Psoriasis affects millions of people worldwide yet understanding of the condition is very limited.  Even people with the condition often do not fully understand it.

Psoriasis occurs when there is a malfunction in the immune system causing the skin cells to regenerate to quickly.  The reason for this occurring is not known however it tends to occur in families leading to the belief that a genetic defect causes the condition.

Overactive skin cells result in red, scaly lesions that crack and bleed. Psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body but the most commonly affected areas are the elbows, knees, scalp and torso.

A lack of general understanding of psoriasis has lead to the development of many myths:

Psoriasis is contagious – fallacy – although often-unsightly psoriasis is not contagious.  It cannot be passed from person to person.

You must be dirty if you have psoriasis – fallacy – Psoriasis is a malfunction of the immune system.  It is a chronic inflammatory skin condition.  It is not related to personal hygiene.

Psoriasis is purely a skin condition – fallacy – whilst primarily a skin condition psoriasis affects far more than the skin.  Psoriatic arthritis may also develop affecting the joints and pitting of the nails on both the fingers and toes is common.  Psoriasis can also have a profound emotional effect.

Psoriasis is caused by stress – fallacy – Whilst stress is a major trigger factor affecting psoriasis it is not the actual cause.  People who inherit psoriasis genes that cause the immune system to become over active will develop psoriasis.  Both genetic and environmental factors can trigger the disease.

A good treatment will cure psoriasis – fallacy – Unfortunately this too is a myth.  Whilst there are treatments available that will bring the condition under control there is yet to be a treatment developed that will cure psoriasis.  The psoriasis gene will always be present in the body waiting to be triggered causing an outbreak of the condition.

Eczema is more than skin deep.  Just ask anyone who suffers from the condition.

People who suffer form eczema have dry, red blotches on their skin.  They look different, and they feel different.  But it is not necessary for them to be treated differently.

It is however an unfortunate way of our society that people who look different are treated differently and are often made to feel alienated.

They are bullied.

A 2008 international survey backed by the National Eczema society of the UK and global patient support groups looked at the emotional effects of eczema.   Any one who has suffered from eczema or lived with someone who does knows of the emotional pain the condition causes.

In the study ISOLATE (International Study Of Life with Atopic Eczema) interviewed 2000 people from eight countries (France, Germany, Spain, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, UK and US) who suffered from moderate to severe eczema.  It is the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted and supported by international patient associations and physicians.

The survey revealed that people with eczema generally experience isolation, depression, segregation and bullying as a direct result of their eczema.  In fact no less than 27% of eczema sufferers have experienced bullying as a result of their unsightly skin.  10% of eczema sufferers also feel they have suffered discrimination at work due to their condition.

More than a minor inconvenience

Most people think of eczema as a minor inconvenience but for those with the condition it is far more than this.  Over half of the people surveyed said they experienced bouts of depression as a result of their eczema.

Surprisingly only 26% of those surveyed had experienced any form of advice from their physician regarding the emotional aspects of the disease despite it obviously being a major concern for those with the condition.

75% of those surveyed said that the single most important improvement to their life would be to be able to control their eczema effectively.  This in itself indicates the desperation of many eczema sufferers yet it is an area which is regarded with little importance.

Margaret Cox, Chief Executive of the National Eczema Society in the UK said: “Eczema is sometimes dismissed as a minor irritation, but this survey clearly demonstrates the suffering experienced by millions of people in all aspects of their everyday lives.  It is hard to appreciate the misery that eczema can cause unless you, or a member of your family, have the disease.  Even doctors may not fully appreciate the psychological and emotional burden faced by patients who have to live with this distressing condition.”

Bullying can affect any one at any age, and in any environment.  It is a behaviour that is definitely not acceptable yet we see it occurring regularly and repeatedly.  Greater public awareness of eczema is required to help bring this problem under control.  More emotional and psychological support is also a must to help the sufferers of eczema make the most of their day and improve the quality of their lives.

Animals lose their coat in Spring.

If you’ve got a pet, you’ll know how much hair they leave lying around the house.  In spring time, this can double or even triple in quantity depending on the type of pet you have.  Pet hair floating around the home is not good news for eczema sufferers as it is a know allergen.

Pet’s can be very beneficial to eczema sufferers as they:

• provide company
• decrease stress
• provide hours of endless pleasure
• distract from worries.

Stress is a common trigger factor for flareups and outbreaks.

Of course if you are actually allergic to your pet the disadvantages may outweigh the advantages.  But before you send your beloved pet off to a new home check that it is your pet you are allergic to and not the products you are using to care for him.  It is not uncommon for pet shampoo or flea care etc to cause an allergic reaction and not the fur or the pet himself.

If you choose to have a pet, select your pet carefully.  Perhaps a goldfish would be a better alternative.  If it is a cat or dog that you are wanting, keep him clean and well groomed at all times.  Research the breeds and go for one that’s short haired and less likely to loose a lot of hair.  Don’t allow him to sleep on your bed or chairs and wash your hands after contact.

If you feel that a pet is a must in your life and your pet does cause allergic reactions you may find that it is necessary to use extra medication to control your eczema.

Sufferers of the inflammatory skin condition eczema are plagued by itchiness.  It is often the single most irritating aspect of the condition and the symptom that causes them the most grief.

Many different aspects of the environment aggravate the itchiness but one of the major problems is the fabric we put against our skin.  Many fabrics are coarse or scratchy and increase skin irritation which in turn increases itching.

A textile manufacturer in Japan has developed a new fibre that they claim will reduce the itchiness and irritation.  In a clinical study where 100 eczema sufferers wore underwear made of the fibre overnight, 80 of them reported decreased itchiness the next morning.

What makes this fibre so special?

