If you have eczema, getting eczema advice from an expert can be a valuable way to help you on your road to recovery.
Over the years we have seen blogs and social media posts, where some of the ITCHY DOZEN WORST FOODS FOR ECZEMA have been recommended for eczema. It's no wonder people are confused about diet and eczema! Remember, just because you like and follow them, it does not make them an expert.
It’s important to get your eczema info from a reliable source, which means not only someone who has successfully healed their own eczema (or a family members eczema), but also someone who has personally worked with and helped hundreds of eczema patients.
This is because there are MANY different eczema triggers, and you want to get advice from someone who knows about ALL of the issues that relate to eczema, so you can choose the information that is right for you.
So I’m comparing and reviewing three eczema books from nutritionist Karen Fischer.
Karen Fischer is the founder of Skin Friend and has specialised in eczema for the past 20 years. As a nutritionist Karen previously ran the Eczema Life Clinic in Sydney where she worked with hundreds of patients with eczema and other types of skin inflammation.
Karen has also taught an eczema course at Nature Care College, wrote a skin health column for Cosmopolitan Magazine (in Australia), and she helped her daughter become eczema-free 20 years ago. Karen has also fully recovered from a bout of head-to-toe eczema, MCAS and psoriasis, so she has lived the nightmare and has gained valuable insights along the way.
FAQ: “I have eczema... so do I read ‘The Eczema Diet’, ‘The Eczema Detox’ or ‘The Healthy Skin Kitchen’ to help my skin?”
Since Karen Fischer's seventh book, The Healthy Skin Kitchen was released in March 2021, we have received dozens of emails asking what’s the main difference between Karen’s eczema books: The Eczema Diet, The Eczema Detox and The Healthy Skin Kitchen. We appreciate these questions!
So, how do you know which eczema book is right for you?
I'll explain this by telling you a bit about my own eczema journey.
My name is Bonnie and I struggled with eczema for a long time (and still do occasionally when I overindulge in my trigger foods!) and I can honestly say that all three of Karen's books have supported my eczema healing journey in different ways.
Karen’s original program The Eczema Diet, which I read as a teenager, helped me to understand WHY I had eczema, what triggered my insane itchy, oozy inflamed eczema which was literally all over my body. It allowed my whole family to understand how ‘food’—by this I mean the processed and packaged foods that I had been putting in my body—was impacting my health and flaring up my eczema and thus making me (and my family) MISERABLE.
The Eczema Diet, which Karen Fischer originally designed for her daughter Ayva and her eczema patients, details how the diet works biochemically, with diagrams and scientific evidence and references.
It’s a good book for sceptics and doctors and us lay-people who want to understand our eczema monster. When I first read The Eczema Diet it was truly a light bulb moment! The Eczema Diet started my healing journey and slowly (there are no quick solutions to eczema) improved not only my physical health but my mental health as well.
In the past, my parents and I spent SO much money on eczema creams and eczema potions that were based on NO valid scientific evidence. We eczema sufferers are known for falling into easy “eczema quick fixes” (understandably while under stress!) that don’t fix the underlying issues, so having The Eczema Diet book became my ‘go-to’ for reliable, science-based eczema information.
The Eczema Diet was also featured on Seven's Prime Time News in Australia, as a "new eczema breakthrough by an Australian Nutritionist".
While The Eczema Diet book is ideal for understanding eczema and dealing with the itch, for very difficult cases of eczema (i.e. if you have severe chemical intolerances or head-to-toe eczema or have multiple allergies) grab a copy of The Eczema Detox.
The Eczema Detox book clearly showed me HOW to clear up the last bits of my eczema—and it’s the only book that contains the FID Program (that’s the Food Intolerance Diagnosis program). So if you have no idea what is triggering your eczema then The Eczema Detox book and the FID program are for you.
The eczema detox recipes form a part of the book’s three tailored programs, suitable for everyone from babies to the elderly, helping a range of skin inflammation problems including dermatitis, psoriasis, red skin syndrome and rosacea.
