Do you experience frequent outbreaks of eczema regardless of the season in which you are currently living? There is really no justification for solitary existence.
More than 31 million people in the United States are affected by atopic dermatitis. It is the phrase used in the medical field to refer to eczema. They suffer from mild to severe symptoms to a greater extent than fifty percent of the population.
Eczema is an inflammatory skin ailment that can cause dry, itchy, and thickened skin. It is typically observed on the flexors of a person’s physique (the crooks at their elbows or the back of their knees), but it can also appear elsewhere on the body. The problem is not merely an irritated skin condition; rather, it has a considerable impact on both the overall quality of your life and your mental health.
There is currently no cure available for eczema. On the other hand, there is a wide variety of treatment options that are available, each of which has the potential to be very helpful in reducing itching and preventing further outbreaks. Let’s look into it, shall we?
Take Out the Allergens and Additives in Food
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and the nutrition you get from the food you eat has a substantial impact on how healthy it is. People who suffer from eczema are more likely to have food intolerances and allergies than the general population.
- Allergens
According to the findings of the research, the most common allergens are cow’s milk, eggs from hens (rather than geese or ducks), wheat, peanuts, and soy. Because the majority of the offending food products indicated above are not Paleo, avoiding certain foods that are known to provoke allergic reactions and adhering to a traditional way of life can significantly reduce the severity of symptoms associated with eczema.
If you want to make precise alterations to your diet, think about trying the Autoimmune Paleo diet (AIP) or an elimination diet that lasts between 4 and 12 weeks, and then evaluate how well it worked for you. It’s possible that you have an intolerance to the food in question if the symptoms get worse after you eat it again. You can test whether peanuts, milk, soy, or wheat are a factor in eczema-related symptoms by following either the autoimmune protocol (AIP) or the elimination program.
- Food additives
Food additives such tartrazine, monosodium glutamate, sodium benzoate, sodium metabolite, and tyramine have been linked to an exacerbation of eczema-related symptoms. It has been discovered that removing these additives from one’s diet (i.e., eliminating all processed or packaged food items) results in a significant improvement in the outward manifestation of eczema after a period of ten months.
Make the Switch from Coffee to Oolong Tea to Improve Eczema Symptoms
It’s possible that your morning coffee is great. However, coffee beans are one of the plants that is sprayed with the most pesticides in the world, which may make an already overactive immune system even worse. Switching to oolong tea can help reduce inflammation, which in turn can improve the symptoms of eczema and the immune system. According to the findings of the study, the advantages of drinking oolong tea were noticeable in 63% of patients who were unresponsive to conventional therapy.
The researchers think that the beneficial effects were caused by the polyphenols that were found in the oolong tea. To get the most out of the tea bag, you should steep it in water containing one liter and ten grams of tea for a total of five minutes. After that, divide the remaining food into three equal amounts and devour it throughout the day in between meals.
Suppress Eczema by Adding Additional Gamma-Linoleic Acids (GLA)
If you are a regular reader of PaleoHacks, then you are surely aware that the modern diet has an excessive quantity of omega-6 fats, which are known to cause inflammation, in comparison to omega-3 fats, which are known to reduce inflammation. Gamma-linoleic acids are considered to be one of the most important members of the omega-6 family (GLA). Studies suggest that people who suffer from eczema are unable to convert linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) due to an imbalance in the enzyme delta-6-desaturase.
This imbalance causes a deficiency, which in turn creates a barrier that allows the skin to become more susceptible to irritation. Keep in mind that your diet is where you get critical fats like GLA; nevertheless, even if you follow a Paleo diet, it might be difficult to obtain GLA in foods. Evening primrose, borage, and hemp oil have the highest quantities of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and all three of these oils can be readily drizzled over salads or vegetables (do not cook using hemp oil). If you have eczema that lasts for an extended period of time and is persistent, you should probably consider taking supplements that contain GLA.
Include Probiotics That Are Helpful to Combat Eczema
Your digestive tract is home to billions of different kinds of bacteria. If you have a greater number of “good” probiotic bacteria in your digestive system, which is the root of all inflammation, you will experience greater benefits.
Inflammation is the body’s initial response to any external invaders or injuries, and more than 80 percent of the immune system is located in the digestive tract, where it defends against foreign invaders and injuries. Because eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition, making sure that your digestive tract is healthy is a key piece of the jigsaw in treating the problem.
