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Clean At A Cost: Household Cleaning Products And Detergents May Be Causing Your Eczema

Scott — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:18:24 +0000

Among the many varied causative factors of eczema, contact with an irritating or allergenic substance is both the most common and the most significant.

Common household cleaning products can contain chemicals and artificial fragrances, which can aggravate or trigger eczema in users.

Direct contact is the most likely mechanism to cause skin eruptions, but inhaling or indirectly touching objects that have been cleaned can also activate the body’s immune response, leading to an outbreak of eczema.

Natural, non-toxic cleaning products can be bought online, in many health food stores and increasingly, in local grocery stores and big box retailers such as Target or Home Depot.

You can also easily and safely make your own cleaning formulas using common household ingredients.

This article will outline safe alternatives to chemical-laden cleaning products, helping you on your path to better skin and better health.

1. Air Fresheners

Look at the ingredient list of your store bought air freshener, and there is a good chance that one of the main ingredients is formaldehyde, a chemical used to embalm and preserve the dead!

Formaldehyde has been shown to increase the risk for cancer and it can cause headaches, fatigue and skin rashes, including eczema.

The artificial fragrances in air fresheners are highly allergenic, prompting a hyper immune response, leading to eczema outbreaks.

Natural, Non-Toxic Options:

‣ Essential Oils such as lavender, eucalyptus or vanilla.

Use 10 drops in 8 ounces of water or purchase an essential oil ring that sits on top of your light bulb. The heat from the light bulb disperses the fragrance more rapidly.

‣ Proper ventilation will improve both the air quality and scent of your home. Read our section on air purifiers for more information.

‣ Herb & spice potpourri. Make your own assortment of dried herbs and spices or purchase a premade selection, just make sure it doesn’t have added chemicals listed on the label.

‣ Citrus scents are both invigorating and non-toxic. Most natural food stores carry air fresheners sourced from grapefruit, lemon, orange or lime.

You can also use freshly peeled citrus or stud your citrus with cloves for a homemade fresh fragrance.

2. Dishwashing Soap

Conventional dish soaps use concentrated chlorine and phosphates. They are extremely irritating to mucus membranes and the skin.

Many eczema sufferers can have immune trigger from washing dishes with these soaps or from coming in contact with automatic dishwasher liquids and powders.

Natural, Non-Toxic Options:

‣ A 1 to 1 ratio of borax and baking soda makes a cheap, healthy powder for dishwashers. Most dishwashers will require 3-5 tablespoons of the mixture.

‣ For washing dishes by hand, look for a formula made without chlorine or phosphates. Ecover, Seventh Generation and J.R. Watkins make good products that work well and are chlorine, phosphate and chemical free.

3. Laundry Detergent

Make sure to wash all new clothes before wearing, as they can contain residues of the dyes or chemical finishes used in manufacturing.

Conventional laundry detergents can be irritating to the skin and have been associated with an increase risk for asthma as well. Several major laundry detergents have dioxane in their formulas, a known carcinogen.

Natural, Non-Toxic Options:

‣ Look for laundry detergents that are 100% biodegradable and say that they do NOT contain phosphates or sulfates.

‣ Key ingredients should say plant-based enzymes. Dr. Mercola’s Cleaner Greener is a good healthy detergent as is Eco’s earth friendly laundry detergent.

4. Toilet Bowl Cleaner

The two most common toxic chemicals in toilet bowl cleaner are hypochlorite bleach and hydrochloric acid.

They are exceptionally dangerous to the eyes, skin, lungs and liver. Coming in contact with hypochlorite bleach or hydrochloric acid can lead to skin lesions that have been reported to last for weeks.

Unfortunately, these products are often used in windowless, closed spaces, which trap in the poison to be repeatedly inhaled. Some toilet bowel cleaners also contain benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene.

These ingredients are known to cause cancer causing and nerve damage. They have also been shown to cause birth defects in animal and human studies.

Natural, Non-Toxic Options:

‣ The non-toxic toilet cleaners are based on citric acid and lactic acid, naturally occurring ingredients whose low pH works to break up filth.

‣ Fragrance should be sourced from natural essential oils, safe to breath by both the cleaner and bathroom users.

5. Bathroom Cleaner (Shower And Countertop)

The mold and mildew removing cleaning products are laden with fungicides alkyl ammonium chlorides.

Pesticides have been linked with learning and developmental delays, increased cancer risk and eczema.

Natural, Non-Toxic Options:

‣ Vinegar mixed with salt works great to scrub frequently used surfaces. A coarse grain of salt helps get hard to reach grout and corners.

‣ Baking soda and water removes odors and dirt equally well. The best ratio is 4 tablespoons of baking soda per quart of water.

Warm water works better to remove stubborn spots. In a hurry, you can add a pinch of baking soda to a damp sponge.

‣ Mrs. Meyers makes a surface scrub that is ammonia, chlorine bleach, paraben and phosphate free.

6. Glass And Window Cleaner

Ammonia and isopropanol are the two big chemical offenders that comprise most window cleaners.

Ammonia can cause both lung and skin damage, aggravating allergic rhinitis and eczema. Isopropanol is metabolized to acetone in the body, an even more toxic metabolite.

Using isopropanol in a closed are can lead to poisoning, with symptoms of flushing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and loss of consciousness.

Applied topically, isopropanol causes loss of the protective fats in the skin, making the area more susceptible to eczema outbreak.

Natural, Non-Toxic Options:

‣ Vinegar works great to remove smudges and leave a streak-free shine.

‣ Many commercially available natural window cleaners use vinegar or alternatively, a plant-based cleaning ingredient called caprylyl or myristyl glucoside.

7. Carpet Spills

Perchlorethylene is the main ingredient in carpet cleaners as well as commercial dry cleaners.

It has long been implicated as an eczema trigger but is also carcinogen (cancer causing) and a recent study linked perchlorethylene to increased risk for bipolar disorder.

