Eczema Treatment that Comes Up to Scratch

A herbal cream helped to soothe one mother and daughter’s painful itch

When 38-year-old Jacquie Terry’s daughter, Hope, was 1, a photographer offering portraits in a local supermarket refused to take her photograph. “Unless you put some make-up on her the baby will look so awful you won’t buy the photograph,” he said. Hope’s eczema, having initially been in small patches, had suddenly spread to her face and was inflamed, as it became infected when she scratched.

Terry had expected Hope to contract eczema as Hope’s father has eczema and it tends to run in families. Terry also has psoriasis on her scalp and leg, an inherited skin condition that began during her finals at university. Hope’s eczema was worst on the back of her knees, neck and joints. As well as scratching when she felt anxious, itching would keep her awake at night, and sometimes she would scratch so badly that she drew blood. The eczema would then become infected and a course of antibiotics would be needed, as well as treatment for the condition. This progressed from heavy-duty moisturisers to hydrocortisone and stronger steroid creams, as each one proved ineffective.

Steroid creams are prescribed during eczema flare-ups as they act by reducing inflammation quickly. The strength of steroid cream that a doctor prescribes depends on the age of the patient, the severity of the condition, and the size of the area to be treated.

Hope is now 6 and for the past five years, against her better judgment, Terry has been treating her with steroid creams. Both her GP and her friends had warned against long-term use of the creams.

There seemed no alternative. Even a referral to the local hospital dermatology department for Hope yielded only a thick, unpleasant and ineffective moisturiser. “The GP kept telling me that it wasn’t a good idea to use steroid creams long term, but didn’t give me any alternatives. I clung to it as I just wanted to do anything to relieve Hope’s discomfort,” Terry says.

Potent steroid use for long periods can produce side-effects such as skin-thinning and premature ageing. Many young eczema sufferers are prescribed hydrocortisone or other steroids. They clear up the complaint while they are in use, but they are not designed for long-term use and once someone stops using the preparation the eczema returns.

The last straw came when Hope said she didn’t want to wear shorts for PE because of the skin on her legs. When a friend suggested cardiospermum gel, Terry did some research.

Cardiospermum is one of the commonest herbs used for skin problems in Sri Lanka. Its botanical term is Cardiospermum halicacabum, but is locally known as balloon vine. This wiry climber’s main antiinflammatory powers are said to lie mostly in its leaves and seeds, which have been used for hundreds of years in Sri Lanka for skin dryness and eczema, as the seeds contain triterpenoids, which have an antiinflammatory effect and antibacterial qualities.

Terry and Hope embarked on a course of treatment two months ago, using the hypoallergenic cardiospermum gel that she found online.

“I was dubious at first,” says Terry, “as I had relied on the steroid for so long I didn’t think anything else would work on Hope. Also, the gel smells a bit like compost, but it feels cooling and seemed to absorb really quickly, and the smell doesn’t linger.

“Hope’s skin is really good at the moment. We used the gel twice a day and it soothed the itching almost immediately. She absolutely hates having creams put on, probably because her skin has been so sensitive before, so the fact that the cardiospermum is in a gel, and is not messy or irritating or greasy, has made the whole process much easier.”

Terry is also using the gel for the psoriasis patches on her legs and claims “it is definitely breaking down the rough patches and making them smoother”.

Is natural best?

We look at the evidence for other natural creams. If you plan to use these with steroid creams it may be worth having a chat with your GP to check that they won’t interact.

Evening primrose oil cream

Claims Reduces itchiness and redness.

Any evidence? A review of 26 trials of evening primrose oil for eczema has shown it to be an effective treatment, though it appears to do less well when combined with steroids.

Manuka honey

Claims Stops infection and reduces inflammation. Best to use in cream form, unless you want to get really sticky.

Any evidence? Manuka honey has been shown to have antibacterial, wound-healing and some antiinflammatory properties.

Aloe vera

Claims Cools down angry skin — reduces redness and swelling. Available in a gel, cream or lotion. Any evidence? Laboratory experiments suggest it has antibacterial and antiinflammatory properties.

Vitamin E cream

Claims This vitamin helps to repair dry and cracked skin.

Any evidence? Vitamin E has been used for a variety of skin conditions and is generally acknowledged to be an effective treatment.

Oat milk

Claims Creates a moisturising bath. Fill the foot of a cut-off pair of tights with porridge oats and tie it under the tap while running a bath. Or use Aveeno, an oat-based moisturiser.

