One of the easiest things you can do to stay healthy and to help your body heal itself is to eat a nutritious diet.

Such a diet will help you boost your immune system and will provide you with the energy you need to help you cope with the stress of your condition.

Food is a wonderful and vital part of life.

Not only is it necessary for your survival, it contains a variety of special nutrients that actively help to fight disease. The compounds are known as photo-chemicals, and there are literally hundreds of these present in everyday foods.

Below is a list of vitamins and nutrients that are found in common foods and their impact on the human body.

Vitamin A - Repairs damaged skin and eases symptoms of allergic reactions.
Found in: Carrots, asparagus, spinach, parsley, apples, garlic

B Complex - Helps combat dryness and itchiness as well as relieving stress.
Found in: Rice, wheat germ, oatmeal, sunflower seeds, fish, eggs, almonds, liver, vegemite, yeast

Vitamin C -  Has anti-histamine effects and helps to combat skin infections.
Found in: Oranges, apples, garlic, onions, parsley, green leafy vegetables

Vitamin E - Valuable antioxidant that combats free radical damage.
Found in: Apples, parsley, rye, wheat germ, whole wheat, broccoli

Zinc - Aids healing and skin health and is a deficiency found in people with eczema.
Found in: Apricots, peaches, oysters, cocoa, eggs

Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids - Helps reduce inflammation of the skin.
Found in: Soya beans, grape seed oil, oily fish, walnuts, olive and sunflower oil

Natural therapies may be the preferred treatment of the future.

There is a definite trend towards natural therapies when it comes to treating eczema and psoriasis.  With the well known dangers of the prolonged use of steroids and now with growing fears that the wonder drugs Elidel and Protopic are not as safe as originally believed we find ourselves turning more and more to natural alternatives.

But what natural therapies should we use?

Selecting a treatment is a matter of trial and error.  Find a treatment that suits your skin and that helps relieve the symptoms and stick with it.

I have always been a strong advocate of arming yourself with as much information as possible.  Read as much as you can.  Talk to people with eczema.  Ask your doctor and your pharmacist.  The more you know the better able you will be to manage the condition.  And the better you manage your eczema the more comfortable and fulfilled your life will be.

So when you are looking for a natural treatment that you have not used before, how do you make your selection and how do you know if your new cream is working?

Selecting a new cream

1. There is no cure for eczema so beware of the products that advertise to cure your eczema.
2. Be cautious of products that do not reveal all of their ingredients.
3. Avoid products that contain added perfumes or preservatives (some preservatives are necessary but not an excessive amount).
4. Start off with a small jar and trial it on just one area of your body so that you can compare improvement.
5. Read about the new product - look for testimonials and side effects - is it a new product or has it been around for a while and proven itself as effective?
6. Consider usability - can you carry it with you or does it need to be kept in the fridge?
7. Think about what it is that you want from the cream.  Does the cream indicate that it could offer what you want?
8. Remember that not every cream will be effective for everyone.  It takes trial and error to find the correct cream for your skin.  Don’t be discouraged if the first cream you try doesn’t work for you.

How do you know if your new cream is working?

Eczema creams are designed to relieve the symptoms of eczema not to cure the condition.  If your cream is relieving the itchiness, redness, dryness or inflammation it is working.  How well it is working can only be determined by you.

Is it offering the amount of relief that you want?

If your eczema reappears when you stop using your cream this does not mean that the cream is not working but quite the opposite - your cream is working and needs to be reapplied.

If you are unsure how well the cream is working try applying it to just one area affected with eczema (ie one arm) and continue with your other methods of treatment on the rest of your body.  You can then compare the different parts of your body and the state of your eczema.

Eczema or Psoriasis

Psoriasis and eczema are both inflammatory skin conditions which result in considerable discomfort and can prove difficult to treat.  Psoriasis and Eczema are both very common and the exact cause of these conditions are not known.  Although psoriasis and eczema are not life threatening, they can cause severe misery and disruption to the sufferers everyday life and that of their family.

Chronic Conditions

Psoriasis and eczema are both chronic conditions, one that persists for a long period of time, and as with any chronic condition it is important to look at your lifestyle and understand how various aspects of it may affect your skin.

