Articles

Under my Skin

April 2010

Our skin is our biggest organ, it protects us from the outside world, helps regulate our temperature and helps throw off toxins, but it’s also an indicator as to what’s going on inside of us....showing us signs that something inside needs our attention. Naturopath Sarah Rahman takes a look...

ECZEMA
There are different types of eczema and treatments vary for each, as do its causes; the most common type is atopic eczema. This type of eczema is characterized by areas of skin which are scaly and unbearably itchy. It is non-contagious and suffers often have episodes of relapse over long periods of time. It generally tends to appear around the elbows, knees (flexures), legs and face. Atopic eczema often runs in families and there is usually occurrence of other atopic diseases like hay fever. It is common in both adults and children.
The itchiness experienced is due to an over enthusiastic response of the person’s immune system to certain allergens. When a bout of atopic eczema is severe it is difficult to resist scratching; when the affected area is scratched it can lead to dark patches of thickened skin. Scratching can also lead to a breakdown of the affected skin causing it to become infected and this can result in an increase in localised irritation.
Food intolerances (often called allergies) are very common in a large number of people, especially those suffering eczema. When a person consumes foods to which they are intolerant, a milder form of an allergic reaction occurs in the body. Not all foods will cause eczema to flare-up in everyone, and the reactions that do occur will be different. There are some foods that are commonly known for causing problems for people who suffer with eczema. These trigger foods; include wheat, dairy products (especially cow's milk), citrus fruits, eggs, nuts and shellfish.
There are many tests for food intolerances and allergies. Different therapists prefer different methods, I personally use Bio-resonance testing and on the whole I find it to be accurate and quick as it gives me immediate results on which to base a programme for my client. If you wish to do some detective work on your own, then it’s best to keep a diary.
Keeping a food diary can help to determine which particular foods are causing you a problem. To be effective this diary must be very detailed and must include information such as what you ate, as well as the quantity, some foods take a while to show their effects so it’s important to record the time you ate the food too. By documenting in detail you can better determine if a particular food is a trigger for you or not. Detailed food diaries can also be helpful when discussing your condition with your doctor or naturopath.
Orthodox treatments for atopic eczema consist of topical aqueous creams that help hydrate the skin and steroids, taken orally.
A great way to help your eczema through diet is by adopting a healthy skin eating regime. Include foods such as olive oil, avocados, and seeds that are high in essential fatty acids and reduce foods with ‘bad’ fats such as hydrogenated (artificially hardened) margarines.
Introduce oily fish into your diet twice a week, these include, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards and kippers. These foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids will help reduce the inflammation associated with eczema. Establishing a diet which is rich in nutrients and antioxidants will help support your skin’s function. Consume organic raw fruit and vegetables, varying the colours of what you eat.
Ensure you are drinking an adequate amount of water, ideally filtered water, approximately two litres daily.

Natural Treatments
To determine the root cause of your eczema your naturopath or health care practitioner will most often conduct an in-depth consultation, so your treatment plan is specific to you. However there are a few herbs and essential oils that have shown the potential to be very effective at relieving the symptoms of eczema.
Yellow Dock is a great skin cleanser; use it in combination with Echinacea, the recommended dosage is a teaspoon of the combined herbs to one cup water, one cup to be taken three times a day.
Lavender is especially effective at relieving the itching that accompanies this skin complaint.
Tea tree oil is very popular due to its ability to clear up any infection of eczema patches due to scratching, dilute it in carrier oil before application e.g. 6 drops essential oil to 10mls olive oil.
I often recommend an oat bath; it helps to soothe the skin. Put a large handful of oats in a muslin cloth, tie it and place it in the bath water. Avoid using soap or shower gels on the area affected by the eczema. Topically chickweed cream can help to soothe itching, apply as and when necessary. 
Using natural remedies to help to clear eczema will help you to enhance your natural well-being and help to boost your immunity.