Any evidence? No.


WHAT’S THE EVIDENCE?
DR TOBY MURCOTT

Can cardiospermum cream soothe eczema? There is no evidence from good-quality clinical trials but considerable anecdotal evidence. Cardiospermum extracts have been shown in animal studies to reduce inflammation and it has also shown to have a similar effect on human cells in the test tube. Eczema is, in part, an inflammatory response so it is logical that an antiinflammatory cream may ease it.

But it’s a natural product Natural means neither better nor safe, and everything is made of chemicals.

Could the cream help in any other way? Eczema is also closely linked to stress and anxiety. The description of the cream as being cooling and easily absorbed suggests that using it was a pleasant experience, which might have reduced stress.

Dr Toby Murcott is a former BBC science correspondent

Author: Lucy Freeman

© Copyright 2008 Times Newspapers Ltd.

Quality organic herbs for natural eczema treatment

Eczema and Dermatitis - Natural Prevention & Treatment

Eczema can affect your whole family but you can treat it naturally and effectively with some common sense, some detective work, some vigilant avoidance of allergens and some clever supplementation where necessary.

Dermatitis or Eczema is a general term for any type of inflammation of the skin. Types of dermatitis include atopic dermatitis, nummular dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.

The inflammation of the skin that accompanies dermatitis (or eczema) produces scaling; flaking, weeping, crusting, thickening, colour changes, and often itching and typically appears on the face, in the bends of elbows and behind the knees.

Several underlying problems can lead to eczema:

1. Hypochlorydia -low levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
2. Leaky gut syndrome- in which tiny particles of undigested foods pass through the intestines and enter the blood stream provoking allergic reactions.
3. Candidiasis an overgrowth of yeast in the body.
4. Food allergies.
5. Genetic weakness in the enzymes which converts fatty acids or a essential fatty acid deficiency (Not enough good fats in the body).
   

Contact dermatitis from contact with perfumes, cosmetics, rubber, medicated creams, ointments, latex, plants, metals, and even sunlight can cause some types of dermatitis. Eczema or Atopic dermatitis is known to affect allergy prone individuals.

Triggers vary from person to person, but tend to include changes in weather and atmosphere, hot or cold weather, exposure to allergens, infections such as colds and stress. If other family members also have allergies, hayfever, asthma, and atopic dermatitis then it is more common for a child to develop it also.

In babies, infants or children this can be an essential fatty acid deficiency (from not getting enough in mother's milk or formula and or diet), food allergies or from chemicals used to clean the clothes and home of the infant.

What can you do for your baby?

1. Delay introduction of food solids until 6 months of age so the gastrointestinal tract can develop fully.
2. Supplement Mothers diet with Fish oil capsules or other quality oils such as black current seed oil, flax seed, Evening Primrose oil and salmon oil. This will pass through into the baby via the breast milk.
3. Supplement Mother with Probiotics such as Lactobacillus Acidophillus and Bifidus. More than just the amounts found in yoghurts are necessary for this condition.
4. Where available purchase an infants probiotic formula rich in Bifido infantis bacterium, the particular strain of infant bacteria that they need to stop reactions such as Eczema. You can mix with breast milk and place on Mother's nipple for taking by infant or add to infant formula. This is especially important for babies who are born by cescearian section as they have not been inoculated by their mother's vaginal bacteria.
5. Supplement Mother's diet with a B complex formula as B6 and cofactors such as Biotin help with infants being breast-fed that have dermatitis, eczema or craddle cap. Foods that are rich in B complex vitamins include Brewers yeast, many cheeses, whey, eggs, apples, iceberg lettuce, Rye flour, salt water fish, banana, liver,potato's, sunflower seeds, walnuts and legumes.
6. Apply 10mls of a specially formulated oil blend onto your babies skin 3 times a day as necessary such as a blend of equal parts of sweet almond oil, evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil and chickweed oil. This will alleviate the itch, soothe the skin and provide essential fatty acids to be absorbed through the skin surface.
7. Put 10mls of this oil mix into your babies bath.
8. While you are getting organised to make your oil, you can make chamomile tea, allow to cool and add 4 drops of lavender oil -bathe the area daily with this solution. Other oils such as bergamot, chamomile, NZ Manuka and geranium are also helpful. Add one drop of each to 50mls of chamomile solution.
9. Avoid all chemicals for cleaning products in your home.
   