Natural, Non-Toxic Options:

‣ Mix cornmeal with Borax, 2 parts cornmeal to 1 part borax. Sprinkle liberally on carpet spill, let dry for 15-20 minutes and then vacuum.

‣ Club soda can help remove lighter stains, especially if it is used right after the spill occurs.

‣ Naturally It’s Clean makes a plant enzyme carpet cleaner that is sprayed onto spots.

‣ You can make a soapy solution with natural dishwashing liquid, but this is best used on synthetic fiber carpets and should always be patch tested on natural fiber carpets such as wool.

8. Hand Soap And Sanitizer

Triclosan, a form of dioxin, is a common ingredient in anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizers. It has been linked with hormone disruption and infertility.

Triclosan has also been shown to cause immune systems and birth defects in animal studies. If triclosan binds with chlorine, found in most municipal water supplies, it can form dioxin, a known carcinogen.

Natural, Non-Toxic Options:

‣ Old fashioned soap and water! Use natural soaps made from coconut oils, cocoa or shea butter.

‣ Jason natural products make hand soaps that clean and moisturize; they are also relatively inexpensive.

9. Furniture Polish

Furniture polish is based on oil-derived petroleum distillates, which are irritating to the lungs and skin.

Natural, Non-Toxic Options:

‣ Scratches in your furniture will disappear with a combination of equal parts lemon juice and vegetable oil.

Use a soft cloth to rub in the mixture until the scratch is no longer visible.

‣ Daddy Van’s makes an easy to apply, all-natural beeswax furniture polish.

Making Changes To Improve Your Skin And Overall Health

This article gave you a starting position to reduce your exposure to environmental pollutants in the home. These changes will reap better skin and better health but there are additional ways to eradicate eczema and feel better.

Read our articles on nutrition, probiotics and food allergies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of all the different factors which can contribute to eczema eruptions.

We also have an article detailing environmental triggers that goes beyond household cleaners to help you minimize exposure to eczema promoting substances.

Eczema & Candida: Yeast Could Be Causing Your Skin Eruptions

Scott — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:33:33 +0000

What Is Candida?

Candida Albicans is a yeast organism that is commonly found living on the skin and cavities of humans.

In healthy individuals candida cells are not problematic because they are kept in check by the body’s barriers and immune system.

Susceptible persons can develop candida infections leading to vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush and overgrowth in the digestive tract, particularly the colon.

Candida infections can be passed between people by sexual contact, sharing toiletries or by handshaking if candida is living in the nailbed.

Lactating mothers can get candida infection of the nipple and pass the candida to their babies, who develop thrush.

The Relationship Between Candida & Eczema

Candida yeast produce potent allergenic compounds that can produce a dramatic immune response, especially in sensitive persons.

Eczema is caused by an exaggerated immune response to a trigger.

Studies have shown eczema and asthma sufferers produce a high amount of IgE immunoglobulin specific to targeting candida albicans.

Who Is At Risk For Candida Overgrowth?

1. Diabetics, or individuals with higher blood sugars

Candida love glucose and replicate readily in the presence of sugar, including that in bodily secretions.

2. Persons with diets low in beneficial bacteria

Probiotic species such as lactobacillus and bifidobacteria can populate the digestive tract and cause competition with the yeast cells.

They also trigger a better immune response and a layer of immunoglobulins (immune proteins) called IgA that help identify and neutralize candida.

3. Immune compromised people

This includes HIV/AIDs patients, those people undergoing chemotherapy treatments for cancer, persons with auto-immune conditions taking medications that suppress immune response and people with genetic immunodeficiency such as Immunoglobulin A Deficiency.

4. Alcoholics

Much like sugar, candida loves to grow using alcohol as a medium for growth. A 1998 Sao Paulo study found over a 1/3 of alcohols can candida colonizing their throats, as compared to just 5% of non-alcoholics.

Symptoms Of Candida Overgrowth

Abdominal pain
Bloating
Constipation
Cramps and/or other menstrual irregularities
Depression
Diarrhea
Eczema!!
Endometriosis
Erratic vision
Fatigue or lethargy
Feeling “spacey” or “unreal”
Feeling of being “drained”
Impotence
Loss of sexual desire
Muscle aches
Muscle weakness or paralysis
Numbness, burning or tingling
Pain and/or swelling in joints
Persistent vaginal burning or itching
Poor memory
Premenstrual tension
Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate, often with urinary symptoms)
Spots in front of eyes

The Candida Eczema Diet

The candida eczema diet is comprised of foods that support a healthy immune system, decrease inflammation and inhibit candida growth.

All of the foods that candida love to eat are restricted, especially for the first two weeks of the diet when most of the candida will die off.

Sugar, alcohol and vinegary foods promote the growth of yeast in the body. Refined, packaged foods are low in nutrients and high in artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.

People serious about eradicating their candida and eczema with this diet should expect to follow it strictly for at least 6 weeks.

After that, many people are able to going back to some of their normal eating habits but with caution to avoid sugary and processed foods.

This is an eczema diet for children as well. Kids are also prone to eczema from yeast overgrowth.

You CAN Eat

Fresh or frozen vegetables especially:
Broccoli, onions, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, radish, cabbage and garlic
Carrots, squash, yams, sweet potatoes, tomatoes
Deep leafy greens
1 fruit each day after the initial 2 weeks are over
Beans, peas and soy
Healthy cuts of meat & poultry
Fish and seafood
Eggs
Unsweetened dairy except cheese
Raw nuts and nut butters
Organic butter and natural cooking oils such as olive, coconut and safflower
Whole grains can be eaten 1-2 times per day and cannot be made with sugar or yeast! Many yeast-free breads are kept in the freezer section of your grocer.
Popcorn
Brown rice
Oatmeal
Herbal tea, if freshly made
Water, including sparkling water

You CANNOT Eat

White potatoes
Canned vegetables
Microwaved vegetables; microwaving breaks down anti-oxidants such as the sulforophanes in broccoli
Boiled vegetables, as they have much less nutrient content – the nutrients leach into the water.
Fruits for the first 2 weeks
Yogurt with sugar (most flavored yogurts are very high in refined sugars)
Partially hydrogenated oils; they promote inflammation and are carcinogenic (cancer causing)
Breads and bakery made with yeast and/or sugar
Brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, agave, corn syrup or artificial sweeteners.
Dried fruit and fruit juice. Although these sugars are naturally occurring they are too concentrated and can promote candida. Fungi often live on dried fruit.
Cheese, as it is a food loves by fungi and can promote candida
Mushroom
Vinegar containing foods such as vinaigrette dressings, barbeque sauce and pickles

Supplements To Help Eradicate Candida And Improve Eczema

1. Black Walnut

The hull of this nut has been used historically to help with digestive upset, parasites, high blood pressure and eczema. It was used both internally and topically to help with eczema lesions.