The Eczema Detox has helped thousands of eczema warriors clear up their stubborn eczema and skin inflammation, many of whom feature on our healthyskinkitchen.com website. You can read their stories here.
This is a testimonial recently posted on Amazon.com on The Eczema Detox page:
“We want more recipes”. We hear this a lot…
While all of Karen’s books are packed with recipes, The Healthy Skin Kitchen has loads of new, fun, fabulous recipes which can be incorporated into your Eczema Detox and Eczema Diet regime. The Healthy Skin Kitchen also includes FID-friendly meals to add to your Eczema Detox regime, but the HSK can be enjoyed on its own as it contains a section called Menu 4 which can be used instead of the FID program.
Two of the many unique features of The Healthy Skin Kitchen includes how it tackles stress (as it has been proven to trigger eczema!) and it gets you acquainted with your gut health and microbiome with new and exciting research.
The eczema monster and stress
For many with eczema and other types of skin inflammation, stress is one of the biggest triggers, and this can be commonly overlooked when you are scouring the internet for a “magic” eczema cream or an eczema diet. As Karen Fischer says 'No matter how perfect your diet is, if you are over-stimulating your nervous system, you are preventing any profound healing from taking place.'
The Healthy Skin Kitchen has taught me practical ways to manage my stress. I do this through Karen’s vagus nerve exercises and mindfulness to de-stress, thus ensuring both my skin and I remain calm. Let me tell you, along with following the menus in The Healthy Skin Kitchen, practising mindfulness and following Karen Fischer's skincare routine, my skin has never looked better. No need for botox with this book!
Not only that, The Health Skin Kitchen provides the most up-to-date scientific information on skin health, I love the delicious recipes and the beautiful photography could inspire the most hardened non-cook to get into the kitchen and whip up a feast!
Image: Beet Detox Soup from The healthy Skin Kitchen
The Healthy Skin Kitchen recipes add to my Eczema Detox regime which keeps my palate excited and my eczema at bay. You can see why it is difficult to recommend just one book when all three books are valuable pieces in the very tricky eczema puzzle!
The Healthy Skin Kitchen also covers skin care and there is a useful Signs, Symptoms and Solutions chart where you can look up a large range of disorders including:
So if you suffer from itchy, inflamed eczema, dermatitis or a skin inflammatory condition, all three of Karen Fischer’s eczema books provide great information, tools and support to help you ditch the itch and created healthy looking skin from the inside out.
Image: Papaya Beauty Smoothie Bowl from The Healthy Skin Kitchen
If you are only able to purchase one book today, go back over the information in this article and refer to the key points below to decide which book is right for you:
All three books contain different recipes so they combine to give you loads of recipes to keep you on track.
Here are some additional options if you like a book that comes with eczema support...
Karen Fischer has a new online program called The Healthy Skin Kitchen to help you follow all three books with extra support from qualified nutritionists (including me!), forum chats, podcasts and video tutorials. Launching in September 2021. Find your eczema tribe here.
Karen has also designed a range of supplements and skin care products to help you on your skin health journey, while following Karen’s eczema programs. Check out our Skin Friend AM and Skin Friend PM supplements, and hydrate your itchy, dry eczema monster with 24-Hour Rescue Balm—your skin will drink it up and stay calm and hydrated for hours.
Happy reading and much love,
Bonnie
]]>By Grace...
The Vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve involved in the bidirectional communication between the brain and gastrointestinal tract. The two-way nerve extends from the brainstem, through the neck and down to the abdomen, which is responsible for keeping a number of bodily functions in check, including digestion, heart rate and respiratory rate (1).
If you’ve ever experienced a “gut feeling” or even worse, a “gut reaction”, this is exactly what I’m talking about. This is your brain speaking to your gut, and vice versa. So what does all this mean?
Inflammation is the underlying cause of most chronic illnesses, including eczema. Whilst we require inflammation as an innate healing response, long-term inflammation can cause an imbalance and the body to go into “over drive”. This is where the Vagus nerve comes in, in helping to reduce/prevent internal inflammation (2).