Eczema

Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that is characterised by excruciating itching.  The skin often becomes very dry and red, with a scaly type of appearance.  Eczema appears as a rash and most commonly affects the face and neck as well as the arm and leg folds. The eczema may become more extensive and cover the entire body.  In most cases young children grow out of the condition by the age of 7 years.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis on the other hand, is the result of an over production of skin cells.  It typically features discrete bright red patches covered with silvery scales.    Serious cases of psoriasis may lead to painful cracking, or fissuring, of the skin.  Psoriasis usually affects the scalp, knees, trunk and elbows.  Unlike eczema, it is rare in children, and will most commonly develop in early adulthood.

Both psoriasis and eczema cannot be cured, but they can be managed.  By using the appropriate medical treatment and by looking at your lifestyle and diet, you can take charge of your condition.  However, you must look after you’re skin on a daily basis to keep it healthy.

The itch at the top

The head may only take up a small proportion of the body but if there is a problem at the top end it can affect everything.  Eczema of the scalp is a very common problem, and the associated itchiness can drive you mad.

There are two basic forms – that which affects adults known as Adult Seborrheic Eczema  and that which affects children known as Infantile Seborrheic Eczema.

Adult seborrheic eczema

This eczema usually affects adults between the ages of 20 and 40.  Seborrheic eczema tends to develop gradually and begins with itching and scaliness of the scalp which becomes red and inflamed.  It is similar to dandruff except the scale is more marked and the scalp becomes inflamed.

Sufferers of eczema of the scalp will often find that it may spread down to the face, in particular the oily zones such as the sides of the nose, eyebrows and ears.  It may even extend to the central chest area.

Seborrheic eczema affects areas with large amounts of oil glands.  The body reacts to a yeast on the scalp resulting in the inflammation.

Most sufferers of seborrheic eczema will be especially sensitive to chemicals in products such as soaps, bubble baths and some shampoos and cosmetics.  These can dry out the scalp even more and thus create an increasingly embarrassing dandruff problem.

Infantile seborrheic eczema (Cradle Cap)

A common eczema condition affecting babies usually less than 12 months of age.
Cradle cap usually starts on the scalp or the nappy area and spreads to areas where the skin rubs together like the elbows or under the armpits. This type of eczema features red, scaly patches and looks unpleasant, but it usually is not sore or itchy.  Most cradle cap clears by the time the baby is 12 months old.

One of the most important factors in identifying potential food triggers is your own observation.  Keeping a food diary in which you note down everything you consume is a useful way of detecting whether there is any significant pattern of reaction to a particular food or foods.

Following are a few useful tips for keeping a food diary and an example of how to set one out.

1. The diary should be designed to make it easy for you to fill in and refer to
2. Get a new exercise book or blank diary and make this your food diary.  Label it clearly and make sure it is a good size so that you can carry it with you when you are out and about for the day
3. If the diary is for a child, then make sure that the child’s day care teacher, nanny or babysitter also has a copy or knows how to fill it out
4. Include any medication that is taken and creams / oils that are applied
5. Review the diary on a regular basis.  Look back each day and add any additional information that may help
6. Have a food index page at the back of the diary to note down the ingredients that are in a favorite dish or food that you eat regularly.  This will prevent the need to list down the ingredients each time the food is consumed
7. Take the diary with you all the time and especially when you go to your GP or naturopath.  They will find it a very useful tool and will be able to help you identify trigger

For many years there has been considerable controversy about the relationship between food and eczema.  Some believe that eating certain foods will lead to an outbreak of eczema, whilst avoiding these foods will lead to an improvement in their skin condition.

Until recently most orthodox doctors dismissed the idea that food had a significant role to play in eczema.  Except of course amongst the small group of infants allergic to cows milk.

Over time these views have changed.  Due to continuous research into this area, a great deal more has come to be understood about ways in which food can spark off adverse reactions.  Ten to fifteen percent of people suffer from some sort of food sensitivity and it is now generally accepted that this sensitivity may play a part in some cases of eczema.  It is estimated that food sensitivity is a factor in one third of childhood eczema cases.