In vitro studies have shown black walnut hull extract to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. The dosing of black walnut is typically 500mg of solid extract or 30 drops of liquid extract taken three times daily.

Black walnut has a high tannin content and therefore should not be used for periods longer than 6 weeks.

2. Caprylic Acid

This is a naturally occurring 8 carbon fatty acid found in coconut and palm oil, milk and breast milk.

It is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, making it an appropriate supplement in the treatment of candida overgrowth.

Because caprylic acid is fat soluble, it is better able to penetrate the mucosa layer of the mouth and digestive tract, and directly neutralize candida.

Typical dosing is 400mg taken before meals.

3. Oregano Oil

The aromatic oil of this herb is a potent inhibitor of parasite, bacterial and fungal growth.

It has also been shown to decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease by lowering LDL (unhealthy cholesterol) and raising HDL (healthy cholesterol).

The carvacrol and eugenol constituents of oregano oil affect the surface of candida, breaking down the cell membrane. Dosing is 50mg taken three times daily.

It can be diluted in water or mixed in soft foods to make it more palatable.

4. Pau D’Arco

A native tree of Central and South America, Pau D’Arco is best known as an anti-cancer natural remedy.

However, it also has been used to effectively eradicate yeast infections, promote proper immune function and aid in wound healing.

Cell studies have shown Pau D’arco extracts to inhibit inflammation by inhibiting the COX-2 pathway, this is the same pathway targeted by aspirin and ibuprofen.

Pau D’arco most often comes in a liquid form and is dosed at 30 drops two to four times daily, from a solution of a 1:4 ratio of herb to menstruum (liquid solvent).

5. Probiotics

It is essential that once candida is eradicated, it is not welcomed back to the digestive tract.

Beneficial bacteria, called probiotics, can populate the colon and discourage takeover from candida cells.

Please read our complete article on eczema and probiotics to learn more.

Candida, Eczema And Your Health: Take Away Message

Now that you’ve learned about the complex interaction between yeast overgrowth, eczema outbreaks and symptoms of candida infection, it’s time to implement the diet and natural treatments outlined in this article.

Not only will you feel better but you’ll also get long lasting resolution of your eczema by treating the underlying cause. While candida overgrowth is a major cause of eczema, it is not the only trigger.

Please read the other articles on our site to discover more about the relationship between eczema and food allergies, eczema and environmental exposure, and a Chinese medicine approach to healing eczema.

Eczema And The Environment: How To Minimize Your Exposure And Reduce Your Risk

Scott — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:21:04 +0000

In many developed countries the rate of eczema has now reached a staggering rate of 20% or 1 in 5 people. This is more than triple the incidence in less developed nations.

Such a gap in the numbers of individuals afflicted with eczema begs the question; what is causing an increasing number of people to develop eczema and why only in certain regions?

This article will help you identify triggers in your environment that could be contributing to your eczema and give simple ways to modify your exposure and your body’s reaction to that exposure.

It is written from the perspective of a doctor who spends much of her time educating patients about the role their surroundings can play in their health. This relationship is particularly strong for skin conditions, including eczema.

What Is Eczema And How Can My Environment Cause This Skin Condition?

Eczema, medically referred to as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition characterized by itchy, inflamed skin.

The skin is usually reddened and dry with weeping of fluid and raised vesicles (fluid-filled bumps) during the acute stage.

If it is chronic it can develop into lichen eczema, which is a thickening of the skin that can occur from habitual scratching and rubbing.

Your genes play some role in the risk for developing this condition but so does the air you breathe, the food and beverages you consume and the objects you come in contact with.

An eczema patient once said to me, after a discussion of describing the inner workings of eczema physiology, “so basically you’re telling me I have a freaked out immune system and it’s getting angry, swollen and irritated.”

This was actually a pretty good and simple description because eczema is the result of a “freaked out” immune system and an effective treatment strategy is to stop bombarding it with “freaky” substances.

First we need to understand the different types of eczema, then identify its triggers and finally take steps to reduce exposure.

Contact Eczema: Don’t Reach For The Hand Sanitizer Just Yet

Contact eczema happens when a person touches a chemical or substance that stimulates an immune reaction resulting in the reddening, scaling and swelling common to all types of eczema.

However, contact eczema is unique in that it only affects the skin that was touched, whereas other forms of eczema can appear anywhere, but mostly do so on the face, hands, fronts of elbows and backs of knees.

Contact eczema is broken down into two types: irritant and allergic.

Irritant Contact Eczema occurs when it is the offending substance that directly caused the skin inflammation such as when someone uses caustic cleaning solution without gloves.

Allergic Contact Eczema is the result of your immune system overreacting to a signal from coming in contact with the substance. Latex, poison ivy and metal allergies are the most common suspects when looking for an allergic cause of contact dermatitis.

As much as possible, I recommend patients use naturally derived products in their home and at work.

The chemicals found in laundry soap, copy machine toner and air fresheners can launch an assault on your immune system and contribute to eczema or an aggravation of existing skin lesions.

Physicians saw a spike in office visits of patient with hand eczema with the popularization of hand sanitizer.

Not only do most hand sanitizers contain alcohol, which is extremely drying and increases susceptibility to eczema, they also frequently utilize benzalkonium chloride, a chemical that has shown to be an allergen, carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in animal studies and a known immune system disruptor.