Our bodies are in a constant battle between “fight or flight” (sympathetic nervous system: SNS) and “rest and digest” (parasympathetic nervous system: PNS) due to continuous physical and emotional stressors in our day-to-day lives. Stress in an inevitable part of life, and in some instances, is critical for our survival. However, persistent stress that is not dealt with can lead to a number of health issues.
The Vagus nerve plays a key role in relaxation via its affect on the PNS. The PNS allows our breathing to slow down, the heart rate to decrease, it stimulates digestion and promotes overall relaxation. Stimulation of the Vagus nerve allows the body to adapt to stressful stimulations faster.
My tips to increase your Vagal tone include:
1. Gargling, singing, ‘OM’ chanting and humming all create a vibration at the back of the throat that stimulates the vagus nerve. Think of this as an “awakening” of the nerve. It’s no wonder singing in the car feels so good!
2. Deep/slow belly breathing has been shown to increase the PNS by activating the vagus nerve. Aim to breathe deeply from your diaphragm, expanding your belly outwards with a long and slow outbreath.
3. Cold Water Exposure has been shown to reduce the SNS via activation and stimulation of neurons through the vagus nerve pathway. If you’re uncomfortable with cold water, begin with splashing just your face or using a cold face wash and build your resilience to the experience. Work your way up and try finishing your next shower with 30 seconds of cold water, soon your body may adjust to the temperature change and you’ll be comfortable moving towards the ocean on a cold day or refreshing natural springs.
4. Yoga: studies suggest that yoga practices reduce the stress response via stimulation of the vagus nerve which not only increasing PNS and decreasing SNS activity but additionally, increases gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in a number of conditions that are exacerbated by stress such as depression, epilepsy, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain (3).
5. Meditation is similar to the breathing techniques, allowing the body to reach a state of relaxation via the increase of vagal tone.
6. Laughing, we know it feels good and when there’s a reason why, it gives us even more motivation to make time for that big belly laugh! Laughing is a similar concept to singing, gargling, humming etc., as it creates a vibration within the body that stimulates the vagus nerve promoting a sense of calm and peace.
7. Listen to music: When you listen to calming music, the vagus nerve is stimulated and a calming and soothing neurotransmitter called acetylcholine is released. We recommend listening to our very own Skin Friend Vagus Nerve Wellness and Sleep Well playlist when you are cooking dinner and getting ready for bed.
You can find the Spotify playlist Vagus Nerve Wellness here and the Sleep well one here. If you do not have a Spotify account, you will need to search the app store (on your smart phone) and download the Spotify app. Search "Vagus Nerve" when on the Spotify app and find the playlist by Skin Friend.
Alternatively, if you are on your computer you can sign up to Spotify online here if you haven't already got an account. It's free to listen to.
These are all simple methods we can include into our daily practices to enhance vitality, reduce inflammation and the overall burden of disease. I encourage you to be mindful of your stress reaction, take note of how your body is responding and the messages it may be sending you.
Much love,
Grace
Our Oat and Zinc Bath Powder contains three key ingredients that are all excellent for healing, soothing and moisturising the skin. It has been formulated to be used either as a bath soak, or as a soothing paste and is gentle enough to be used both on your face and body.
Read on to see exactly why we chose each ingredient and how each one is going to help your skin...
Colloidal Oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal is a fine powder, that comes from grinding and processing whole oat grains. When these small particles are dispersed in water, a barrier on the skin can form and protect the skin from external threats. As well as being used for eczema, colloidal oatmeal is often used for other skin rashes, erythema, burns and general itch. The use of oats topically dates back throughout history. (Ilnytska et al., 2016)
Oatmeal is known to be moisturising, protective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, soothing, buffering and also has cleansing properties. Thanks to its humectant activity and emollient effects, it provides water retention in the stratum corneum (the top layer of your skin) - which helps with itching, as well as improving skin barrier and moisture levels in the skin. (Fowler, Nebus, Wallo & Eichenfield, 2012)
The anti-inflammatory action of oat extracts are linked to a number of antioxidants found within oats, including avenanthramides, vitamin E and ferric acid. Avenathramides have particularly potent anti-inflammatory properties and studies have shown that they inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8, as well as decreasing the activation of the NF-kB pathway. (Fowler, Nebus, Wallo & Eichenfield, 2012)
Bicarb Soda
Bicarbonate soda is often used in baking to make batters lighter and fluffier, but did you know it has lots of other benefits that can help your skin? Often someone with eczema scratches their skin so much that it breaks, resulting in an open wound that is prone to infection - making everything worse! Due to it’s antibacterial actions, baking soda may help reduce symptoms in eczema sufferers.