If your child has developed atopic dermatitis or other allergies you can get their allergies tested. Hair allergy testing is very simple and quite comprehensive these days with both IgE and IgG responses able to be detected.

There are also local naturopaths that can do energetic hair testing which are giving people fantastic results. Consult your family G.P. If you want the basic skin tests done, these are not as comprehensive but another option none the less. There are a variety of ways to test for allergies so please consult your natural Health practitioner or G.P.

By understanding what your child's allergies are you can easily avoid them, give their little bodies time to repair(with some help) and the resulting eczema should clear up on its own. Later these so called allergen foods can most often be re-introduced with out any trouble.

The most common forms of food allergies are eggs, peanuts, soy foods, wheat (breads, cakes, biscuits, pastries, pasta etc) and dairy products including cheese, milk, yoghurt, ice cream etc.
Soak all grains before eating, baking, this includes muesli's or breakfast cereals this breaks down phytic acid which can irritate G.I tracts and cause allergic reactions.


Older children and adults can do the following:

1. Take a digestive enzyme or HCL supplement with meals to increase digestion of all foods eaten.
2. B complex Vitamins are helpful to increase body's natural skin function and circulation. B vitamins aid in the reproduction of all cells, cell formation and cellular longevity. Deficiency of this vitamin group has been linked to dermatitis.
3. Essential fatty acid supplementation such as Cod Liver oil, black current seed oil, flax seed, Evening Primrose oil and salmon oil.
4. Add a supplement of Probiotics to your diet daily as a lack of bowel flora from any use of Anti-biotics will also contribute to this condition.
5. Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids because they inhibit inflammation and stabilizes cell membranes.
6. Vitamin E -relieves dryness and itching.
7. Zinc- Aids in all healing and supports natural immune function.
8. Kelp Because it contains Iodine and other minerals needed for skin healing of tissues.
   

Recomendations:

1. Dark oily fish such as salmon.
2. Avoid all allergy foods including foods with raw egg which contains avidin, a protein which binds to biotin and prevents it from being absorbed.
3. Avoid sugar, strawberries, white flour, chocolate, fried foods and processed foods.
4. Avoid gluten containing foods such as Rye, Oats, Barley and Wheat foods for 6 weeks and see if dermatitis improves.
5. Use a Body oil rich in essential fatty acids such as the recipe above everyday.
6. Keep your house de-humidified (moisture free) and take only one shower or bath per day as these deplete natural skin oils.
7. Avoid soaps and chemical bubble baths that irritate your skin. Choose a natural non irritating soap for sensitive skin.
8. Keep your colon clean by going to the toilet every day. Use a bulking fibre supplement if you have to such as psyllium husks or flax seeds. NB: always take a fibre product separately from other supplements.
9. Do a detox to get rid of candidiasis and possible parasites and gut repair programme with your natural health practitioner to heal your leaky gut wall.
10. Juice therapy can be very effective. Try the following: carrot, beetroot, cucmber, celery, apple.
11. Homeopathy may also prove to be helpful. Look into the following remedies for the right one for you or your child: Pulsatilla, Arsenican album, Lycopodium, Graphites, Petroleum, Sulfur, Thuja, Sepia.
    

Herbal Treatments for adults:

1. Drink a cold infusion of equal parts of fresh Nettle, Chickweed and Cleavers twice a day.
2. Mix equal parts of tinctures of Red clover, Nettle, Chickweed, Baical skullcap and cleavers and take 1/2 tsp of this mixture three times a day.
   

Other Topical applications to try:

1. Aloe Vera gel
2. Evening Primrose oil applied directly to the skin can help the body's response to cracks and sore areas of the skin.
3. To relieve itch make a cream with Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Chickweed oil, Zinc oxide, yoghurt and a little honey. Mix together and apply to skin.
4. Dried herbs of Calendula, Chickweed and St John's wort can be infused into Olive oil for 2 hours over a water basin and applied to itchy and painful skin.
   

Originally written by Kirsten Taylor - Naturopath, Medical Herbalist. Used with the permission of the author - www.nzhealthshop.com

Source: http://labouroflove.org

Quality organic herbs for natural eczema treatment

Allergens May Weaken Eczema Skin

Study Shows Impact of Dust Mites and Cockroach Allergens on Skin Damaged by Eczema

Dust mites and cockroach allergens may make it harder for eczema-damaged skin to heal, South Korean researchers report.