Not exactly the ingredient people are looking for when they are trying to stay healthy by avoiding germ exposure. Instead, I have patients wash their hands the old fashioned way with natural, non-drying soap and water.

If they don’t have access to a sink I recommend a hand sanitizer based on herbal preparations such as those made by EO. They include ingredients to moisturize as well as anti-microbial essential oils to kill viruses and bacteria.

Chronic Eczema: What Or Who Is Assaulting My Immune System?

With chronic eczema it’s essential for people to examine the air they are breathing, the water they use for drinking and bathing as well as the products they use for personal hygiene, cleaning and even decorating.

Read on to discover how purchasing a shower curtain could potentially exacerbate your eczema.

Air Quality And Eczema: How To Breathe Easier If You’re Suffering From Eczema

Several large studies have shown increased rates of eczema as well as asthma in urban areas where air quality is worse.

Researchers in Lima, Peru measured the levels of particulate matter (pollution indicator) in both urban and rural households.

There was a greater amount of pollution in the city dwellers’ homes with a corresponding increase of eczema in the people living in those poorer air quality regions.

Cigarette smoke also played a role in the worse air quality but it did not account for the entire difference.

In addition to environmental pollution, airborne allergens can exacerbate eczema. These substances trigger the release of immune cells and lead to a hyper reactivity in the body.

Besides eczema, they have also been linked with increased rates of asthma and hayfever (allergic rhinitis).

The most common ones include:

dust mites
pollens
animal dander
tobacco smoke

It is often difficult for most people to move to an area of better air quality. What can they do if they live next door to a coal-fired energy plant?

Here is a list of ways to breathe easier without consulting the real estate section of the classifieds or sending Fido off to the pound.

1. Install an air filtration system in your home. These filtration systems are designed to reduce the amount of particulates (tiny pieces of outdoor pollution), dust and mold spores.

Many modern homes already do have such systems but older homes may not. Consult an HVAC professional to see if your air filtering system is adequate for the size of the home and health needs of the occupants.

Also, remember to frequently replace the filters that are busy collecting the dust and dander. For most systems this is every 1-2 months.

2. If you don’t own the home you are living in or you want a more inexpensive way to clean up your home’s air then invest in a stand alone air filter that is portable so that you can place the unit in the room where you sleep or spend most of your time.

When purchasing an air-filtering machine, make sure that it has both a HEPA filter for larger particles (dust, danger, pollen and mold) and also a carbon filter (odors and chemicals).

I’ve recommended the Austin air purifier brand to patients with good reviews, but they can be pricey. So if someone is on a tight budget I recommend the Honeywell machines, which are also a good buy.

3. Buy houseplants to help clean up the air quality in your home. Not only can a potted plant increase the oxygen in your living space, it can absorb formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene as well.

Research has shown that plants from tropical regions are better able to process these chemicals, but even everyday houseplants will offer some benefit.

I suggest patients place 1-2 plants per room but I do not recommend having plants inside the house if an eczema patient is allergic to molds. Fungus can grow in overwatered plants.

Read on to the story below to hear how mold can trigger eczema eruptions.

Humidity, Mold & Eczema: Playing Detective Yields A Valuable Lesson

As most eczema suffers can attest, dry winters and arid climates can often aggravate the scaling, itchy patches of eczema.

Physicians, including myself, often recommend patients in temperate climates utilize a humidifier in the bedroom to reduce eczema aggravations.

While this tip is helpful to many people, I want share a story of a young eczema patient where a discussion of her humidifier revealed the underlying cause of her eczema.

Emily was a beautiful and bright 7-year-old girl brought in by her mother because she was suffering from debilitating eczema since the age of 2. The girl would scratch continuously on her arms, knees, neck and cheeks until her skin would bleed. At times a quarter of her body was covered in lesions.

Emily had been treated with all of the conventional therapies but the eczema always returned when her steroids were tapered off. This patient, like many others, had significant side effects from high dose steroids including thin skinning, mood changes and poor immune function.

We made dietary changes, gave nutrient support including essential fatty acids, and utilized homeopathy. The patient had some marginal improvement but then she, her mother and myself were left feeling disappointed and frustrated– the things that worked for all of my other patients were falling short with Emily.

During one follow up visit I inquired about Emily’s humidifier use as the patient lives in Phoenix, Arizona. The arid weather in the desert can intensify eczematous rashes.

Her mother said they had recently stopped using the humidifier because some mold had grown in the storage canister and the mother noticed that Emily’s skin was better the day after the humidifier was removed from her bedroom. I asked if there was any other mold in the home. Emily’s mother said, “just in the garage, there’s a big patch on the ceiling that’s been there since we moved in. But nothing inside the home.”

Then I asked, out of curiosity, but also because I had a hunch, “who’s bedroom is above the garage?” The answer, of course, was Emily’s bedroom.

The family had the mold remediated and found that not only was the sheetrock saturated but so too were the floorboards and subfloor of Emily’s room. In the following weeks and months Emily’s eczema continued to improve and she also continued eating her healthy diet and taking her supplements. Today she has a rare patch of eczema if she eats excessive amount of dairy, but overall she is feeling great and is no longer self-conscious about her skin.

Treating Emily was a great lesson that sometimes it’s not what is given to patients but what is taken away that leads to cure.

Emily certainly had a pre-disposition to eczema with a strong family history and a brother with hayfever, a condition often related to eczema.

The severity and unresponsiveness to her therapies suggested something more was going on with Emily.

Now I have all of my patients on their initial visit detail a history of when their eczema started and any changes in living, school or working environment that may have occurred at that time.

All humidifiers need to be maintained to inhibit growth of mold in the water reservoir. This can be done by dropping a filter into the water. Most filters contain a silver component to prevent microbial growth.

If you don’t have a filter, then it is recommended to rinse out the water daily and to clean out the tank weekly with either soapy water or a 50:50 white vinegar and water solution.