ACNE VULGARIS
Acne (as it is generally known) is a sebaceous skin condition. Although it is common in adolescents, due to an increase in the activity of the sebaceous glands that produce the oily substance sebum, it is also found in adults. Acne is a condition that causes inhibition and anxiety in many people, often making them self-conscious and uncomfortable in social situations.
Its symptoms range from mild to severe. They can include blackheads, which are caused by hardening of sebum in the follicles, whiteheads, inflamed and infected cysts and nodules. There are many factors to consider that may contribute to the condition.
Natural, or herbal, treatments for acne are usually milder on the skin and cause fewer side effects than chemical treatment options.
It’s best to eliminate saturated and hydrogenated fats and fried foods from the diet. Replace refined sugars with whole grains and raw vegetables.
Supplements can help redress nutritional deficiencies; include a good antioxidant complex into your regime for two months.
A sluggish elimination system can cause a build up of toxins in the gut, exacerbating a condition such as acne; improving elimination is therefore essential. To help the gut function effectively drink up to two litres of filtered water daily and introduce bitter foods to your daily intake such as bitter gourd, watercress, and artichoke, these have a cleansing effect on the blood.
Burdock root is traditionally used for skin complaints, (avoid if pregnant) combine with a blend of yellow dock and cleavers. These herbs are well known for their cleansing properties and work to purify the skin, allowing it to heal. This combination is meant to be taken internal make a tea of the blend, the recommended dosage is a teaspoon of the combined herbs to one cup water, one cup to be taken three times a day.

If you are on acne medication be sure to liaise with your doctor about your intended course of action.

Topically is important use gentle products so as not to stripe the skin of vital moisture and oils, as this will eventually make it oilier. With hazel is an antiseptic so great for soothing and cleansing, distilled extracts are widely available. Make a gentle toner by adding five drops each of Lavender Tea tree and Cedar wood oils to 150ml bottle of distilled witch hazel. After using a gentle cleanser, tone the skin with this twice daily, to heal and relieve inflammation.

Use light moisturisers so as not to clog the skin, it is vital to moisturize the skin to keep it soft and avoid tightness and discomfort.  Tea tree oil has anti-bacterial properties and can be found in moisturizing lotions and cooling gels.

Other tips
It can be of great benefit when suffering from acne to implement a stricter than normal personal hygiene practice. When acne is affecting the face, wearing hair off the face, avoiding touching the affected area and changing pillow covers twice weekly, can all help lessen the problem, all of these things help to minimise the spread bacterial infection.

PSORIASIS
Psoriasis is a chronic, non-infectious skin disease that affects two to three percent of people in UK and Ireland. Most commonly it’s identified by inflamed, red, scaly patches on the skin. These are called plaques and are due to accelerated skin cell production which causes in a build-up of cells on the skin’s surface. The silvery scales if scratched reveal red skin underneath. There are a few different forms of psoriasis but about eighty percent of those that have psoriasis suffer with the plaque form of this skin disease (called psoriasis vulgaris). Patches of psoriasis often occur on elbows, knees, lower back and scalp, although it can occur on any part of the body. It can affect finger and toenails, causing them to become pitted, cracked and split. The condition can flare up suddenly and also go into remission for periods of time.
Psoriatic arthritis may accompany the disease; it occurs in approximately fifteen percent of psoriasis cases.

Intolerances to certain foods can play a part in the exacerbation of this ailment and dietary choices can have an effect. One of the biggest triggers of this disorder is stress; other factors that give rise to it can be illness, injury, viral or bacterial infection, overuse of drugs or alcohol.

Orthodox treatments involve occasional use of corticosteroid containing ointments and phototherapy where the patient’s skin is exposed to certain types of ultraviolet light. 

Natural remedies and treatments for psoriasis can be very effective, but need time, commitment and perseverance on the part of the patient. At the very least natural remedies can help to control the symptoms of psoriasis and reduce the frequency of the outbreaks.
Internally natural remedies need to be specific to the individual’s needs and closely monitored by a naturopath or healthcare professional, and often will involve some form of detoxification.

Topical treatments for psoriasis include comfrey or chickweed cream to help relieve flaking and dryness. Aloe vera will help soothe and moisturize. A cleansing oil, which can help to de-scale can be made with six drops of Juniper oil in 10ml almond oil. Many patients find that natural sunlight also helps.