In their lab, the researchers made extracts of household dust mites and cockroach allergens. They tested the dust mite extract on six healthy adults who didn't have eczema.

To mimic eczema's damaging effect on skin, participants got tape peeled off their forearm skin several times. Then the researchers applied a bit of the dust mite extract to the skin and saw how long the skin took to heal from the tape damage.

Their skin was weaker for the first three hours after the allergen was applied. That effect faded within a few more hours.

The researchers also conducted a similar experiment on mice exposed to dust mite and cockroach allergens. The mice's skin healed slower after exposure to the allergens.

Lastly, the researchers used an experimental drug to block an enzyme called PAR-2. That helped damaged skin heal faster despite the presence of dust mite or cockroach allergens.

The researchers included Se Kyoo Jeong of Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea.

Their study appears in today's online edition of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Source: Jeong, S. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Feb. 28, 2008; online edition.

News release, Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

Reference: http://webmd.com

Atopic Dermatitis - What Increases Your Risk

The major risk factor for atopic dermatitis is having a family history of the condition. You are also at risk for developing atopic dermatitis if family members have asthma, allergic rhinitis, or other allergies.

An infant with one parent who has had atopic dermatitis has a 60% chance of developing this condition; if both parents have a history of atopic dermatitis, the child has an 80% chance of developing it.

Source: http://webmd.com

Eczema Club note:

This is particularly true for my little boy - My wife suffers from eczema, I suffer respiratory problem due to allergens in the air. My boy's skin problem is not really called an eczema - yet, but his skin is really sensitive.

However, take courage, parents! Those who develop allergy symptoms in his/her early age will actually rise the chance to 'escape' from the eczema and allergy FOR GOOD. Please check your doctor to confirm this!

Get More Information on Eczema Cream for Itchy, Inflamed, Red, Dry and Flaky Skin

Vitamin C May Increase the Likelihood of Eczema and Asthma in Children

Total Vitamin C intake during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of eczema and asthma in children by age 2, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom studied 2,000 women to determine how antioxidant intake during pregnancy affects the development of asthma and eczema in children. The full two-year study was completed by 1,300 of the women.

The women were required to fill out questionnaires that asked them about their dietary habits during pregnancy. They also and had their blood tested for antioxidant levels. Follow-ups were conducted at six-, 12-, and 24-month intervals on 1,924 of the children born to the study participants.

Results show children whose mothers had the highest levels of total vitamin C intake were also the most likely to develop eczema and asthma by age 2. Other antioxidants test such as vitamin E, selenium, beta-carotene, magnesium, copper, or zinc were not associated with early childhood eczema or asthma. However, vitamin E did appear to decrease both asthma and eczema risk.

Authors conclude, “This study suggests maternal dietary antioxidant intakes during pregnancy may modify the risks of developing [asthma] and eczema during early childhood. Further follow-up of the [children] will determine whether maternal diet during pregnancy is associated with asthma and atopic disease later in childhood.”

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2005;171:121-128

Eczema oil for your baby

Bacterial Toxin in the Home May Protect Infants from Eczema

New findings support the controversial ''hygiene hypothesis''

Children whose homes contain high levels of endotoxin, a bacterial compound that collects in house dust, may be less likely to develop eczema during their first year of life, according to a study led by Dr. Wanda Phipatanakul, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Children's Hospital Boston and assistant professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

The study corroborates other recent work that supports the ''hygiene hypothesis'' -- speculation that early exposure to infectious or inflammatory agents causes changes in babies' immune systems that reduce their risk of developing allergy-related conditions later in life.

Various studies have looked at the relationship between endotoxin and allergies, but this is the first U.S. study to look at the effects of endotoxin exposure on eczema, one of the most common allergic diseases of infancy.

As part of the ongoing, Boston-based Home Allergens and Asthma Study, the researchers followed nearly 500 infants living in the Boston metro area beginning at 2 to 3 months of age. They collected dust samples from the living rooms of 400 of them and analyzed the samples for endotoxin, a component of the cell walls of various bacteria. All the babies had a parent with allergies or asthma.

The more endotoxin in the home, the less likely babies were to be diagnosed with eczema during their first year of life. When endotoxin concentrations were classified into four levels, the risk for eczema was about 25 percent lower with each increase in endotoxin level, after adjustment for other eczema-related variables.