The Osaka based textile maker Daiwabo Neu Co. drew on research conducted by Shinshu University and other institutions.  The end result was a fibre dyed with iron phthalocyanine which is an organic chemical that destroys the protein that accelerates itchiness by decomposing allergens such as dust mites and house dust.

This sounds like a huge breakthrough for the everyday lives of eczema sufferers and in deed any one with sensitive, easily irritated skin.  Unfortunately the report did not indicate how long it would be before the fibre makes it onto the market where we can all benefit from it.

Over the past couple of decades Western society has started exploring what the eastern world has known for centuries.

Green tea has therapeutic properties

Green tea and black tea both come from the same plant, camellia sinensis, which is native to the rainy forests of South East Asia.  The difference is in the processing.  Green tea is less processed so it still contains much of its original plant substances.

Green tea possesses many therapeutic properties, due to the high levels of polyphenols that it contains.  Polyphenols are naturally occurring substances that neutralise the damaging effects of the free radicals in the body.  Free radicals disrupt normal cellular function causing damage to many cells in the body.  The polyphenols, which are abundant in green tea, help to prevent this cellular damage.

Studies into the benefits of green tea are continuing and reports are promising.  Green tea contains anti-carcinogenic, anti-allergenic, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Green tea is believed to reduce inflammation and itching

Drinking green tea on a regular basis is believed to be beneficial in controlling the symptoms of eczema.  It is believed to reduce inflammation and itching and to calm the overactive immune response.  It is only effective whilst being taken regularly and is by no means considered a cure for the condition.  Studies indicate that eczema symptoms will reappear if the green tea is not taken regularly.

The amount of green tea required to control the symptoms of eczema is disputable.  Some reports claim 3 cups per day will control the symptoms of eczema whilst other reports indicate that up to 10 cups per day are required.

If you suffer from eczema why not try drinking green tea?  You never know the benefits you might discover.

Acne Rosacea, the skin condition causing a red rash on the face of many adults was until recently thought to be caused by blushing or high blood pressure.

Recent studies however have revealed that Rosacea is in fact caused by a parasite that lives on the skin and around the hair follicles of 98% of adults, but only causes problems in a select few.

A team of physicians in China isolated a microscopic parasite called human demodex, which infects over 90% of sufferers at birth and may cause Acne Rosacea in adult life. The parasite looks like a microscopic worm and feeds off our skin.  If not treated properly the parasite will multiply at an extremely rapid rate.  It takes only 10 days to reach maturity from the egg stage.

Untreated human demodex may lead to Acne Rosacea which causes the skin on the face to become rough, lumpy and reddish. Hair loss, premature aging of the skin and enlarged pores and acne may also result. The nose can also become bulbous.

Studies have shown that babies are not born with the parasite but become infected shortly after birth due to contact with other humans. Whilst evidence is not conclusive it is believed that the infection grows as people grow older and the parasites may get out of control if the immune system is out of balance or if there is too much sugar or yeast in the diet.

The Chinese team of physicians has spent 30 years researching the condition and effective treatments. They have developed a natural treatment with the primary ingredient being sea buckthorn oil, which is designed to kill human demodex and restore the skin.

Bringing home a newborn baby brings with it many emotions – excitement, fear, apprehension.  These emotions are natural.  After all your new bundle of joy is totally dependent on you and you want to do everything right so that your baby can have the best.

One aspect that is often not discussed with the new parents is the baby’s skin.  A newborn baby’s skin is very delicate and needs to be treated with care.

During the first week of life a baby will shed a layer of skin.  This does not mean that a baby has dry skin but rather is the skin transitioning from an amniotic fluid environment to drier air.  The skin does not need a moisturising cream at this time

Dr Jim Mitterando of the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth recommends moisturising creams not be used in the first month of a baby’s life.  He also suggests avoiding baby wipes as they have a drying effect on the newborn’s skin.

Over bathing your baby will remove the skin’s natural oils which are necessary to maintain healthy soft skin.  A lack of natural oils will result in dry skin and may lead to eczema, although it is rare for a baby to develop eczema before the age of two months and a hereditary component is usually required for eczema to develop.

Dr Mitterando says “Babies do not get very dirty and do not require daily baths.  Bathing two or three times per week is sufficient.  You can clean the dirtier areas more frequently…”

When bathing your baby it is a good idea to avoid soaps as they can cause dry skin.  Use a soap substitute if anything at all.  Adding a bath oil to the bath water is also very beneficial as it will prevent the water from drying out the skin by stripping it of its natural oils and help to lock in moisture.

I have just read an article on the net stating that “wine may be an effective eczema treatment.”

Surely, this is too good to be true.  It would appear that some German scientists have produced a seaweed wine using whole brown seaweed which they state will help improve eczema.

Seaweed is fat-free, low in calories and full of vital minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, iodine and sodium.

The article states that seaweed also has other health benefits.  It is able to remove radioactive strontium and other heavy metals from the body by binding with the toxins in the intestines and carrying them out of the body.  This prevents the toxins from being excreted through the skin as is the case in eczema flare ups.

If wine is not your thing seaweed can be found in other foods.  Sushi as we all know is wrapped in seaweed.  The Japanese also add seaweed to soups, broth’s and desserts or eat it as a snack.  Some cultures use forms of seaweed in breads, relishes, soups and fritters.

All sounds good….it is the flavour of seaweed in a wine that worries me.  I wonder if grapes have the same nutritional benefits?

If we knew exactly how to treat eczema, there would be a lot of happy and itch free people out there! But unfortunately, as you all would know there is no easy way to treat eczema.

One of the most difficult aspects you will face when you try to treat eczema is that it seems to come and go, getting worse and then improving sometimes for no obvious reason.

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We usually associate eczema flare ups with the heat of summer. Whilst this is true the change in our life style in winter can also cause problems with eczema skin.

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