- Probiotics
Probiotics have been shown to lessen the body’s sensitivity to allergens, which in turn can alleviate the symptoms of eczema. Probiotics are a vital component in maintaining the integrity of the barrier that lines your digestive tract, so reducing the risk of developing leaky gut syndrome and preventing the absorption of allergens that might trigger eczema.
- Fermented foods
Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchee, and Kombucha tea, are natural sources of probiotics. Other natural sources include kefir and yogurt. Those who battle with eczema on a chronic basis may find that taking a probiotics supplement is really beneficial. Therefore, look for strains that include a significant amount of Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
Increase Your Consumption of Zinc and Vitamin D.
- Zinc
The enzyme delta-6-desaturase, which was covered in the paragraph before this one (#3 GLA), requires zinc in order to do its activity correctly. It is well established that eczema symptoms can be brought on by zinc deficiency. Because meat is the most powerful source of zinc, the best method to ensure enough zinc consumption is to follow a diet that is based on the Paleo philosophy. Be sure that the majority of the meat you consume is of a darker color, such as bison, beef, venison, or lamb, and increase your consumption of shellfish, such as oysters, mussels, and other options.
- Vitamin D
Low levels of vitamin D are also associated with an increased risk of developing atopic allergic dermatitis. [Cause and effect] People who have a deficiency in vitamin D may benefit from taking vitamin D supplements for the treatment of eczema. This is something to consider about if you live in a location that has real winter weather.
Skin Cream Including Lavender and Coconut Oil (Home-Made)
In your home, you probably already have the components necessary to make an efficient anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ointment. After you get out of the shower, you should use some coconut oil on your skin because it is a nutrient-rich, light emollient that will help your skin retain its natural moisture.
Combine one part lavender essential oil with five parts coconut oil to make a strong and calming natural ointment that can be applied to skin that is irritated. This ointment can be used for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Reduce your levels of stress.
Not only does stress consist of having your hair pulled out because you are unable to manage your life, but it also consists of “being busy” from the morning till after midnight every day. There is a positive association between stress and the increased incidence of eczema, which is a reality of our modern-day world. Stress is a part of our world today.
The vagus nerve in the brain can be stimulated by practices that help reduce stress, such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, tai chi, or yoga coloring (yes, coloring book!) Singing can also be an effective way to stimulate the vagus nerve. The body is able to relax and experience less stress as a result of this.
Keep Your Weight in an Ideal Range.
At this time, more than two-thirds of the people living in the United States of America are either fat or overweight. Studies have shown that a person’s likelihood of developing eczema is increased if they are attempting to lose weight but are having difficulty doing so. (15) A low-carb diet that is based on the Paleo eating plan and that integrates strength training and high-intensity interval training (high-intensity interval training) is an excellent strategy for lowering body fat and achieving the ideal body composition.
Quit Smoking
It is abundantly obvious that there is a considerable association between atopic skin dermatitis and either the act of smoking cigarettes or being exposed to smoke. The solution is straightforward: just give up smoking.
Detoxify to Prevent Eczema
The problem may become more severe if the individual is subjected to allergens or irritants such as soaps, perfumes, or laundry detergents. When you wash your clothes, make sure to use use a gentle detergent and avoid using bleach, dryer sheets, or fabric softener. Pick a detergent that doesn’t have a scent, is gentle, can be used on sensitive skin, is hypoallergenic, and is free of scents, colors, and dangerous residues.
To Sum It Up
Eczema is not only a nuisance and a source of frustration, but it can also have a significant impact on your entire well-being and health. Eliminating the irritating foods that are the root cause of the irritated and inflamed skin can be an effective treatment for the skin problem that has been present for a long time. In addition to this, it is possible to treat it by improving digestion, addressing shortages in nutrients, and lowering inflammation. Find the treatments that work best for your body in order to get rid of your dry, itchy, and sensitive skin, which is preventing you from feeling as well as you could.
References
Essential fatty acid metabolism and its modification in atopic eczema https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10617999/
A Trial of Oolong Tea in the Management of Recalcitrant Atopic Dermatitis https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/478168
Evaluation of food allergy in patients with atopic dermatitis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24229818/
Atopic dermatitis is associated with a decrement in health-related quality of life https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12010340/
Complementary and Alternative Treatments https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/treatment/complementary-and-alternative/