Sodium bicarbonate has been found to inhibit the growth of both bacteria and yeast, and the bicarbonate ion in particular has been identified as the probable cause of inhibition of the tested bacteria and yeast. In addition to this, pH elevation due to the use of bicarbonate soda played a roll in some cases. (Corral, Post & Montville, 2006).
Zinc Oxide
Topical preparations of zinc, including zinc oxide, have been used for many years as soothing agents for a number of skin conditions, including eczema. The anti-inflammatory properties of zinc oxide increases the rate of reepithelialization, which is why it is commonly used. A zinc oxide paste is also a popular option for treating nappy rash in babies due to these effects. It has been found to be a beneficial anti-itch agent, due to its soothing activity. Statistically significant improvements have been observed in double-blind clinical trials when a cream containing zinc sulphate was used on patients with chronic hand eczema. (Gupta, Mahajan, Mehta & Chauhan, 2014).
Zinc oxide has also been found to have strong antioxidant and antibacterial action and has been used to treat impaired skin barrier function, increased oxidative cellular stress and bacterial colonisation. (Gupta, Mahajan, Mehta & Chauhan, 2014).
Calamine lotion - which you may remember using as a child when you had chicken pox - contains zinc oxide and is commonly used as an anti-itch remedy due to it’s soothing properties. The zinc inhibits mast cell degranulation and therefore reduces the secretion of histamine - resulting in less itch for the patient. (Gupta, Mahajan, Mehta & Chauhan, 2014).
In addition to being used for itchy skin conditions, zinc oxide is also often used for other skin conditions, including acne, rosacea, psoriasis, ulcers/wounds and warts. (Gupta, Mahajan, Mehta & Chauhan, 2014).
Products
At Eczema Life, we recommend nutritionist Karen Fischer's low food chemical program (The Eczema Detox) along with additive-free supplements for skin health and wellbeing. Click on the images to view more details:
References
Ilnytska, Olha & Kaur, Simarna & Chon, Suhyoun & Reynertson, Kurt & Nebus, Judith & Garay, Michelle & Mahmood, Khalid & Southall, Michael. (2016). Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena Sativa) Improves Skin Barrier Through Multi-Therapy Activity. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD. 15. 684-690.
Fowler, Joseph F., Judith Nebus, Warren Wallo and Lawrence F Eichenfield. (2012). Colloidal oatmeal formulations as adjunct treatments in atopic dermatitis. Journal of drugs in dermatology: 804-7 .
Corral, Laura & Post, Laurie & MONTVILLE, THOMAS. (2006). Antimicrobial Activity of Sodium Bicarbonate. Journal of Food Science. 53. 981 - 982. 10.1111/j.1365-2621.1988.tb09005.x.
Gupta, M., Mahajan, V. K., Mehta, K. S., & Chauhan, P. S. (2014). Zinc therapy in dermatology: a review. Dermatology research and practice, 2014, 709152. doi:10.1155/2014/709152
]]>Christmas is a time for celebration, and if you’re like me and my family it involves eating a lot of food. However many typical Christmas dishes, such as ham, gravy and mum’s amazing trifle dessert (sorry Mum), can trigger eczema flare-ups if you are susceptible to eczema. Luckily there are tasty eczema-friendly alternatives ...
No matter what your religion or beliefs, here is an eczema-friendly festive menu plus one of my favourite dessert recipes, Baked Pear Crumble, which uses The Eczema Diet and Eczema Detox ingredients.
