Omega 3 Fish Oil and Eczema

What is the Role of Omega 3 Fish Oil in Eczema Treatment

Eczema or excema, known as dermatitis in the medical dictionary, is a skin condition in which it becomes red with little cracks and spots. People usually use creams and other medication to treat this illness. However, this provides only temporary solution and the irritation returns after a few days. Recent studies in the field of eczema treatment have revealed that eating fish or fish oil capsules can prevent eczema and other skin-related problems.

This is because fish oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids – DHA and EPA – which are not only beneficial for proper functioning of nervous system and immune system, but are also helpful in the prevention of various skin-related diseases like acne, formation of red spots, wrinkles and eczema. Therefore, the role of omega 3 fish oil in eczema treatment is significant and noteworthy.

Omega 3 fish oil and eczema can be connected by the fact that fish oil is the only known natural source of omega 3 fatty acids, other than some vegetable oils. Omega 3 fatty acids are known to fight against obesity and high cholesterol levels in the body. They are also important for a healthy heart and brain. When all other systems are working properly and your blood is clean and pure, the ultimate outcome is a glowing and healthy skin.

Omega 3 fatty acids also control the level of hormones – especially sexual hormones – in our body. Omega 3 fish oil can be used to improve sexual health, as well as some problems related to disturbed levels of hormones in the body.

Many of these problems are related to skin. Acne, eczema and growth of excessive facial hair in women are included in this category. If other treatments have proved to be ineffective, use omega 3 fish oil in eczema condition.

Eczema causes irritation and a constant urge to itch or rub the skin. If the condition is not controlled the skin may become damaged. Especially in children, if this condition occurs, they should be fed with omega 3 fish oil.

Always look for pharmaceutical grade fish oil and the one which is molecularly distilled to remove any impurities found in fish oil. Supplement products made from the Hoki fish found in New Zealand are the best to buy. They contain absolutely no impurities and guaranteed high-quality fish oil with just the right concentration of DHA and EPA fatty acids.

The use of omega 3 fish oil in eczema is perfectly safe and no side effects are seen with its consumption. However, you should not increase its dosage over recommended limits.

Reference: http://www.omega3-health-guide.com

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Probiotic Treatment may Limit Eczema in Infants

Oral supplementation with the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri to the mother during pregnancy and to the infant after birth may help reduce the development of eczema and allergy associated with immunoglobulin E, a key protein involved in the allergic response, according to Swedish researchers.

Probiotics are small molecules that help maintain the natural balance of organisms, also referred to as microflora, in the intestines.

Altered microbial exposure may underlie the increase of allergic diseases in affluent societies. Probiotics may help, Dr. Thomas R. Abrahamsson of Linkoping University Hospital and colleagues note.

To investigate, the researchers enrolled families with a history of allergic disease. Expectant mothers were randomly assigned to receive L reuteri in an oil suspension or a placebo treatment, each day from week 36 until delivery.

Their babies continued with the same formulation from birth until 12 months of age and were followed up for another year. A total of 188 completed the study.

At 2 years, the incidence of eczema was 36 percent in the active treatment group and 34 percent in the placebo group. However, during the second year, only 8 percent of the L. reuteri group had IgE-associated eczema compared with 20 percent of the placebo group, a statistically significant difference.

Skin prick test reactivity was also less common in active treatment group than in the placebo group. The difference was statistically significant in infants with mothers with allergies (14 percent versus 31 percent). However, there was no effect on wheeze or other potentially allergic diseases.

Although the study failed to confirm an overall preventative effect on infant eczema, the investigators conclude that "the treated infants had less IgE-associated eczema at 2 years of age and therefore possibly run a reduced risk to develop later respiratory allergic disease."

SOURCE: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, May 2007.

(c) REUTERS

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Non-steroid Eczema Cream May Prevent Development of Asthma

A study is currently being conducted to determine if using Elidel to treat atopic eczema could prevent the development of allergic asthma, rhinitis and hay fever later in life. It is estimated that 80% of children with atopic eczema will eventually develop asthma etc.

The theory is that by protecting the skins barrier through early treatment of eczema, there is less likelihood of allergens penetrating into the skin and setting of immune responses.

Elidel is currently the only FDA approved non-steroid treatment for atopic dermatitis or eczema. It doesn’t have the side effects of the comparative steroid creams.

Source: Summary of medical news story as reported by Medical News Today, from http://wrongdiagnosis.com

Eczema Club note: Please read our prevous posts on the use of Elidel as topical immunomodulator to treat eczema.

Information on eczema natural cream to treat red, itchy and flaky skin

Eczema Club Entrecard

To extend exposure on Eczema Club, I joined Entrecard.com. In short, Entrecard is a member-powered advertisement exchange program.

Here's how it works:

If a member 'drop' his/her entrecard to your account, you have an option to accept or decline the request. If you accept, his/her entrecard will be displayed in your blog. By doing this, I get entrecard points. I can spend the points to put my entrecard to other blogs.

