Unless you have experienced living with eczema on a daily basis, you cannot begin to understand the pain and discomfort it brings to sufferers.
It is often thought of as a childhood condition, but more and more adults are either beginning to suffer in later years or are continuing to suffer the condition from childhood to adulthood.
According to a new US study, children with eczema don’t necessarily outgrow the disease, as was commonly believed. The study tracked more than 7,000 sufferers who enrolled in the Paediatric Eczema Electric Registry (Peer) study.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia discovered that at every age (from two to 26 years) more than 80 per cent of the participants either had eczema or were taking medication to treat the condition. This led to the conclusion that it was a lifelong illness and that symptoms in children can persist well into the second decade of life and, more than likely, longer.
Part of the problem is the treatment. There is a tendency to treat the symptom and not the cause. For example, many creams, ointments and oral medications are used to treat the symptoms. Very few actually get to the root cause of the condition. In addition, some of the treatment brings with it a whole set of side effects.
Steroid-based creams can cause irritation, discolouration and thinning of the skin if used over a long period of time. Topical immunomodulators tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, which are newer options for treating eczema, have both been linked to skin cancer. (DrugSaf, 2008).
So today we are going to look at some of the drug-free options to escape eczema and, if possible, try to work back to the root cause and end it once and for all.
The detective work and patience required are sometimes the problem, because people want a quick fix today, and with something as deep-rooted as eczema this isn’t always possible.
Tracking and fixing the root cause could take months and the recovery may be slow, but once it is identified the sufferer is then in control.
If you find the cause you can either choose to avoid it or know that by doing, eating or drinking whatever it is, you will cause the condition to flare up.
Look at some of the drug-free options to escape eczema and, if possible, try to work back to the root cause and end it once and for all
Before we look at possible drug-free solutions, let’s consider the triggers which may be the root cause of the condition.
The causes vary from person to person, so what works for one sufferer may not for another.
The following are the most common. Keep a diary to link your increased eczema to any of these:
• Psychological factors such as stress or anxiety;
• Central heating and woollen or synthetic clothes that cause the body to overheat or exacerbate itching;
• Food additives such as preservatives or colourings (a food diary will help in identifying the cause when eating);
• Food such as eggs, peanuts, milk, fish, soy and wheat;
• Irritants in the home or at work, such as dust mites, animal dander and certain plants;
• Drugs such as antivirals, antihistamines, steroids and anaesthetics;
• Chemical irritants such as the detergents used in shampoos, body washes, bubble baths (containing sodium lauryl sulphate). Then washing powders and softeners should be considered, and the chlorine in swimming pools;
• Hard water at home could be a cause, as the mineral content can make the condition worse.
All of the foregoing can only be confirmed after detective work, hence the suggestion to keep an eczema diary of when it increases and decreases. Then an elimination, or change in habit, to see if that shows results.
The top alternative solutions include the following:
• Zinc – People with chronic eczema have been found to be low in zinc, so taking supplements is worth trying.
One study found that children with eczema had lower hair zinc levels than those without the condition, and their symptoms improved after two months of taking supplements;
• Omega-3 – This is an essential fatty acid, well known for its anti-inflammatory effects. It is found naturally in fish oil and is showing promise as a treatment for eczema.
In one study, taking 5.4g per day of DHA saw significant improvement in the eczema conditions after two months when compared to the control group. It is thought that the fatty acids work by reducing the inflammatory substances that play a role in eczema;
• Probiotics – several studies have found these to be beneficial. These are good bacteria which replace the bacteria in our guts which have been eliminated by other medications, especially antibiotics.
One study found this particularly helpful for children. In another there was evidence that probiotics may prevent eczema from developing in the first place;
• Hypnotherapy – this is increasingly being used to treat skin conditions.
Hypnosis may be effective for eczema, especially when conventional therapies have failed.
In one trial, 19 out of 20 children saw an immediate improvement, while more than half reported less itching and scratching after 18 months.
Hypnosis also appears to work in adults, with benefits lasting up to two years in one study;
• Oolong tea – Japanese researchers found that this can help relieve eczema symptoms;
• Herbs – herbal creams can be just as good as drugs. Chamomile, witch hazel, St John’s Wort cream, liquorice and Lupinus termis (a type of lupin seed) have all shown improvements.
kathryn@maltanet.net