ROSACEA
Acne rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease; it is present in women three times more than men. In rosacea redness occurs around the central panel of the face generally affecting the nose, chin, forehead and cheeks. Sufferers can experience swelling and thickening of the skin tissue, rendering it sensitive to touch. Redness is due to the blood vessels dilating; the flushed appearance can come and go. Pimples can be present, similar to acne vulgaris, though the inflammation present in Rosacea is worse; it is distinguished from it due to the absence of blackheads.
The medications that doctors prescribe to treat Rosacea are oral antibiotics. They are used to control the flushing associated with this ailment.

Although the causes of Rosacea are unestablished, many factors are known to help the condition.

Flare-ups are often associated with episodes of indigestion caused by overeating, excessive alcohol or spicy foods. A lack of gastric acid has been indicated in those suffering with the condition. Naturopathic treatments are therefore geared to toning the digestive system.

B vitamins have been shown to help in its treatment, as deficiencies have been noted in suffers.

VITILIGO
Vitiligo is said to affect up to one percent of the world’s population. It is characterized by white patches of skin caused by de-pigmentation; this is due to melanocytes, the cells that produce the substance which gives skin its colour being destroyed. The spread of this disease can be rapid or slow. It most often appears symmetrically, it can cover small or large areas of the body; it doesn’t always spread to the entire body surface. Fifty percent of cases appear before the age of twenty, although it can appear at any age. Stressful life events or physical trauma can often accelerate the onset of this disease. The white patches do not hurt or itch and it is not an infectious disease. Although the symptoms themselves are not painful or irritating, the condition can cause extreme psychological distress in sufferers. Vitiligo is often associated with auto immune problems. Vitiligo is considered a difficult condition to treat; however, there may be benefits in strengthening the immune system.
The patches that appear need to be protected from the sun to avoid the risk of sunburn.

URTICARIA
Also known as hives, it’s characterized by sudden outbreaks of red or white lesions known as welts. They look similar to the sting of nettles and appear on the skin, mainly on the face or the trunk. . The majority of hives cases are brought about by an allergic reaction. The lesions are caused by the release of histamine, causing inflammation, itching and swelling. They can last from a few hours to few weeks, if they last for longer than six weeks the condition is classed as being chronic.

Foods can be a causative factor; most often these include milk, fish, meat, eggs, beans or nuts.      
Various substances people come into contact with can also cause their reactions, such as shampoos, soaps, laundry product residues or other household cleaning chemicals. The list is not exhaustive and can include medications, food additives and pets.
Cold weather can also cause urticaria of the skin; areas affected are those which come into contact with cold air or water.
The main orthodox urticaria treatment is high dose antihistamine medication.

Having a test to ascertain food allergies may help. Switch to organic produce to minimize exposure to hidden anti-biotics such as in milk and meat.

Nettle tea may help, in natural medicine like treats like, include three cups of nettle tea in your daily routine for about three months.

Apply aloe vera gel to calm and cool the skin.

YOU and YOUR SKIN...
Treatments in natural medicine look at the individual, their constitution and also their lifestyle. A person is treated holistically, looking at all aspects of their being, including the emotions which can play a part in the aggravation of these or other ailments.
It’s is necessary with herbal treatments that they are allowed sufficient time to work. They will work more efficiently if, alongside them a lifestyle change and cleansing diet is also adopted.

Moisturise naturally...
There is growing awareness and concern about the possible long-term health hazards associated with ingredients like sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), parabens and synthetic fragrances. I recommend using a range of skincare which has pure natural ingredients, as much of what we put on our skin is absorbed by it. One such company is [A’kin] recently voted the best range for Eczema. Products are made free from sulphates, parabens (preservatives), propylene glycol, petrochemical cleansers, silicones, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours.

Help it out...
Toxins put an unnecessary stress load on the body, skin brushing helps the body to clear out toxins, start gently and work from your toes upwards and always towards your heart. Pure bristle skin brushes are available from Archturus (www.archturus.co.uk).

END NOTES
Cautions:
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have high blood pressure, consult your doctor or naturopath, before taking any naturopathic remedies.

This article can also be read/downloaded in Acrobat PDF format:

Article page 1
Article page 2
Article page 3

Sarah is a Naturopath and Medical herbalist
Contact Sarah on enquiry@thebodywhispers.co.uk