Top natural treatments for eczema
12/2016
DR. JILLIAN COLE ND
Eczema is a common condition to walk through the doors of most naturopathic clinics.
Eczema, or dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by itchiness, red skin, rash and in some cases blistering or weeping of the skin.
Long-term, eczema can cause permanent thickening of your skin if not properly taken care of. There are many different forms of eczema and each form carries its own unique pattern of signs and symptoms.
The below treatments can usually help all forms of eczema, although proper diagnosis helps to cater to a more individualized treatment approach so you can get better, faster.
Eczema and diet
All disease begins in the gut and with skin conditions, there’s no exception to this statement. Too often I see patients coming in with skin conditions that can be cleared up by simple dietary modifications.
I’ve seen wonderful improvements in children with eczema and eliminating dairy products for a period of time or chronic acne being significantly reduced by switching over to a whole foods diet.
Studies have even identified skin manifestations of non-celiac gluten sensitivity and in infants, milk sensitization and resulting eczema is significantly reduced when introduced after six months of age. The take-home: what you’re eating or exposing your gut lining to could potentially be causing your skin condition.
Proper gut flora and probiotic supplementation
The more we learn about probiotics and their effects on our body, the more we’re able to apply them for use in a long list of health conditions. Appropriate levels of certain gut bacteria byproducts have been associated with a decreased risk for childhood eczema. Results like this highlight the role bacterial metabolites may play in the development of the immune system.
This doesn’t mean we should simply be popping a probiotic supplement, however. Each strain and species of probiotic exhibits different therapeutic effects on the body and can be used for very specific treatment purposes.
It’s important to consult a health care professional that has education and understanding in the world of probiotic supplementation so you can use the right strain and species to help with your condition.
Vitamin D and your immune system
While the research for vitamin D and eczema has mixed reviews, vitamin D is inevitably involved in allergic diseases and immune regulation — both of which need to be mitigated in order to heal eczema. Vitamin D has the ability to suppress inflammatory chemicals in our bodies as well as increase anti-inflammatory ones. Low blood levels of vitamin D have also been associated with an increased risk of sensitization to food allergens as well as eczema. From an immune perspective, supplementing with vitamin D can only help lessen the severity of eczema.
The list of recommendations to heal eczema is long and with more research coming out on this condition, we are able to understand more about what’s going to work in terms of prevention and treatment so you can say goodbye to this burdensome condition.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/dartmouthtribune/1423555-top-natural-treatments-for-eczema
DR. JILLIAN COLE ND
Eczema is a common condition to walk through the doors of most naturopathic clinics.
Eczema, or dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by itchiness, red skin, rash and in some cases blistering or weeping of the skin.
Long-term, eczema can cause permanent thickening of your skin if not properly taken care of. There are many different forms of eczema and each form carries its own unique pattern of signs and symptoms.
The below treatments can usually help all forms of eczema, although proper diagnosis helps to cater to a more individualized treatment approach so you can get better, faster.
Eczema and diet
All disease begins in the gut and with skin conditions, there’s no exception to this statement. Too often I see patients coming in with skin conditions that can be cleared up by simple dietary modifications.
I’ve seen wonderful improvements in children with eczema and eliminating dairy products for a period of time or chronic acne being significantly reduced by switching over to a whole foods diet.
Studies have even identified skin manifestations of non-celiac gluten sensitivity and in infants, milk sensitization and resulting eczema is significantly reduced when introduced after six months of age. The take-home: what you’re eating or exposing your gut lining to could potentially be causing your skin condition.
Proper gut flora and probiotic supplementation
The more we learn about probiotics and their effects on our body, the more we’re able to apply them for use in a long list of health conditions. Appropriate levels of certain gut bacteria byproducts have been associated with a decreased risk for childhood eczema. Results like this highlight the role bacterial metabolites may play in the development of the immune system.
This doesn’t mean we should simply be popping a probiotic supplement, however. Each strain and species of probiotic exhibits different therapeutic effects on the body and can be used for very specific treatment purposes.
It’s important to consult a health care professional that has education and understanding in the world of probiotic supplementation so you can use the right strain and species to help with your condition.
Vitamin D and your immune system
While the research for vitamin D and eczema has mixed reviews, vitamin D is inevitably involved in allergic diseases and immune regulation — both of which need to be mitigated in order to heal eczema. Vitamin D has the ability to suppress inflammatory chemicals in our bodies as well as increase anti-inflammatory ones. Low blood levels of vitamin D have also been associated with an increased risk of sensitization to food allergens as well as eczema. From an immune perspective, supplementing with vitamin D can only help lessen the severity of eczema.
The list of recommendations to heal eczema is long and with more research coming out on this condition, we are able to understand more about what’s going to work in terms of prevention and treatment so you can say goodbye to this burdensome condition.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/dartmouthtribune/1423555-top-natural-treatments-for-eczema
