All posts tagged United States

Cure Eczema – 8 Tips To Clear Your Skin

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Eczema effects as much as 20 percent of the population in Australia, England, Scandinavia and the United States. Have you tried many home remedies for eczema and found that they don’t work?

1. Pay close attention to your diet. It has been proven that a diet rich in alkali will get rid of your eczema and keep it away. However you should also watch what you consume on a daily basis as some foods can cause an allergic reaction and break out your skin.

2. Avoid using dryer sheets or scented laundry detergent when washing your baby’s clothes. Oftentimes, these products may irritate sensitive skin and increase itching.

3. To calm the flair up of eczema as well as to relax the mind and spirit try some essential oil therapy. Fill your bath with warm, (not hot), water and add 7 drops of chamomile essential oil to the water. Soak for ten to twelve minutes and enjoy the aroma. Then take a pre-mixture of 3oz of olive oil with 5 drops of chamomile, 7 drops of lavender and 3 drops of bergamot essential oils and gently massage this into the inflamed area of skin. Take the time to relax and really enjoy this treatment.

4. For severe outbreaks, for natural eczema treatment applying cold compresses to the areas helps reduce inflammation and itching, for immediate relief. Because the disorder is thought to be caused by allergens, some people will find relief when they remove those allergens from their diet, by eliminating offending foods, or by reducing the environmental irritants, such as molds,dust and pet hairs.

5. Avoid using scented lotions and perfume on your skin. When you have eczema, you skin is very sensitive and the chemical constituents of the scented lotions and perfumes may irritate your skin. For an alternative, you can go for lotions such as cetaphil which will be very soothing for your skin.

6. Remove your child from the bath before his skin begins to prune. Soap should only be used when necessary, as it may dry the skin and worsen eczema.

7. With daily practice you will be able to focus only on your breath without intruding thoughts for longer and longer periods of time. You should do this exercise of meditation and deep breathing daily for 21 minutes. Try to find a Zen alarm clock that will sound a gentle chime sound and use this so that you don’t need to think about the time.

8. In general, ayurvedic treatments put a high emphasis on mind-body connection. Reducing stress in life could also benefit and help reduce symptoms associated with this disorder. Attention is required for the type of food you eat every day. It is necessary to avoid certain irritants like eggs, fish, or soy products from your regular diet to get a better cure for eczema. But make sure to discuss with your practitioner regarding the changes in your diet.

Symptoms Of Asthma,eczema & Rashes Telling U Its Allergy Season

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Preparing For Allergy & Pollen Season with Symptoms like: Asthma, Eczema, and Rashes are never fun. Weve got some great Statistics to share as well as Respiratory System & Immune System info to help you beat it!

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure ~ Benjamin Franklin

Every year, allergies cause untold suffering, incredible medical expense, and uncounted lost days from both work and school. Accurate statistics on the financial and social impact are impossible to gather, because that type of information is only compiled for life-threatening diseases. For that reason, major medical websites and journals contain conflicting statistics.

Allergic Disorders attack the respiratory and digestive systems, and occasionally the skin. The best-known allergies are asthma, hay fever, and eczema. Symptoms are triggered by exposure to harmless substances, such as pollen or various foods. Skin sensitivities may develop from repeated contact with a growing list of chemicals and fragrances.

What are Allergies?

Allergies are the result of inappropriate immune responses to normally harmless substances. The key insight from this statement is that allergic reactions typically represent malfunction of the immune system.

Allergic responses vary widely, from the mild, sneezing, watery eyes and nasal congestion of hay fever to more severe rashes and swelling, to the most extreme and terrifying reaction: anaphylactic shock.

Background Info on Allergies

The Immune System which includes antibodies, white blood cells, mast cells, complement proteins and other substances – defends the body against foreign invaders (referred to as antigens). However, in susceptible individuals, the immune system can overreact to certain types of antigens (called allergens), which are usually harmless to most people. The result is an allergic reaction. Some people are allergic to only one substance; others are allergic to many. It is estimated that one third of the people in United States have some form of allergy.

Its estimated that more than 20 million Americans suffer from Asthma. Asthma is also very closely linked to allergies. Allergy induced asthma is the most common form of asthma in the United States; in fact, 60% of people with asthma have the allergic type.