Pthalates And Eczema: Plastic Goods May Offer Inexpensive, Convenient Options But It Can Come As A Cost, Especially To Eczema Sufferers.

Phthalates are compounds found in soft plastics that have been implicated in causing changes in the human body’s reproductive and hormone systems.

Additionally, elevated blood levels of phthalates have been found in people with eczema. Other research has shown an aggravation of eczema with use of hygiene and beauty products containing phthalates.

Experts have speculated that the phthalates either directly stimulate the immune system, which creates inflammation in the skin or that they indirectly affect hormone signaling, involved in swelling, reddening and itching.

I often advise pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to be especially careful about their exposure to phthalates as they can be passed on to infants in the womb or through breast milk.

Infancy is a crucial time when eczema can develop and it’s important for a baby to be protected from chemical compounds that could trigger skin reaction as well as asthma and hayfever.

Products often containing phthalates:

Soft plastic toys
Cosmetics
Shampoos, lotions and powders
Shower curtains
Teething rings, pacifiers and baby bottle inserts

Many manufacturers have already begun removing phthalates from their products and will often advertise on the packaging “phthalate free.”

Several websites have good information and databases to help consumers seek out phthalate free products.

The non-profit Environmental Working Group has a site called Skin Deep that lets users search for a product to see if it contains any potential harmful chemicals.

Consumer Reports raised some concerns about the safety of phthalate use in medication capsules.

Health food stores are a good resource for finding brands that are committed to not using phthalates in their products.

Look for the Natural Products Association seal, as members of that organization pledge not to use phthalates in their products.

Body product and cosmetic brands that are committed to being phthalate free:

Aubrey Organics
Burts Bees
Dr. Hauschka
Jason Natural Organics
Juice Organics
Origins Organics
Pangea Organics
Weleda

Additional Recommendations And Resources

I encourage patients to minimized their exposure to plastics overall and use glass food storage containers, stainless steel water bottles and cookware that is either ceramic, stainless, iron or glass.

Reducing exposure to immune system disrupting chemicals and antigens can greatly help patients with eczema but it is not always the entire answer.

I also recommend eczema sufferers read the book Vanish Eczema and follow the natural strategies to eradicate eczema.

It’s an easy read that seeks to address the underlying cause of eczema, rather than suppress the symptoms.

What Facial Eczema Says About Your Health

Blake — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:05:36 +0000

No matter how itchy or painful eczema on other parts of your body is, having it on your face may have the most impact on your life.

You cannot hide your condition under your clothes and you cannot retreat away from the world. It fills you with dread and non-stop worry.

This worry and constant stress takes it toll on your life, but you may not yet be motivated to. It is very important that you find a way to cure your eczema because facial eczema is often a sign of greater health problems.

No matter how much stress your eczema puts on your body, you will be in greater misery once the other symptoms of poor health begin to manifest.

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. Like any other organ, if your health is compromised the organ function is compromised. The skin on your face is some of the thinnest and most delicate on your entire body.

Furthermore, it is most exposed to the elements and other influences which accelerate the deterioration of healthy skin cells. Often, any chronic health problem will first manifest itself on your facial skin.

Sometimes it manifests through discoloration or acne, but most often it is in the form of eczema. If you can treat the fundamental problem, you can correct the eczema.

Transepidermal Water Loss And Hydration

As you know, eczema often occurs because of a severe drying of the skin. What you may not know is that your skin is suffering from a fundamental loss of its natural moisture. This is a condition called Transepidermal Water Loss, or TEWL.

TEWL is a scientific term for the unexplained loss of water from the deeper skin layers. In thin areas of your skin, like your face, the skin dries out very quickly and the water drains away.

In the lower portions of your body, the skin dries out but you may also see puffiness where the water pools under the skin. This is wasted water that does not nourish your skin or the rest of your body.

The problem with TEWL is that your skin may not be the only part of your body losing water. Your skin shows the dehydration first in the form of eczema.

However, it is also very likely that your internal organs and other vital parts are also losing the essential water you need to thrive. Most eczema therapy programs you see will recommend drinking plenty of water.

However, to make up for this fundamental water loss you will need to consume more than twice the water consumed by a person without eczema.

Cortisol And Stress Management

Cortisol is a very interesting hormone when it comes to eczema. It is a steroid that is often synthesized artificially to produce a topical ointment. Cortisol creams are one of the most common medically prescribed external eczema treatments.

Internally, it is a whole different story. When your body is under stress for any reason, it releases adrenaline to keep up the energy levels needed.

It makes your metabolism and endocrine system work overtime. To counteract the adrenaline, your body produces cortisol. It slows down all of your bodily functions, including your immune system.

Typically, this is a short term process to deal with acute stress and the body quickly returns to normal function. In these busy modern times, it seems that acute stress has been replaced with chronic, never-ending stress.

This means a never-ending release of cortisol. It makes you gain weight, raises your blood sugar, imbalances hormones, and, most importantly, suppresses your immune system.

As you probably already know, immune malfunction is one of the primary causes of eczema. Unfortunately, eczema is only the first symptom and you will get increasingly unhealthy as the problem continues.

Until your chronic stress can be dealt with, your immune system will continue to suffer and you will be plagued with eczema on your face and, eventually, other parts of your body.

Many eczema experts will tell you that stress intervention must be a part of your anti-eczema therapies or you will never really eradicate the problem.

Not To Be Taken Lightly

These are just two examples of why having eczema on your face can be a sign of something far worse. There are countless other serious conditions that often manifest themselves as eczema.

If you have been “dealing” with your eczema, it is time for you to confront the problem, and its root cause, head on.

Your Genes and What It Means For Eczema

Blake — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:55:27 +0000

Scientists have yet to undeniably prove a genetic tendency toward eczema. Yet, it is clear that eczema has a tendency to run in families.

Scientists and health experts who have studied all forms of eczema under the assumption that there is a link between genetics and eczema have found many effective methods of treatment and prevention.

Everyone is unique. Every form of eczema is unique. However, the people who are closest to your unique disposition are your family members.