It must however be remembered that eczema is caused by a combination of different factors so there is no single treatment that works for everyone.  Except for the mildest of cases, it is unlikely that diet alone will have any effect on eczema.

Diet control can only help in the overall treatment of eczema.  It will need to be combined with a range of other treatments.  The use of emollients, avoiding environmental irritants and in some cases medical treatment all play a part in the overall control of eczema.  Remember the treatment of eczema, in all but the mildest of cases, is complex.

If you choose to use diet as a means of helping to control your eczema be wise about it.  Seek advice from a qualified person.  A dietitian, nutritionist or doctor are all able to assist you in maintaining a healthy balanced diet whilst eliminating the foods you are sensitive to.  It is especially important that babies and infants are never put on a severely restricted diet with out professional medical advice and guidance.

A healthy balanced diet

Whether suffering from food sensitivities or not, one of the best things you can do for your body and your eczema is to have a healthy balanced diet.  A nutritious diet will help to improve the health of the immune system and boost your energy levels.  A diet that is rich in wholesome food will also provide you with the energy you need to cope with the stress of your condition as well as being able to manage the physical care of the skin.

The main dietary aim in the past has simply been to omit foods to which one is sensitive.  Recently however, research has revealed that certain nutrients can actually help to fight disease.  These compounds are known as phyto-chemicals and there are literally hundreds of them found in the foods we commonly eat.  As research continues it is expected that more of these compounds will be discovered.

The most exciting aspect of this discovery is that it has taken the focus off what we should avoid eating and placed it onto what we should be eating.

So what should you eat?

Whether you have eczema or not, a shortage of particular vitamins, minerals and trace elements can show up in the skin.  As we know the skin is our body’s largest organ so it is of significant importance that we look after it and keep it healthy.

If you have mild eczema, a healthy nutritious diet combined with a good emollient regime may be sufficient to control the condition.  Special dietary measures may not be needed.  More severe eczema, whilst benefiting from a nutritious diet, may still require medical treatment.

Maintain a balance

Rather than focusing on specific foods, it is recommended that a balanced diet containing a mix of all the food groups be eaten.

Unrefined carbohydrates should make up the largest portion of your diet.  They are needed to sustain energy, which is particularly important for anyone living with a chronic condition like eczema.  These foods include starchy foods such as wholemeal bread, pasta, brown rice, couscous, potatoes, yams and bananas.

Fruit and Vegetables should make up the next largest portion of your diet.  A mixture of the different types of fruit and vegetables will provide you with the nutrients and vitamins needed to maintain healthy skin, repair damaged skin and block any allergic response.

A portion of Protein foods are required on a daily basis to repair and maintain your body’s tissues and to help strengthen your immune system.  Protein is found in both red and white meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts and seeds.

Fats and Oils should make up the smallest portion of your diet. The fats that are of particular importance to the body are the two essential fatty acids, omega 3 and omega 6.  They are found in nuts, seeds and oily fish.  A shortage of these fatty acids will lead to dry skin and increased inflammation, which is the last thing you want if you have eczema.

Whilst increasing these ‘good’ fats in your diet it is important to cut down on the ‘bad’ fats which have little dietary benefit.  The ‘bad’ fats or animal fats, are found in foods like pastries, biscuits, cakes and fried foods.

Dust is the general name for minute solid particles of matter.  Dust occurs in two main forms, Atmospheric dust and Domestic dust.  Although it was the atmospheric dust I’ve been dealing with for the past two weeks, domestic dust is what commonly causes flare-ups for eczema sufferers.

It’s spring, so dust in the house and dust in the air (in the form of pollen) is very common.  It’s a common time for allergies to flare up and the scratching of eczema begins.

Where there’s dust, there’s dust mites

We have known of the dangers of dust mite for those who suffer from allergies for longer than the word allergies has been around.  And they are difficult to avoid.

Dust mites are everywhere

Dust mites live off organic debris and their preferred diet is skin cells.  Dust mite can therefore be found wherever humans are.  They are most abundant where dead human skin cells are most plentiful – bedding, rugs, upholstered furniture.  They thrive in warm moist environments.