Refer to The Eczema Diet for the Roast Chicken recipe, or simply roast chicken using low salicylate ingredients to flavour the skin, including rice bran oil (or an oil to suit your allergies), garlic powder, quality sea salt, parsley and chives. Note chicken SKIN contains high salicylates, but skinless chicken is low in salicylates, and low in amines if cooked fresh (not leftovers). See instructions, below.
What about turkey?
Note that turkey is now shown to contain HIGH salicylates but if you are not intolerant to salicylates, you can have turkey if you like. Personal I think chicken tastes much better as it's not dry like turkey.
Eczema-safe sweets: white marshmallows, home-made/plain toffee, traditional honeycomb, and Red Velvet Cupcakes (note beetroot contains salicylates).
Biscuits: Anzac Biscuits from The Eczema Diet and The Eczema Detox books (these cookies are dairy-free, egg-free and wheat-free). Or try my new Festive Gluten-Free Cookies recipe.
Good old filtered water, mineral water, clear lemonade (ensure it has no additives, no colour, not “diet”, not “sugar-free”), decaffeinated coffee with organic soy milk or rice milk (or milk to suit your allergies), “carob milk drink” (made with warm soy milk or rice milk, carob powder and rice malt syrup), or make The Eczema Diet juices 'Tarzan Juice' and 'Healthy Skin Juice' as they are fantastic for reducing the itch of eczema.
While alcohol is ultimately problematic for eczema (as alcohol is highly acid-forming), there are some exceptions for special occasions, including vodka, gin and whiskey, which are classed as 'low salicylate', glutamate-free and 'low amine' making them suitable for people with chemical intolerances. In some people, all alcohol can trigger a histamine response (I hope it's not you!).
On saying this, of course avoid alcohol if you find it gives you crazy flareups.
How to make Christmas chicken eczema-friendly (it's easy) Cook the chicken as per instructions (I'm not going to insert cooking instructions here but you can google how to cook a whole chicken or check the recipe in The Eczema Diet), then use the following ingredients which are eczema-friendly:
Oil: use only rice bran oil or pure refined safflower oil (no additives, no antioxidant)
Sea salt, to taste (anything quality such as Himalayan or sea salt
Garlic powder and chives to season (of course if you are salicylate and amine intolerant you might want to avoid eating the skin, but you can dig in to the stuffing...)
Stuffing can contain high salicylates but you can make eczema-friendly stuffing using low salicylate ingredients such as gluten-free breadcrumbs, chives, sea salt, rice bran oil, raw cashews, garlic powder, maple syrup sauteed leeks and/or green shallots/scallions/spring onions (and maybe Pink Pear Jam from The Eczema Detox book).
Serve the chicken with eczema-safe vegetables from the shopping lists in the book. Gravy: try this new Eczema Diet Gravy recipe – all other gravies are (unfortunately) terrible for eczema so if you love your skin don’t use normal gravy mix or other home-made ones, or simply eat your chicken without gravy. If you are highly sensitive to amines skip the gravy as it can accumulate amines during cooking. Caramelized Leek Sauce is also another great topping.
Of course you can just go nuts and eat whatever you like (within reason), then take some Skin Friend AM and PM for support during the festive season. That's what I will be doing!
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To all the carers, moms/mums, dads, friends (and other amazing souls out there) caring and supporting someone with chronic eczema: this latest blog by Bonnie is for you. {Photo of Bonnie, taken by Karen Fischer)
Recently my mother was snooping around my mess (she uses the word 'cleaning') and picked up a book that I had been reading ‘Curing My Incurable Eczema.’ In her book, Cara Ward recalls her journey with eczema and Topical Steroid Withdrawal.
Mum came to me to confess that she had to stop reading it because it bought back such painful and vivid memories of the many years that I (we) suffered with atopic eczema. She was surprised at her response, as those days seem so long ago now. So we chatted about our eczema journey and I decided that it was something I wanted to share.
Beyond flare ups, the broader pain of eczema takes place on many fronts affecting us not only physically but mentally too, and this notion ripples through to loved ones supporting us on the journey to healed skin.