It would be foolish to not use this to your advantage. You can use the knowledge experts have learned about genetic eczema and your family’s own experiences to improve, and even cure, your eczema.

Probiotics

A recent study out of Finland has shown probiotics to be very effective at improving immune function and preventing eczema when there is a genetic tendency.

You may think that all bacteria are bad. In fact, there are some forms of bacteria, called probiotics, which actually improve your health. Probiotics flourish in your intestines, where immune function is regulated.

The Finland study showed that families with a history of eczema have very low concentrations of probiotics in their digestive tracks.

When given high doses of probiotics, the eczema patients had substantial improvement in the health of their skin as well as other immune functions.

If you believe your eczema runs in your family, you should incorporate probiotics into your eczema remedies. Yogurts are a great source of natural probiotics.

However, you can also find probiotic supplements in most grocery and health stores.

Over Sterilization

When experts were unable to definitively prove a genetic link to eczema, they began to study other factors that would be of a familial nature, such as geographic location and socioeconomics.

It became clear that eczema had a tendency to appear in families that were either medium to high income or lived in areas where the population was predominately high income.

On the other hand, there was virtually no incident of eczema in families living in the poorest sections of the world. This is when the Hygiene Hypothesis was developed.

As you learned earlier, some bacteria is good for you. For thousands of years the human immune system has fought off and guarded against all forms of bacteria from the common cold to the plague.

Modern science has given us inoculations, anti-bacterial soaps, super-sanitizing detergents, and many other germ killers.

However, only families of means are able to effectively obtain and use these methods regularly. Therefore, each generation is exposed to fewer and fewer germs.

Although each generation has quickly become germ free, the immune system has not adapted. Without germs to fight, the immune system is free to overreact.

As soon as you encounter an allergen or irritant that would normally go unnoticed, the immune system starts a full-fledged attack on the substance which results in an eczema flare up.

This does not mean you should not practice good hygiene. You should always wash your hands and have all of the other hygiene habits to prevent infection and the spread of major diseases.

However, simple soap and water will do. You do not need the anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizers. You do not need to super bleach every surface you encounter.

Granted, you may catch a cold from time to time, but that is how your body should function normally. If your immune system can resume its traditional fight against common bacteria it will not overreact to eczema triggers.

Talk To Your Family

You will be surprised how much you can learn about which unique treatment for eczema will work for you by simply talking to your fellow family sufferers.

Those older than you have been dealing with the problem longer than you have. They may have found treatments that help them heal and prevent eczema better than others. They may also have a clue as to which allergens and irritants cause flare up.

While you cannot rely on your family to give you all of your treatment advice, it will get you started in the right direction.

Finally, take good notes of all of the eczema information you learn about your family. Keep good notes about your own journey too. If you ever have children, you will be giving them vital information that may help them stay eczema free.

Common Household Eczema Traps

Blake — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 05:20:02 +0000

Finding the specific allergen or irritant which is causing your eczema is important. If you can learn your eczema triggers, you can avoid them. If you can avoid your triggers, you can stop your eczema.

In some cases of eczema, like atopic dermatitis, it may be difficult to determine the root cause of your eczema.

This is because the eczema is actually triggered by a combination of many factors, such as a food allergy and an immune dysfunction at the same time. It makes treating that kind of eczema difficult.

However, in the case of contact dermatitis treatment and most other forms of eczema, identifying the trigger is simpler and you may be able to control your eczema by avoiding the trigger.

Many people go through their lives suffering from eczema, never knowing the cause. The truth is that there are literally thousands of potential eczema triggers.

However, instead of looking for the more complex triggers, it is far more likely that your eczema trigger is something you encounter everyday.

Too many common items are an eczema trap, causing your problem over and over again. If you can identify the triggers lurking in your own home, you may be able to make substantial progress in curing your eczema.

The first thing you should know is to not rely on your genetic disposition to determine your eczema triggers. While there are genetic tendency towards eczema in families, that is not always the case.

Sometimes, you may have a reaction to something that no other family member reacts too. Also, other family members may have never realized what is triggering their eczema.

Environmental Triggers

Smoking, dust, pet dander, and pollen. Everyone knows that these are triggers for hay fever and asthma, but not everyone knows they can cause eczema.

You may have decided that your pet dander and dust is controlled or the pollen count is not high enough to worry about. In truth, if this is causing your eczema it will only take exposure to a small amount.

It is time to examine your body’s reaction to these triggers and determine if you have an eczema reaction within 72 hours of exposure to them.

Beauty And Health Care Products

It is surprising how little we know about the products we use on our bodies everyday.

Shampoos, facial soaps, deodorants, and makeup are filled with chemicals, artificial ingredients, and dyes that are all potential allergens or irritants. Most toothpaste products contain a form of fluoride that is derived from farm fertilizer.

As you can imagine, that can easily irritate your skin. Deodorants are filled with heavy metals that can cause almost instant reactions. Nail varnish has a very high rate of causing eyelid and facial eczema.

Detergents And Other Cleaning Agents

The soaps, laundry products, floor cleansers, and other detergents you use to cleanse your home are very likely your eczema triggers.

More people are allergic to their laundry detergents than they are to any other type of eczema triggers. Typically, the trigger will not happen until you have had an intensive exposure, such as cleaning the whole house in one day.

However, it can also happen just by wearing clothes washed in a detergent all day long. Identifying if a detergent or cleanser is causing eczema in children can be very important because the reaction will get worse over time.

Identifying and preventing exposure now will help your child stay eczema free later in life.

There are also many other common household eczema triggers that you may or may not know about. It is time that you take a look around at all of the products and objects you come in contact with daily or regularly.

Keep in mind, identifying your trigger may take time as it is a trial and error process. However, with a little patience and examination you should be able to identify your trigger and stay out of that eczema trap.

Seasonal Tips for Dealing with Eczema

Blake — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:16:02 +0000

When you are an eczema sufferer, sometimes it can feel like nature has turned against you. When it gets hot outside and everyone is showing off their new swimsuits, you are covering up your eczema.

