Type : Dry And Flakey But Not Red
This type is simply the dry skin. White flakey skin that needs moisture. I find that Vaseline works great to reduce the flakiness and appearance.
I travel a lot for work and often use Vaseline on my eyelids, behind my ears, and in my nose to seal in moisture. The thin air while flying tends to suck the moisture from my skin and Vaseline helps.
Ill share why Vaseline is good for this type of eczema.
Infographic: Garlic At A Glance
Garlic is widely used in culinary delights and traditional home remedies. There is, however, a downside to every coin, and excessive garlic consumption can be detrimental to health.
Check out the infographic below to learn more about garlic, its recommended daily dietary intake, and some alternatives for this pungent condiment. Scroll down.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
Side effects of garlic are usually associated with prolonged overconsumption. High doses of garlic may induce liver damage and trigger nausea, vomiting, heartburn, bad odor, gastric issues, sweating, dizziness, headaches, vision changes, and yeast infections. It may also lower blood pressure and interact with certain medications. You also must avoid garlic with clove, chestnut, ginger, and ginkgo to avoid undesirable side effects. However, moderate garlic consumption offers important benefits.
Causes Of Garlic Allergies
Like all allergies, garlic allergies are caused by a response by your immune system.
When your immune system thinks youâve come into contact with something that may be harmful to your body, it makes antibodies. If your immune system creates antibodies to fight something that isnât actually harmful, the reaction is known as an allergy.
Food allergies are a specific type of allergy that can be triggered by even a tiny amount of something. They affect up to 8% of children and 3% of adults. Peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish cause the majority of food allergies.
Compared with other food allergies, garlic allergies are rare. Most clinical trials regarding garlic have found that bad breath and body odor are the main discomforts tied to garlic, but some have shown that garlic can cause allergic reactions.
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May Cause Gastric Issues
One Japanese study speaks about enteric-coated garlic products . These garlic products, upon ingestion, resulted in the reddening of the gastric mucous membrane . The results suggest that caution must be exercised before using garlic and related products as they may have undesirable effects on gastric health.
In fact, as against popular belief, there is no evidence that links garlic intake to the prevention of gastric cancer .
Foods To Avoid In Babies And Toddlers With Eczema
Eczema can be a frustrating and uncomfortable issue to deal with.
It can be especially difficult to manage in infants and toddlers, as many factors can contribute to the severity of your childs symptoms.
In some cases, making changes to your childs diet can help reduce symptoms, and eliminating certain foods from their diet may even help prevent flare-ups.
Here are 7 foods to consider avoiding for babies and toddlers with eczema. Keep in mind that its always best to speak with a healthcare professional before eliminating foods from your childs diet.
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May Relieve Cold Sores
Cold sores or blisters are caused by herpes simplex virus. These are generally painful blisters that erupt in and around lips, chin, and nose. The worst news this is contagious. Garlic contains antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties and therefore may help treat these blisters. However, there is no solid scientific evidence to back this belief.
Garlic Dose For Treating Cold Sores
Consume 1-2 cloves of raw garlic to treat cold sores.
Natural Oils For Eczema: Which Ones Are Safe And Effective
Natural oil has been used in skin care for centuries. A good number of natural oils have beneficial fatty acids that help to repair the skins natural barrier, which is defective in patients with eczema.
But not all natural oils are good for our skin. Some can be irritating and may even worsen eczema. The plant source, composition and the ways that natural oils are extracted determine their benefit and harm.
Cold-pressed fixed oils are made by extracting oil from seeds or nuts without adding chemicals or heat, and therefore tend to be safer for skin use.
On the other hand, essential oils are extracted through steam-distillation of aromatic flowers or leaves. Heat and chemicals added during essential oil extraction can produce irritating compounds, and therefore should be avoided for skin use.
Several natural oils have been found to be safe and beneficial alternative moisturizers. Virgin coconut oil contains monolaurin, a fatty acid that mitigates Staphylococcus aureus colonization that can typically develop in eczema patients.
Virgin coconut oil is also superior in improving eczema compared to mineral oil . Virgin sunflower seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties to help soothe itchy and inflamed eczema skin, and can improve skin hydration and preserve the integrity of the skins natural barrier.
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When Vaseline Is Bad For Eczema
Vaseline is bad for eczema if youre experiencing the 2nd type of eczema I described. The problem with eczema is that it likes to breathe. Once you apply Vaseline your skin has a seal over it. It isnt breathable and can actually suffocate pores.
Vaseline can also be difficult to clean from skin . If Im experiencing an eczema outbreak or a general worsening of eczema, Ill never apply Vaseline.
Ill wait for it to calm down hopefully, a few weeks and once it is dry and not red I feel its safe to use Vaseline. There are a few other reasons I wont use Vaseline for my eczema. These include:
- Oil can stain pillows and sheets
- Can stain clothes
- Gives off an unnatural shiny appearance if used on the face
- If eczema is itchy my hands will spread the oil to other places
- If Ill be showering/bathing within a few hours
Foods That May Cause Allergic Reactions
When it comes to food allergies, peanuts, wheat, eggs, cows milk, soy and shellfish are among the most common culprits. The itchiness caused by these foods and subsequent scratching can then lead to flare-ups or worsening of dermatitis symptoms.