Eventually, my purpose of doing this is to put Eczema Club Entrecard in other related blog, in a hope to get the blog's visitors attention to visit this blog.

If you have an entrecard, please 'drop' your entrecard into Eczema Club Entrecard account and I'll make sure to include your entrecard displayed in this blog.

Eczema Club Squidoo Lens

To increase Eczema Club eczema awareness campaign, I recently publish Eczema Club lens on Squidoo.

Currently it contain feeds from this blog, as well as one or two other things. In the future, I plan to feature blogs and blog feeds from other eczema related blogs. Do you want your blog feed to be included in Eczema Club lens? Just leave me a message with your blog and feed URL and I'll include yours to the lens ASAP.

Please visit Eczema Club lens and leave a feedback on how to use the lens better to enhance awareness on eczema.

New Eczema Treatments on Horizon

New ways to treat skin conditions which affect millions of people could be on the way after a scientific discovery.

Experts led by the University of Dundee have discovered the gene which causes dry skin, leading to eczema and asthma.

The gene produces the protein filaggrin, which helps the skin form a protective outer barrier.

Experts hope to use the discovery for more effective therapies to tackle the root causes of the conditions, rather than simply treating the symptoms.

At the moment the only treatment is through the use of emollients and ointments or anti-inflammatory drugs.

"If you imagine the disease as a burning building, up until now we've just been throwing buckets of water on the roof" - Prof McLean, University of Dundee

The research, to be published in the journal Nature Genetics, was undertaken with collaborators in Glasgow, Dublin, Seattle and Copenhagen.

Filaggrin, abundant in the outermost layers of the skin, keeps bacteria and viruses out while keeping water in to prevent the skin from drying.

Reduction or absence of the protein leads to dry and flaky skin.

Professor Irwin McLean, of Dundee University's human genetics department, said the elusive gene had been known about for 20 years or more but was difficult to analyse.

'New era'

"It was a really tough project, but because we had experience in this type of gene, we managed to crack it where others had failed," he said.

"We see this as the dawn of a new era in the understanding and treatment of eczema and the type of asthma that goes with eczema as well.

"If you imagine the disease as a burning building, up until now we've just been throwing buckets of water on the roof.

"I was constantly at the hospital every day getting bandages from head to toe" - Jade Williamson, Chronic eczema sufferer

"But now we know exactly where the fire is underneath and we can put the hoses in there and hopefully tackle the cause of the problem properly."

Experts said new treatments from the discovery could take some time to come to fruition.

Jade Williamson, from Rosyth in Fife, said the discovery could lead to her having a complete life for the first time.

The 22-year-old fitness student developed what was first thought to be nappy rash when she was six months old, but the condition later grew into chronic eczema.

She said: "I was constantly at the hospital every day getting bandages from head to toe.

"All you could see was my eyes, my nose and my mouth. It was distressing when I was younger."

Gene mutation

Ms Williamson said the problem sometimes became stressful when she was younger, adding: "When my skin was bad I did tend to close myself in my room and stay away."

She said that living with the condition brought a constant regime of moisturising and washing.

The study, which also involved Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Dublin, showed that about 10% of Europeans carry a mutation that switches off the filaggrin gene, causing a very common dry, scaly skin condition known as ichthyosis vulgaris.

About five million people in the UK alone make only half of the normal amount of filaggrin protein and have a milder form of the condition, while 120,000 people in the UK have no filaggrin protein and often require specialist treatment.

More than one million people are predicted to have the severe form of the condition worldwide.

Source and copyright: http://bbc.co.uk

Information on natural eczema cream to soothe dry and flaky skin

Asteatotic Eczema

Asteatotic Eczema is a skin condition that dries excessively the skin. It regularly leads to the creation of tiny cracks in the skin. It is a frequent condition among the elderly, especially during winter months spent indoors in environments with low humidity levels.

Usually, if patients follow the next treatment line, they will respond positively to therapy. Nonetheless, there is need to pay a lot of attention to triggering factors and to avoid them as much as possible.

- Short baths with low water temperatures are a great helper. High water temperatures are likely to worsen an asteatotic Eczema condition.

- Coarse skin cleansers and coarse fabrics applied directly on the skin are to be avoided.

- Soap should be replaced with an emollient.

- Topical steroid ointments should also be applied, but only on the prescription of a specialist.

- Remember to use moisturizers.

A quick treatment of asteatotic Eczema involves the use of topical steroid ointments with 24- to 48-hour occlusion with polyethylene. The majority of the patients heal with mild topical steroids, but the fact depends on the severity of the Eczema, on the patient’s compliance with treatment, and the reduction of contact with triggering or aggravating agents. Generally, doctors will recommend use of moisturizers, especially petrolatum-based preparations, alone or in combination with topical steroids for mild cases.

Source: http://eczemagone.com