe disclaims all liability. All information contained in this article or letter is not intended to replace justified allopathic treatment or to disregard the expertise of the medical profession. It is up to each individual to take charge of their own health, to inform themselves, and to make the necessary changes to improve their condition. Therapeutic supervision by a qualified healthcare professional is strongly recommended.
Leave a comment