Here are four examples of foods that you may not have realised can cause skin problems:
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Is Vaseline Good For Eczema
As a child, Vaseline was one of the first moisturizers I used to soothe eczema. At the time I didnt know if Vaseline was good for eczema but it was something I I didnt have to go out and buy I think Vaseline exists in almost every home in America.
Vaseline is a good for everything product. It can be applied to cuts, dry skin, in noses and ears, and can even help scars. It goes on super thick and can keep skin supple for a whole day while other oils and lotions only last a few hours.
Ive used Vaseline on and off for decades. Ive occasionally applied it to eczema and Ill share what Ive learned. Vaseline can be good for eczema if used properly and Ill share what to look for if youre considering using Vaseline.
Prevent A Summertime Eczema Flare
The intensely itchy, red, inflamed skin that eczema is known for can make you dread otherwise fun activities, such as going to the beach or frolicking outside during the summer. People with eczema have delicate skin that can become inflamed when exposed to temperatures that are too warm or too cold.
Making adjustments to overcome triggers and minimize flare-ups is key to controlling eczema when temperatures rise. Dr. Ulrike Ziegner at Riviera Allergy Medical Center has put together some tips to help you manage your eczema this summer, so you can enjoy the sunshine.
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What Foods Trigger Eczema Flare
Dairy Products: Its almost difficult to eliminate all the dairy products completely from your diet. These products may damage the intestinal lining creating few tiny holes in the digestive tract that allows the food particles to enter the bloodstream and further results in various allergic reactions and food sensitivities. The main reason behind the exclusion is that these dairy products are difficult to digest and are the food for E.coli, which could contribute to the development of gut dysbiosis. Also, milk stimulates the insulin production that can cause skin inflammation. Various products included are:
- Butter and more
Soy and Soy Products: Soy is considered a bad food for the eczema sufferers as it is directly linked to your skin condition. This is to be noted that most of the processed foods have soy derivatives like soy lecithin so you need to be cautious and alert while buying anything and always have a look at the ingredients once. Check the detailed list of ingredients or avoid the processed food altogether to get better results. Food rich in soy includes:
- Bakery items and more
You can also check out elimination diet post by Itchy Little World blog post here.
Avoid Soy foods: Try to avoid the products rich in soy and please ensure to see the ingredients of any products you wish to buy from the market to avoid eczema flare-ups.
Is Garlic Good For You
So, how good is garlic for you? Garlic is rich in compounds like Allicin, Sulphur, Zinc, and Calcium that have health benefits, beauty benefits as well as antibiotic and antifungal properties. It is also a rich source of a mineral known as selenium. Selenium is known to fight cancer and it works with vitamin E in the body to boost antioxidant power. Garlic also acts as a blood thinner due to its salicylate content. This enables proper blood flow and enhances circulatory health.
Nowadays, garlics reputation as a medicinal herb is significantly growing. This is because it has been confirmed by many researchers to be highly effective in preventing and treating a wide range of health conditions . In fact, for decades, garlic has been recommended by natural medicine practitioners all over the world to be included in the daily diet because of its many powerful effects on health. Now, before I tell you the various benefits of garlic, lets take a look at the nutrition facts of the herb below.
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Central Heating And Humidity
Central heating reduces humidity and dries the skin, making it itchy. However, high levels of humidity can encourage dust mites and the growth of mould, which can both be triggers for eczema. Many people overheat their homes in the winter months and being too hot is a common trigger for itching. Changes of temperature moving between indoor warmth and outdoor cold can also be a trigger.
The following tips may help:
- People with eczema generally find radiators preferable to convection heaters.
- Keep all the rooms in your home at a regular temperature . Turn off the radiator in the bedroom at night or set an individual thermostat to 18°C.
- Dress in thin layers that you can remove if you get too hot.
- Keep the home well-ventilated in the winter.
- Maintain humidity levels between 30-60%. Consider using a humidifier or place bowls of water under radiators if your home is on the dry side . To measure the levels of humidity in your home, you could buy a hygrometer.
May Strengthen The Immune System
Garlic contains phytonutrients that are antioxidant in nature. Antioxidants flush out toxins and reduce oxidative stress in the body, which prevents you from falling sick or being prone to DNA mutations and disrupted cell functions. Researchers have also found that supplementing with garlic helped increase different types of immune cells in the body .
Garlic Dose For Boosting Immunity
Consume 1-2 raw garlic cloves per day to boost your immunity.
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May Fade Stretch Marks
The moment you hear about stretch marks, all you wish is for them to vanish! Well, they are stubborn, and our skin is elastic. To reduce stretch marks can take a long time if you dont put in extra effort to get rid of them. Hot oil massage with garlic may help reduce stretch marks, and you must try it with olive oil or mustard oil.