Dust mites are resilient

Dust mites are also very resilient.  They can survive in warm soapy water and can withstand freezing temperatures for up to 5 hours.  Bedding and furnishings should therefore be laundered regularly in the hottest water possible and then put through the hottest cycle of a clothes dryer.

It is best to replace childrens soft plush covered toys with toys that have smooth plastic bodies and washable clothes.  If children have special toys they just can’t part with they should be washed 2 –3 times a week in very hot water to kill the dust mite or placed in a plastic bag and put in the freezer overnight.  The next morning they can be washed in warm water to remove the dead mites.

Although regular vacuuming will not totally rid a room of mites it will remove up to 70% of them.  However they will be back to their original numbers within a week.  Regular vacuuming is therefore essential.

The most effective way to keep your environment as dust mite free as possible is to vacuum regularly, launder in hot water regularly and replace what ever can’t be laundered with that which can be laundered easily in hot water.

Blisters are a result of a number of causes.  Blisters are small fluid-filled sacs that appear on the surface of the skin.  They may vary in size from pinpoint to 10mm in diameter.  Larger blisters are known as bulla, whilst the smaller ones commonly seen in eczema are called vesicles.

Blisters are caused by an allergic reaction, which causes an increase in fluid accumulation in the skin’s tissues.  Blisters usually break easily releasing their fluid onto the skin’s surface.  When the fluid dries yellow crusts like scabs may remain on the skin.

Although not commonly recognised as a main symptom of eczema, blisters can be present in most types of eczema.  They are however mainly associated with Dyshidrotic eczema. Nummular eczema and Atopic eczema may also have blisters but they are a less distinctive part of the conditions.

Eczema is caused by stress? No

This is just another eczema fallacy.  Stress often acts as a trigger to eczema flare ups but is not the cause of eczema.

Eczema itself may cause stress, which leads to a vicious circle.  An increase in eczema leads to an increase in stress, which further worsens the eczema.

People look upon foods, dusts and climate changes as the major causes of eczema flare ups.  But one major factor - stress – is often overlooked.

Stress is often easier to identify and possible to control.

Our lives in general are far more stressful than in past generations.  Stressful jobs, fast non-stop social lives, unstable world situations and deadlines to meet.  All add stresses to our lives that will easily trigger an eczema flare up or make the overall condition difficult to control.

Take time to smell the roses

It is simple; we need to reduce the stress in our daily lives.  Take time out of our hectic day to relax – take time to smell the roses as the saying goes.

By spending half an hour each day doing something purely for yourself that you enjoy will significantly reduce the level of stress bottled up inside of you.  This may be simply reading a magazine, walking on the beach or having a massage.

Reduce you stress levels and your eczema will be much easier to control.

It’s a horrible time of year at school, you’re so close to the September holidays but you’ve still got a mountain of study and assignments to get through.  These exams are very important as the results will open up doors for their future.

Stress is everywhere

The children are well aware of the importance of these exams and feel the pressure.  Stress is everywhere and each child will experience their stress differently.  Some will have difficulty sleeping, some may experience nausea, and others may experience a flare up of their eczema.

Even eczema that has been dormant for years may resurface during this stressful time.  It is important to take good care of yourself and treat your eczema promptly so that your focus is not taken away from the major task at hand – exams.

Below are some tips on how to survive the final exams when you have eczema:

• Eat a well balanced diet, which includes plenty of water
• Get plenty of sleep
• Take time out from study to ‘chill out’ and relax
• Moisturise your skin after showering, every time, even if your eczema is controlled.  This may help to prevent a flare up
• Don’t leave study to the last minute, be sensible and spread it out so you don’t need to cram and can feel well prepared for each exam
• If your eczema causes problems with your hands making writing difficult discuss with your teacher the possibility of the exam board permitting you to use a computer or tape recorder
• If possible wear loose fitting cotton clothing that will not enhance sweating
• Request to sit in a well ventilated cool area of the room
• Make sure your teacher is aware of your condition so that they can be understanding and helpful where ever necessary