Even more disturbing, the incidence of asthma in children has nearly quadrupled in the last 30 years. Adult an childhood asthma have increased from approximately 6.7 million cases in 1980, to 17.3 million cases in 1998, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Nearly one in 13 children in the United States has asthma, and this percentage is growing faster in preschool-age children than in any other category.

Hay fever is the most common form of allergy, affecting about 30% of the population. Starting with the pollen season, tens of millions of Americans suffer between April and late Fall, while they consume more than $6 BILLION dollars of antihistamine and corticosteroid nasal sprays.

The FDA recall of childrens decongestant is a potent reminder that the pharmaceutical management of colds and allergies involves risk and unpredictable results.

Medscape.com is the medical reporting arm of the highly esteemed WebMD website. Medscapes recent review of the FDA warning stated that these childrens products have not been shown to be safe or effective. They go on to say that: OTC cough and cold preparations commonly include nasal decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants and expectorants. These drugs can cause serious and potentially life-threatening adverse events in young children, according to an alert sent from MedWatch, the FDAs safety information and adverse event reporting program. Death, convulsion, rapid heart rates and decreased levels of consciousness have been reported.

Our Immune System

Before reviewing a natural and safe approach to allergy prevention and management, lets discuss the immune cells that are involved with allergic reactions, and ponder why they over-react to harmless particles in our environment. The humoral (or blood-based) immune system contains numerous specialized cell lines, and they choreograph an amazing array of chemical reactions. Five-credit college classes in immunology barely scratch the surface of that complexity. To make this process more accessible, lets use the simple analogy of the judicial system to outline the activities of each immune cell agent.

The first cells called to the scene of any allergic response are the Macrophages. They are like our neighborhood Policeman, roaming the streets of your body, investigating everything they come in contact with. When they detect an invader, like a virus or bacteria (antigen), they signal the T-cells for assistance.

T-Cells are the Detectives of the body. They determine if the antigen should be arrested. When and if they do, they signal the B-Cells, who play the part of the Prosecuting Attorney.

The B-Cell prepares their case, by producing specialized proteins called immunoglobins (Ig), which then attach to the antigens like handcuffs.

Once the antigen has been found guilty of the crime of infection, they are surrendered to the Mast Cells, who represent the Executioners of the body. They produce histamine, which destroys the criminal antigens by disrupting their cell membrane.

Once released, histamine causes airway constriction in the lung, over-production of mucous, and system-wide symptoms of pain, swelling and itching. Histamine also stimulates the increased release of stomach acid, and overproduction of the neurotransmitters that cause muscle spasm. Thats a lot of havoc in the body!

Tune in for our next article where well define what causes Immune System dysfunction and specific steps you can take to build and support YOUR Immune System so it always performs at its best.

Herbal Remedies For Eczema

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It is a Greek word which means ‘to boil’. It is an inflammatory and chronic skin disorder leading to boils, rashes, and eruptions on skin. The most common form of eczema, atopic dermatitis, occurs among small children and infants. In over 90 percent of cases, eczema is seen to occur in children below 5 years old. There are many available home remedies for eczema. These include prescription drugs, dietary changes, and herbal remedies.

1. Symptoms of eczema can be aggravated if the skin is exposed to hot and dry air, especially that of the indoors. So, to counter this problem, use a humidifier and keep the moisture levels in your home up and adequate. Not to mention, do not forget to keep the unit clean, as it may harbor the growth of bacteria and fungi.

2. Teas made from Chinese herbs are also commonly used to treat eczema. The combination of herbs varies and depends upon the severity of the eczema and the suspected cause of the eczema. Some of these herbs used for herbal teas include include fang feng, tian men dong, gan cao, shi gao, yi yi ren, ku shen, sheng di huang, zhi mu and mu dan pi. The Chinese herbs chuan xiong and huang qin can also treat scalp eczema. Long dan cao may be added to herbal teas to treat ear and facial eczema. Drinking Erka Shizheng herbal tea twice a day helps treat severe eczema in children.

3. A natural home remedy effective in controlling eczema is spearmint leaf juice. Grind spearmint in a mortar and pestle to make a paste. You can then apply this paste directly to the affected skin or the paste can be diluted with water. Coconut oil is also used in treating eczema. In its purest form, coconut oil has moisturizing properties that helps prevent the irritation from spreading and prevent the skin from cracking. Simply add this oil to the affected areas and get immediate relief.