As soon as it turns cold and everyone is going out to enjoy the snow, here comes the eczema again to keep you indoors.

It is not acceptable to miss out on life because of your eczema. You should not feel trapped indoors and missing out on seasonal festivities with your loved ones.

Nor should you be forced to cover up your skin for fear of an awkward public reaction to your skin. Fortunately, with a little extra planning and some quality remedies for eczema, you no longer have to.

Summer

It has turned hot outside. All year long you everyone waits for the lazy days of summer where they can get outdoors, work in the yard, lounge by a pool, and do countless other summer activities.

However, eczema sufferers look at this time with fear and worry that is no longer needed.

There are two main eczema issues in the summer: sweat and sun. While they may seem very similar, they are dealt with is differently. Therefore it is best to address them individually.

Sweat may seem like a contradiction to the dry skin of eczema. However, sweat is one of the primary triggers in most forms of eczema.

When the body overheats, the skin produces salty water to cool itself. Dirt and germs combine with the sweat and irritate your skin and inhibits its ability to moisturize and heal itself. The result is dry, itchy eczema.

While the obvious answer may seem to reduce sweat, that is not the correct one. Sweat is typically the result of being active, which is essential to keeping yourself and your skin healthy.

However, you can reduce your sweat during periods of non-activity. For example, try to keep your indoor climate (when there is no fresh air to soothe your skin) cool.

Also, try to wear light, loose, and breathable clothing. 100% cotton and other natural fibers will give you the best breathability.

This will help vent your body’s natural heat, reducing the tendency to sweat. Furthermore, the breathability will help stop sweat and stop the skin agitation.

Just like sweat, the sun can also cause difficulties. The sun provides your body with natural and nourishing vitamins like D, but too much sun can very quickly dry out your skin.

The only defense is to use a safe moisturizer to keep the skin lubricated throughout your summer play. However, oil based moisturizers can cause sunburn.

A better alternative is to use a zinc based moisturizer. Zinc itself has amazing eczema healing properties and has a natural SPF of 40.

Winter

It is amazing that a season so different from summer can have the identical, eczema-causing issues. Sun and sweat are not the problem in the winter. However, their cousins, non-breathability and elemental dryness, are.

When the temperatures drop, it is natural to bundle up in layers of warm clothes. However, the more clothes you pile on the less your skin can breathe and cool itself.

If you put on too many layers, especially of artificial fibers, those clothes are going to cause sweat-related irritation just like you suffered from in the summer.

Finding a mid-weight, natural fiber sweater and a cotton undershirt will be much more effective than piling on layers and layers. Of course, clothing is only half the problem.

The cold winter winds chap your skin and then you retreat indoors where the heater is literally zapping every ounce of moisture from the environment, including your skin.

Once again, the only solution is moisturizer. You must apply and reapply your moisturizer throughout the day.

This is especially true for eczema on eyelids where the cold, dry weather will cause your eyes to tear up.

Your salty tears are chilled by the winter temperatures.

The constant exposure to cold saline will agitate the skin, having a drying effect and cause a flare up.

Putting on a thick layer of a natural lotion will keep a barrier between your skin and the harsh, drying elements around you in the winter.

These are really simple tips. Yet, they can be a really big help. As you can see, it will not be hard for you to care for your skin no matter how extreme the seasons may get.

Being an eczema sufferer should never prevent you from enjoying all the winter or summer has to offer.

Eczema Causes – What Causes Eczema?

Blake — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:13:22 +0000

There are many different forms of eczema, also called excema, and this means that there also many different eczema causes. Some people only classify the eczema causes into 2 groups, externally triggered and internally triggered.

To help you better understand the nature of your eczema, this article will explain subgroups of externally and internally triggered eczema.

It is important for you to understand specifically what causes eczema in order to seek the right type of treatment.

First, you should understand the difference between the external and internal causes of eczema. Externally is typically when you come into direct contact with a substance that caused a reaction.

If the substance has touched your skin and caused a reaction, then the outbreak will typically only be on the surface of the skin that actually contacted the trigger. While it is easy to come into contact with an external trigger, it is also easier to identify and control these triggers.

Internal triggers cause an extreme reaction by your immune system and the skin begins to react internally, at the cellular level. These reactions are typically from a combination of internal triggers, such as an allergen and a hormone imbalance occurring at the same time.

They also appear all over the body at areas of weakened skin. These can be mild or severe reactions, depending on your skin’s genetic makeup.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some triggers can be both internal and external. For example, some people break out in a rash at the point of contact if they merely touch a peanut.

When they consume a peanut product they will have a further extreme reaction within their body that causes an acute immune response resulting in a rash throughout their skin.

On the other hand, there may be people who can touch a peanut without a contact reaction but if they eat a peanut their immune system will trigger a severe eczema reason. This type of reaction primarily occurs with food allergens but can happen with any other cause of eczema.

Allergens

While allergens can externally trigger eczema at the point of contact, they are most likely to cause an internal immune response which manifests all over your body.

Ragweed, pet hair and dander, pollens, molds, and dust mites are just a few of the thousands of potential allergens that occur in nature. There are also non-natural allergens but these will be addressed within the Environment and Chemicals section of this article.

When an allergen triggers an internal reaction it has actually caused your immune system to overreact. This often occurs in young children and then later in life after they are full grown.

Allergens are most closely linked to atopic dermatitis and are believed to combine with other triggers, such as stress, to bring about a reaction.

A key to knowing if an allergen is the cause of eczema is to note any related hay fever or asthma. It is very common for these to occur at the same time as the symptoms of your allergies escalate as you get older.

For example, you may have discovered that you are allergic to dust mites when you began having occurrences of hay fever some time ago.

If you have begun to show the red inflammation and itchiness of allergen related eczema, it is highly likely that these outbreaks happen at the same time as your hay fever.

If this is true, then it is highly likely the same allergen causing your hay fever is causing your eczema.

