We Are What We Eat: Eczema and Vegetarianism

Dear Vegetarians,

In many ways a vegetarian diet can cure and prevent many common health ailments. Maintaining a vegetarian diet may significantly lower your chances of heart disease, many forms of cancer and osteoperosis.

But the question remains, is a vegetarian diet healthy for eczema-sufferers?

A few problems present themselves. While vegetarianism can not create or cause eczema, vegetarians who already suffer from eczema may be at a disadvantage due to vitamin deficiencies and dietary surplus.

Often, meat-less diets are very low in B vitamins and Fatty Acids. The B Vitamin complex is crucial to both maintaining healthy skin and damaged skin repair.  B-6 and B-12 are particularly low in vegetarian diets and both, collectively, may significantly improve the condition of eczema-prone skin.

The metabolism of poly unsaturated fats takes place in the epithelial layer of the skin. The metabolites help form a semi-permiable layer of skin. Dietary dificiency of linolic acid (of Omega 6) often results in epidermal water loss. Omega 3 is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Increasing Omega 3 oils in one's diet may help regulate immune responses in one's skin.

Also, there are several staples in a vegetarian's diet which may actually serve as allergens or irritants to the eczema prone person:

-----Soy (The vegetarian's dream, may be one of the largest problems of them all)

-----Lactose

-----Eggs

-----Nuts (Great for protein, great for allergies)

-----Citrus (Geez, what fruits don't have a little citrus acid in them?)

-----Gluten (Wheat, Rye, Barley)

So if you are vegetarian with eczema... your biggest concern isn't whether or not you are getting enough protein. You've got quite a few things to think about. 

Love,

Lhea J.

A Day in the Life: The Skin Log

Dear Bloggers,

We are approaching one of the four worst times of the year for eczema-folk: the seasonal change. Does it seem that every time you get your skin under control, the season changes, and there are a whole host of new issues to deal with?

Winter brings the driest months which irritate the skin

Spring brings the pollen and insects to ignite the allergies

Summer brings the heat and humidity and sweat just makes everything worse

Fall brings its host of allergens as well.

Well, the best thing we can do is learn our bodies, our skin, our immune systems as best we can.  

If I have a large enough argument at night, I know I will break out over night. I know that I can normally handle orange juice, but if I am already broken/breaking out-- citris will worsen my skin within 24 hours.  I know that caffeine is one of the only things strong enough to break me out immediately, whether I am previously broken out or not. I know that when my skin is normal, I could sleep anywhere and not be disturbed. But, once I have broken out, even jersey sheets make me itch.  I know that if I am broken out long enough, I will get an infection. And once I get an infection my eyes will swell up. 

You may know similar things about your skin or your child's skin.

So, what we must learn is how to prevent it.

If you've had an argument of monstrous proportions with a parent or spouse, is there anything you can take at night to prevent break out in the morning? Once you are broken out, can you avoid citrus (or whatever your irritants may be)? Can you cut caffeine out of your diet completely (or whatever your allergens might be)? Do you know what sleeping conditions you need, so that you can sleep without scratching in your sleep? What temperature the room should be... what material the linen should be...  

Today, let's  begin to pay attention.  Let this be the first day of your skin log. At the conclusion of every day, record what you ate, any changes in mood, duress, if you have contact dermatitis you may even want to record what materials you wore, how often you scratched, figited.  And immediately when you wake up in the morning, take note of how your skin has changed from the night before. Take note of any medication atopic or oral that you've ingested over the course of the day.  And take note of how you cleansed, what you cleansed with, and what you used for moisturizer. Take note of the weather, and the inside temperature and how that affected your itchyness.

Yes, I know, it's a lot of notes. 

But for the largest organ of your body, it deserves it. You deserve it. Your skin is the gateway to the outside world. If you can not protect your skin, you can not protect your internal organs. Let alone the fact that your skin affects how you are considered, judged and treated by others.

Hope this helps!

Love,

Lhea J.

Brown Eczema: Do You Need a Black Dermatologist?

Dear Brown Skin, 

To be a member of a community which prides itself on its style/appearance and have eczema can be a devastating phenomenon. What is a black woman if she does not have her looks?

Luckily, you may never have to find the answer to that question.

The first step is to find a great dermatologist. While you don't need an African-American dermatologist, you do need a skin specialist who is used to observing Black skin. 

In the mean time, there are a few simple steps that you may take to keep your skin healthy and most importantly, within your control.

PREVENTION

to decrease the chances of flare-ups...

• Find a great dermatologist with experience in treating Black skin
• Increase your water intake (8-12 glasses per day)
  
• Olive Oil and Baby Oil Gel soothe the skin
  
• Cera Ve Cream or Cetaphil Cream lock in moisture
  
• Avoid extremely hot showers and baths (dries skin faster)
• Oatmeal, itself, or Oatmeal-based soaps (such as Aveeno) are gentle
  

REACTION

to decrease the effect of flare-ups, once they have occurred...

• Monitor your diet: Caffeine increases breakouts that already begun
  
• Monitor your diet: Citrus often increases breakouts that have already begun
  
• Monitor your diet: Soy may increase breakouts that have already begun
  
• During bathing, cloths may irritate skin
  
• After bathing, do not towel dry
  
• After bathing, apply Olive Oil, Baby Oil Gel or Cream while still wet
  
• Prescriptions: An antibiotic may stop reaction. Reactions are often perpetuated by an infection
  
• Prescriptions: Hydrocortisone may decrease flare-up
  
• Prescriptions: Protopic (non-steroid) is better on the face
  
• Prescriptions: Triamcinalone will decrease flare up, if Hydrocortisone no longer works. Please note: Use of Triamcinalone WILL make your skin thinner. Your skin will tear and bleed much easier than it did prior to use.
  
• Prescriptions: Predisone (oral or injection) will decrease flare up, but may have long term effects on internal organs. Please ask your doctor about all long term side-effects before using the medication.
  

What Flare ups look like, on Black skin: (Face, Arm & Neck, shown below)