Skin Disorders

Eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis
by Phillip Day

Profiles and symptoms

Skin conditions are unsightly, uncomfortable and downright embarrassing. A skin condition tells us the immune system is reacting to an assault and attempting to repel it.

Eczema: Dry, itchy skin, blisters forming with clear fluid in them (serum), a reddening around the affected area. Eczema is characterised by internal causations, i.e. external toxins and agents do not play a primary role (compare with dermatitis). Traditional treatments usually involve systemic or topical corticosteroids and cyclosporin A.

Atopic eczema: Skin rashes associated with asthma and hay fever. Patients (up to 20% of the population!) have a history of allergy or will go on to develop asthma or hay fever.

Seborrhoeic eczema: Caused by Pityrosporum yeasts. Affected areas are usually the scalp, nose, eyelids and lips. Mostly associated with those with severe immune deficiencies, such as AIDS.

Dermatitis: Itchy skin, rashes, and blisters caused by external agents, chemicals, detergents, irritants, metals, etc. The primary goal here is to remove the irritant from the patient's environment. This condition is common with nurses, cooks, metal workers, hairdressers, etc. Nickel dermatitis has been found in the European population handling the new nickel euro coins (yet another reason not to join the euro).

Psoriasis: A chronic skin condition manifesting itself as pink scaly skin most commonly affecting the scalp, knees, elbows, buttocks, etc. Skin cells replicate too rapidly, accumulating to form a silvery scale most commonly associated with the condition. Affects approximately 2% of the population and is often associated with bacterial streptococcal infection and also linked with arthritis. Traditional treatments will include steroidal drugs, tar and dithranol. Methotrexate or cyclosporine are sometimes used for the worst cases.

Commentary

I have grouped these skin conditions together as the remedial actions are very similar. The causations are either internal (eczema and psoriasis) or external (dermatitis). Internal causations for eczema and psoriasis will usually involve a classic western profile of stress, poor immunity, lack of vitamin D, fungal/yeast and bacterial problems caused by their ejected toxins, bowel toxaemia, incomplete protein digestion, alcohol consumption, and poor liver function. These internal causations may often result in allergic reactions, e.g. food sensitivities, hay fever, asthma, etc. External causations will usually involve constant exposure to chemical or metallic toxins either in the home or at work, and will also include a chronic vitamin D deficiency. Syndrome X sufferers (those on their way to type 2 diabetes) will sometimes develop skin rashes through sugar intoxication and lack of exercise.

VITAMIN D PREVENTS SKIN INFECTIONS

A study suggests that vitamin D bolsters the production of a protective chemical normally found in the skin. This could help prevent skin infections that are a common result of atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is characterized by areas of severe itching, redness and scaling.

The study found that supplemental vitamin D appeared to correct a defect in the immune systems in patients with this skin disease. The researchers studied a small number of patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

It has previously been shown that defects in the immune system interfere with the skin's ability to produce a peptide called cathelicidin, which is protective against microbial invasion. Study participants were all given 4000 IUs of oral Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) per day for 21 days. The researchers found that oral vitamin D use by the patients appeared to correct the skin's defect in cathelicidin.¹

Take action

A complete 40,000-mile service is in order for the skin-rash sufferer. Those suffering from dermatitis need to review carefully the chemicals in their environment with which they come into contact on a regular basis. These can include common household products such as shampoos, skin creams, make-up, perfumes, bath cleaners, washing-up liquid, soap powders, as well as the nightmares you may be using at work... you get the picture. The best company to go to for the safe alternatives is Neways International (www.neways.com).

Switch to a 70% raw food, organic diet (see DVD Food Matters), detoxification, replenishment of nutrients, a bowel cleanse, an anti-fungal program, skin (topical) applications, plenty of exercise (which you have been shirking) and... a holiday!

• RESTORE NUTRIENT BALANCE: COMMENCE THE BASIC SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM, ensuring:

• ANTI-CANDIDA/FUNGAL SUPPLEMENTATION

• Exercise at least 45 minutes a day with your heart rate up. This is especially important for those suffering from insulin resistance (and rashes)

• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 5000 – 8000 iu/day. Optimum D level is 60 ng/ml. Get tested periodically

• Zinc, 30 mg, twice per day

• Vitamin A emulsion (safe form of A), 50,000 IU per day (do not use if pregnant)

• Selenium, 200 mcg per day

• Silymarin, 70-200 mg, three times per day

• DETOXIFICATION: A week';s fasting, except for blended vegetable juices taken throughout the day (avoid fruit juices) and plenty of fresh, clean water (2-3 litres/day) and half a teaspoon of Himalayan salt/day

• DETOXIFICATION: At the same time, commence a two-week magnesium oxide bowel cleanse. Then, after one week...

• DIET: COMMENCE THE ANTI-CANDIDA DIETARY REGIMEN, ensuring that foods to which you are sensitive are avoided. These might include, but not be limited to eggs, milk, peanuts, soy, gluten products made from wheat, barley, rye and oats (including beer!), citrus and chocolate

• TIP: Limit intakes of animal fats, replacing these with oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, herring, halibut, etc. Ensure these are cold-caught and not farmed

• TOPICAL TREATMENTS: applied two to three times a day over the infected area can include preparations containing glycyrrhetinic acid, chamomile or witch hazel. Drs. Murray and Pizzorno recommend preparations of Glycyrrhiza glabra, Arctium lappa or Taraxacum officinale in either their dried/powdered root form or in fluid/tincture extract. An herbalist or naturopathic doctor should be able to help. Avoid steroidals where possible

• More exercise!

• Avoid stress and get plenty of rest. In fact...

• Go on holiday, especially the wandering-through-the bazaar, sleeping-until-noon-and-lazy-days-in-the-surf type. Moderate but consistent exposure to the sun is OK (use safe creams only!), unless you burn easily. Don't wash skin with soap for up to 48 hours if you want the vitamin D created by the sun to be absorbed by the body

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?

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