Food

There are two main types of food-related triggers. The first is an actual immune or allergic reaction to a type of food. Foods like strawberries, nuts, and dairy products are well known to be an eczema cause along with a host of other allergic reactions.

Shellfish can also cause severe allergic reactions including acute eczema. As stated earlier, these types of foods can cause eczema both internally and externally.

Additives in foods, especially processed foods, can trigger an eczema reaction as well. Many foods include dyes, preservatives, and other chemicals that are believed to enhance the food’s shelf life, aesthetic appeal, or flavor. Unfortunately, many people have bad reactions to these additives.

As an example, the red dyes used to deepen the shade of tomato products are believed to cause eczema reactions, especially in children, along with other allergic reactions like hyperactivity, hives, and asthma.

Many people choose to detoxify their bodies by choosing only natural, additive free products. In fact, some natural grains are believed to be biogenic in nature and actually help strengthen the skin cells and promote new growth in order to prevent eczema.

Children are especially sensitive to food allergens and typically have a reaction soon after consuming these kinds of food allergens. In fact, if they have a reaction as a child they are more likely to have severe reactions to that food along with more food allergies later in life.

Doctors believe this is because they have undeveloped immune systems that are prone to overreact to food allergens. As they grow, the immune system will “learn” to always react to this food.

This is why you should introduce foods slowly to children so that you can track their reaction to each food individually. If your child already has a complex diet and you suspect a food allergy, try avoiding individual foods for several weeks and track your child’s eczema to see if it improves without that food.

It may be hard to believe, but food preparation may also cause an internal reaction resulting in eczema. Fresh food is believed to have the least potential as a trigger and older, over processed.

Ph balance is believed to play a role in internally caused eczema and you should avoid foods such as red meats and white flour that increase your body’s acid toxicity.

Furthermore, you should always prepare your food in a way that lowers the Ph levels of the food such as using fresh herbs to add flavor versus acidic, pre-packaged spices.

Environment and Chemicals

In today’s world of natural remedies and organics, it is still amazing how many chemicals and environmental irritants we are exposed to daily. They can cause both externally and internally triggered eczema.

Chemicals in perfumes, laundry detergents, bleach, fabric softeners, over-the-counter medicines, household cleaners, lotions, and makeup are just a few of the potential irritants you are exposed to regularly.

Even the water you drink may have irritant chemicals in it. There are also chemicals in man-made products like bedding and clothing. Simply touching these products for an extended period of time, such as sleeping at night, can cause a very severe flare up.

Your environment is just as full of irritants but it is much harder to control. Many people feel their eyes water and begin to cough around smoke, but there are plenty of people who break out in a rash when they are exposed to smoke.

Likewise, countless people in polluted cities suffer from eczema induced by the smog in the air. You can buy air filters to control these irritants, but it can be difficult to completely avoid them all of the time.

Bodily Irritants

It may surprise you to learn that the things you do can give you eczema. Most of these causes of eczema are external in nature and will only appear at the source of the irritant.

The first such example is exercise. Exercise heats up your body and causes you to sweat. However, it is the combination of heat and sweat that can break out into a red rash.

You will tend to see this type of eczema in the areas of your body that are hottest and sweatiest during your workout.

Another form of a bodily irritant is yeast and other germ based eczema. This is especially bad in diaper-aged children and persons with poor hygiene. When a child soils their diaper, the germs in the diaper are combined with the heat and sweat from their body.

This is a perfect situation for an infection to grow and cause an outbreak of eczema. Typically, these will stay near the area of the germs, but will gradually begin to spread outward. In this case, you will have to practice extra good hygiene in addition to consulting the doctor for a topical treatment.

Temperature

Exposure to both hot and cold can cause an eczema reaction. The elderly are often plagued by cold related eczema. The skin begins to dry out, becomes inflamed, and starts itching. Elderly people traditionally have thinner skin so they are much more susceptible to cold weather.

Heat triggered eczema is closely related to sweat triggered eczema. A “heat rash” is a form of eczema that will typically occur at a spot on the skin that has been exposed to higher than normal temperatures accompanied by sweat.

Red, itchy bumps will begin to spread from the source of the heat and sweat. Around the neck and the knees are especially prone to this type of outbreak.

Endocrine Causes

Endocrinology is the study of your body’s hormones and hormone producing organs, like your thyroid and pituitary glands. Many scientists believe that internally caused eczema is the result of a combination of an allergen/irritant, weakened skin, and a hormone imbalance.

This is especially true of atopic dermatitis. If you suffer from a hormone imbalance, you are extremely likely to have an eczema reaction as soon as you are exposed to an allergen or irritant.

Also, stress can throw your hormones off balance and cause you to have a reaction as well. If your eczema is caused by an endocrine issue, you will need to seek professional advice with regard to control and treatment.

Mental Triggers

There are even more obscure eczema causes, such as those resulting from a mental issue. Stress, anxiety, and nervousness have a profound affect on your body.

It is normal for people to have reactions during periods of stress. However, you may develop a “nervous tick” related to these issues that triggers your eczema.

This typically happens when nervously scratch or rub at one place. It can also happen around your mouth if you often lick your lips. This concentrated irritation to one part of your skin can easily cause an eczema reaction.

Your Next Steps

Understanding what causes eczema is the key to treating it. For each type of cause, there are different methods of treatment. There are excellent treatment options available out there, both medical and natural.

Now that you understand what causes your condition, it is time for you to learn about your treatment options.

Vanish Eczema is an ebook that can help you take the next step to understanding treatments. Written by a skin care and natural healing expert, it discusses both the standard medical and complimentary natural treatment options for each type of eczema.

It also recommends long-term methods to control and possibly prevent eczema. Additionally, the author thoroughly explains the different types of eczema and the treatment options recommended for each type.

Overall, it is an excellent book to help you gain a more thorough knowledge of your eczema.

Eczema unfairly hurts you and your quality of life. However, now that you understand more about what causes your condition you are in a better position to control it. If you continue on this path to knowledge then you are giving yourself the tools to become eczema free.