How To Use Garlic To Remove Stretch Marks
Heat mustard oil and add 2-3 cloves of garlic. When you start to smell the garlic, remove from flame and let it cool down a bit. You can use it when its still warm. Massage in circular motion.
The Itchy Dozen Worst Foods For Eczema
People are often surprised to find the Itchy Dozen includes some of the so-called ‘good’ foods for eczema. I know the Itchy Dozen contradicts some popular beliefs published in online blogs. However, according to Australian research conducted over the past thirty years, these foods could be the reason your skin is dry, flaky and incredibly itchy .
I’ve seen this information help hundreds of so called ‘hopeless’ cases of eczema. People who have had eczema for 20, 30 or 40 years and more, who thought they were stuck with eczema for life, are seeing their eczema clear up for the first time. It can really change lives but it requires a change in beliefs about healthy eating. This quote sums it up:
“One man’s medicine is another man’s sleepless night itching.”
So a food that is good for an eczema-free person, such as avocado, could trigger a bout of maddening itching in another person.
Not counting allergy foods , here are the surprising foods and beverages most likely to give you itchy eczema …
1. Dairy products
Dairy products, including cows milk, yoghurt, butter and cheese, are the second most common allergy food seen in eczema sufferers .
- Yoghurt is particularly bad for eczema as it often contains added sugar, fruit flavourings, amines and a natural colour called Annatto which can trigger eczema.
Calcium deficiency can cause eczema
If you are itchy, one heaped scoop of Skin Friend PM mixed into water or food will quickly calm down the itch.
2. Grapes
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Diet As A Preventative During Pregnancy
Everything mommy eats, baby eats. Some research indicates breastfeeding mothers with a family history of atopic dermatitis are found to have lower prevalence of atopic dermatitis when consumption of cows milk is eliminated.
Babies who are exclusively breastfed for the first three months are also less likely to develop eczema.
May Regulate Blood Sugar
High blood sugar can make you prone to developing diabetes, blood pressure, obesity etc. If you are suffering from high blood sugar, you must include garlic in your diet. Scientists from Kuwait conducted an experiment with raw and boiled garlic and found that raw garlic significantly reduced blood glucose levels in lab animal models . Therefore, consume raw garlic instead of the cooked bulb to help lower the blood sugar levels.
Garlic Dose For Lowering Blood Sugar
Consume 3-4 cloves of raw garlic to lower your blood sugar levels.
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Is Eczema An Autoimmune Disease
Not usually there is no conclusive evidence showing that eczema is always an autoimmune disease. Not everyone with eczema has allergies, not everyone with eczema has abnormally high levels of antinuclear antibodies in their blood. So it might be short sighted to categorise all cases of eczema as autoimmune.
Lets look at the facts: eczema is not only related to allergies and immune-system imbalance, its also strongly linked with the following:
- 17 to 33% of eczema sufferers have fatty liver
- 52% are sensitive to salicylates
- 36% are sensitive to amines
- 35% react to MSG/glutamates
A widely replicated major risk factor for eczema is also genetic dysfunction: namely the loss-of-function mutations in the structural protein filaggrin. Microbes and infections are also involved in the appearance of eczema.
All of these factors worsen eczema. Avoiding allergies is a good place to start but if it’s your only strategy to prevent eczema, then your skin problem is likely to prevail.
May Lower Blood Pressure Way Too Much
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Garlic may lower blood pressure . But if you are already on medications for high blood pressure, it may lead to hypotension . Supplemental garlic has also shown to lower blood pressure levels . Hence, taking garlic supplements could be a bad idea when you are already on blood pressure medications. Taking garlic by mouth can also modestly reduce blood pressure .
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A Natural Approach To Eczema
At the Eczema Life Clinic we see a lot of new eczema patients with symptoms such as loss of hair and eyebrows, cracks at the corners of their mouth, insomnia, itchy skin and chronic dry and flaking skin and these are common nutritional deficiency signs, that are easily reversed with the right supplementation.
Best nutrients for eczema
- Calcium carbonate supplementation can improve sleep as calcium deficiency is a common cause of insomnia. While calcium citrate may worsen eczema, if you are sensitive to citric acid, calcium carbonate is a well tolerated option. Calcium carbonate is also a salicylate sensitively remedy.
- Hair loss and cracked corners of the mouth are typical B vitamin deficiency signs, however high dose B vitamins can cause insomnia and deficiencies in other B vitamins so only take the RDI amounts .
- Zinc is an important nutrient for eczema and the best form is zinc gluconate as it has shown to benefit seborrheic dermatitis and eczema.
- Zinc is stored in the liver so take only the RDI amount: 8 to 14 mg for adults, and 3 to 7mg for children.
- Vegan omega-3 from algae to increase EPA levels in the blood, as EPA is anti-inflammatory.
You may have found supplementation has not helped your eczema and here are some possible reasons:
Supplement ingredients to avoid if you have eczema
These are common mistakes people make when trying supplements for their eczema.