Eczema / Atopic dermatitis
Diagnosis
Eczema is a common inflammatory skin disorder affecting about 10% of adults (32 million people). Also known as atopic dermatitis, this chronic condition usually shows up as itchy, scaly lesions that can cause cracks in the outer layer of the skin. Healthy skin retains moisture and protects against allergens, bacteria, and irritants, but people with eczema have a gene variation that prevents the skin from functioning properly, making it especially vulnerable to environmental irritants and allergens. Fortunately, diagnosing eczema is pretty straightforward, as it can be identified by sight (it looks a lot like psoriasis, but a skin expert will know the difference). When it comes to treating eczema, you do have natural options. There are many topical treatments you can try, like coconut oil, sunflower oil, vitamin B12, and extracts of cardiospermum. Stress is known to be a trigger, so the more you can do to manage it (aka more yoga and meditation, less social media) the better! In addition to experimenting with gentle topical treatments, try to be conscious of the fact that your skin is just super sensitive. Be aware of things like temperature changes and fabrics that can trigger flares. Wash new clothes and bedding before you use them (don’t fall for those perfectly pressed clothes right out of the box—they’ll get ya!). And always opt for a gentle, fragrance-free detergent. Sun can be therapeutic, but being out all day in the blazing sunshine will irritate your skin, and so will some sunscreens. Yeah, this is a lot to keep track of! That’s why working with a skin specialist, especially one who can advise you on gentle and/or natural remedies, can be really useful. Some experts say that eczema can be treated “from the inside out,” with a healthy diet. Certainly, there’s no downside to trying an anti-inflammatory diet—avoiding gluten, corn, soy, and dairy, and doubling up on anti-inflammatory ingredients, like fatty fish, nuts, avocados, and turmeric—to see if that helps your eczema symptoms. Another dietary option is a low-histamine diet. Histamines can negatively impact your gut, lungs, skin, brain, and entire cardiovascular system, and eczema is just one of the possible symptoms that can be provoked. Eliminating histamines can be a little tough—so many delicious and even healthy foods are high in histamine, including avocados, eggplant, spinach, tomatoes, bacon (ok, maybe not so healthy!), and dried or citrus fruits. But removing them might just improve your skin and symptoms—and you don’t know until you try. You can also boost your gut health, which involves adding good bacteria to your diet in the form of yogurt, fermented foods, and probiotics. Finally, here’s a pretty cool new development: One recent study established eczema as an autoimmune disorder, which could be a game-changer for future treatments. It found that dupilumab, a type of drug called a monoclonal antibody (mAb), was able to reverse the immune response that causes eczema skin lesions. Scientists believe that even more new treatment options for this skin disorder will be available in the next few years. Stay tuned!
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