4. Face packs made of various fruits and vegetables rejuvenates the skin and makes it smooth and silky. Mud packs are also effective in case of eczema.

5. Rough, tight, scratchy clothes or those which are of wool, would be the worst things to go for a while you are suffering from an eczema attack. Wearing cool and smooth-textured clothing such as those made of cotton, is one of the smartest ways to get eczema relief.

6. According to a study by researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, preliminary studies have shown five raw Chinese herbs to be effective in treating eczema. The study appeared in the British Journal of Dermatology. The five herbs found include flos lonicerae, Japanese honeysuckle; cortex moutan, or root bark of peony tree; herba menthae, or peppermint; cortex phellodendri, or amur cork-tree bark; and atractylodes rhizome.

7. Another home remedy for eczema is taking your vitamins diligently. Vitamins A, B, and C help in the reproduction of skin cells. Vitamins do not reduce the outbreaks, though. They do help your skin heal much faster than usual. Vitamin-rich foods include oily fish, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables.

8. Almond leaves which are found all over the United States can be used to cure this inflammatory disorder. A paste of almond leaves and water on the affected region is very effective in curing eczema.

Eliminate Nummular Eczema Without The Need Of Any Medication

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Eczema is a skin disease that often runs in families. It is generally caused by stress and contact with certain chemicals or allergens. The word “nummular” is taken from the Latin word nummus, which means a small coin. Numular eczema is in the form of coin shaped patches.

Men are the people who contract nummular eczema the most, with the first outbreak occurring when they are in their mid fifties to mid sixties in age. The second most active age period of people suffering with nummular eczema are fifteen to twenty five years of age.

In this category women are the ones suffering from this type of eczema the most. This form of eczema hardly bothers with children, and for every 1000 people in the United States, only two will be affected by this illness.

In cases where nummular eczema is not well treated, then one may risk developing secondary infections of the skin. The goal of treatment for eczema is to relieve and prevent itching, whichcan lead to infection.

Trigger Factors For Nummular Eczema

Avoid triggers that can make your symptoms worse, such as wool, lanolin, and certain foods. Trigger factors for atopic eczema may include soap, harsh chemicals, heat and humidity, stress, certain foods (the most common offenders include eggs, milk, wheat, soy protein,and peanuts).

Nowadays, it is possible to obtain a food allergy, skin prick test, where certain foods are placed on the skin in a controlled, clinical environment. Nummunal Eczema may also be due to other causes such as: an allergic reaction to the excrement from house dust mites, allergy to foodstuffs including :

Dairy products,
coffee,
soybean products,
eggs,
nuts,
wheat and maize.

A good idea is to start with a very plain and limited diet and gradually introduce new foods. Once you have discovered foods that bring on eczema, you should eliminate them from your diet.

Avoid triggers that can make your symptoms worse, such as wool, lanolin, and certain foods. Trigger factors for atopic eczema may include soap, harsh chemicals, heat and humidity, stress,certain foods (the most common offenders include eggs, milk, wheat, soy protein,and peanuts).

To be sure, you should start shifting gears such from fatty foods into healthy vegetables. Certain foods such as eggs, peanut butter, fish and eggs are known to trigger off numunal eczema in children. Vitamin C rich foods can help with skin regeneration, these include fruit and vegetables. Additives in food can, in some cases, severely irritate the skin, these include processed foods with coloring and preservatives.

Alternative Treatment

The treatment of nummular eczema will target the need for immediate relief from the symptoms. Frequently your doctor will prescribe topical ointments or creams containing steroids, which are usually very effective.

Nummular Eczema patients can be treated, but medical treatments often dont help a pain which is more than skin deep. Alternative medicines have done more for the numular eczema suffer then doctors and drug companies. It is widely agreed upon that the bodys immune system is not strong enough, or has been altered to combat allergens Incorporating fatty 3 acids, and herbal tonics has cleared up many forms of eczema.

You will also want to use a rich moisturizing lotion or cream to keep your skin hydrated, and make sure the soap you use is mild and fragrance free. The application of a wet dressing can sometimes give you some relief.

It’s good to wear cotton clothing and avoid wool while you are sorting things out. Some people react to latex so be aware of your gloves. A mild soap like dove for sensitive skin works well as it contains no perfumes. For bathing use oatmeal baths rather than commercial bath soaks. Check your detergent to be sure it is dye free.