Infants whose homes had a dog also were less likely to develop eczema, but this relationship weakened after adjustment for endotoxin exposure. Eczema risk was increased in infants whose fathers had a history of eczema, or whose mothers were sensitive to at least one allergen.

Cases of eczema have increased two- to three-fold in industrialized countries since World War II, a pattern similar to that seen for asthma and other allergic conditions.

According to the hygiene hypothesis, today's cleaner, more germ-free environments may deprive babies' developing immune systems of chances to practice fighting off microbes; as a result, their immune systems veer toward an allergic type of response, mistakenly attacking harmless substances. Supporters of this still-controversial idea note that children who live on farms, grow up with pets, come from large families, or start day care in early infancy are less prone to allergies and asthma.

Phipatanakul does not advise parents to buy pets, stop cleaning their homes, place their infants in daycare, or do anything else to protect them from eczema.

''We now know that there are things in the environment that may be important in eczema,'' she says. ''But you need lots of studies to be able to come up with recommendations.''

Phipatanakul notes that the mechanisms of allergies are very complicated, and that it's not clear what endotoxin does to the immune system. In fact, a number of studies have linked endotoxin exposure with wheezing and airway inflammation in established asthmatics.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Children's Hospital Boston is the nation's premier pediatric medical center. Founded in 1869 as a 20-bed hospital for children, today it is a 300-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care grounded in the values of excellence in patient care and sensitivity to the complex needs and diversity of children and families. More than 100 outpatient specialty clinics are located at Children's. Children's Hospital Boston is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, home to the world's leading pediatric research enterprise, and the largest provider of health care to the children of Massachusetts. For more information about the hospital visit: www.childrenshospital.org

Source: http://childrenhospital.org

Neem Herbs Eczema Treatment

Neem is a most effective eczema herbal remedy - and there are many products currently being sold in the market place as wonder Herbal cures and remedies for Eczema and Psoriasis and we could post hundreds of pages without even scratching the surface. However we can help to get things in perspective with a few hints and warnings.

Herbal does not mean safe and many of the worlds most powerful toxins are herbal. Lots of companies sell so called herbal products that contain chemicals and preservatives, which are detrimental to skin diseases such as Psoriasis and Eczema. Examination of 24 creams for eczema revealed that 20 were found to contain corticosteroids (cortisone family) and many contained very potent steroids, which should only be available by prescription.

Any herbal potion to be ingested should be approached very carefully for allergic reaction. An easy way to try is to rub a small amount of product on the gums and wait for a couple of hours and if there is no reaction take a very small amount and wait.

Examine packaging for ingredients and if there are none do not use it.

Take into account that a great amount of prescription treatments derive from Natural products and are synthetically reproduced to enable patent. Synthetic production of these molecules can cause unknown reactions and side effects not present in the natural version.

Facial Skin Conditions

These conditions whilst causing psychological stress (particularly in the young,) also poses the problem of infection due to the lack of friendly cleansing agents. The properties of Neem, which we believe put this in the forefront of treatments, are Non-allergenic properties.

One of the strongest natural analgesics, which relieves discomfort with immediate effect.
Nimoids, which are an active compound, found only in Neem and work in very similar ways to steroid without the side effects. (Initial studies in 1986 rang warning bells; it was believed that these compounds were just another steroid. Closer examination revealed that MILLIONS of people in India were taking Neem leaf daily with no detrimental effect. (G took Neem every day.)

Neem contains a natural anti-histamine which hinders reaction and aids relief.


Baby Eczema

The eczema condition in children is even more disconcerting due to the fact that the most upsetting situation for a parent is to watch their child suffer when to date there has been very little in the way of treatments to help. This coupled with sleepless nights can affect the whole family physically as well as psychologically. Neems' very effective analgesic qualities will help alleviate discomfort sometimes with immediate effect.

Although a chemical free Neem based lotion can produce dramatic effects with discomfort relief and skin regeneration, it must be noted that eczema is an allergic reaction and the quest for the root cause must continue. The safety aspect of Neem treatments, when compared to the detrimental side effects of other products such as steroid creams etc. in our opinion make Neem the necessary choice for children.

Neem based lotions, creams and oils offer help in other areas such as nappy rash, fungal infections and also repels house mite which is a further aid to eczema and asthma sufferers.

Reference: http://neemgenie.co.uk

Quality organic herbs for natural eczema treatment