Illness and all the associated stress and anxiety is an exhausting business for everyone involved! After recovery, are we able to reflect on the immense physical and emotional toll for ourselves and our families.
For me personally, without the love and both practical and emotional support of my family, and my mum in particular, the long journey to recovery would have been much more difficult. I had dark days. But the love, compassion, humour and patience from parents, friends and other loved ones during the tough times can transform these dark moments.
So, with some input from my mum, this blog provides some useful information and tips to those amazing souls who care for someone with chronic eczema.
1. Join the Facebook 'Eczema Diet Support Group'
We (nutritionist Karen Fischer and the team of nutritionists at Skin Friend) have created a free support group for people following The Eczema Diet or Karen's newest eczema book, The Eczema Detox.
This group provides a community of mutual support and understanding, for those who wish to try dietary changes to heal their eczema from the inside out.
You need to be logged into Facebook to join the group and then wait for a team member to approve your request. This group is an excellent way to connect with others who are struggling with eczema themselves or for a family member or carer to get tips from like minded people. What do you get? Excellent recipes, product discounts and tips which frequently shared by all. Join the support group here.
2. Making the new eating journey fun
My mum knows all too well (like most do) that encouraging young ones to eat appropriately to improve eczema can be quite a challenge. As a stubborn 12-year-old I would often throw the delicious healthy food mum had made and swap it for a chicken burger and Slurpee at the tuckshop (ohh the regret as it made the itch mush worse!).
However, as I slowly realised it was not worth eating foods that made me itch and did not support my healing, simultaneously my mum came across a very special book that changed our family’s relationship with food—The Eczema Diet by Karen Fischer. My brother was not impressed but the rest of the family embraced this ‘clean’ way of eating.
Mum says she finally became a good cook after reading the book and implementing the recipes … I can definitely attest to that! She also said “as much as it was terrible having a child with eczema, it made us a much healthier family.”
I am grateful for what my journey with eczema has given me—a love of healthy food and a passion to help others improve their eczema. Nowadays, we are very fortunate that there are many resources readily available. Favourites include: Karen’s book ‘Don’t Tell Them It’s Healthy.’ It is a great guide to marketing nutritious food to children and teens. The newest version is called 'Healthy Family Happy Family' and the e-book is available here.
3. Positivity for the eczema sufferer and the carers
Studies show that optimists are generally both psychologically and physiologically healthier. When you have chronic eczema, some days are tough and I know from personal experience it is a challenge to be positive, because eczema is painful!
However, I have found comfort in doing positive lifestyle actions such as going for a walk, making the effort to meet friends (even though I would rather stay home some days!) and having a positive headspace.
I had to develop an inner strength and learn to ‘ignore the comments’ that some people felt they could openly say…yes I know I have an oozing red rash all over (come on people, think before you speak!).
It really is all about a positive headspace! So push yourself on those dark days because it really does make a difference. And for your family and friends… make them come on that walk with you!
My mum tells me she found support in alcohol, nah just joking! She actually did a workshop of Mindfulness and tells me this technique really helped to reshape her thoughts.
We know that eczema can flare due to emotional stress which interfere with sleep patterns (and day to day life!) resulting in anxiety, depression and sleep deprivation. Eczema and chronic itching have been shown to activate areas of the brain that deal with stress and chronic pain. In eczema sufferers, these areas of the brain remain overactive, leading to the release of stress hormones. Through the use of MRI machines one study found that meditation can deactivate these areas of the brain leading to a decreased release of inflammatory and stress hormones.
Practising mediation with an eczema sufferer can be a great tool for both parties involved. Working through these techniques together can help an eczema warrior to feel less alone ... and like they aren’t battling this solo.
4. Recognising when psychology support is needed
Anger, frustration, guilt, annoyance and exhaustion are all normal emotions when caring for someone with eczema. The demands physically and emotionally as a carer can be high and often will take a toll. Recognising these feelings and speaking with a counsellor (or other carer) can be such a beneficial way to help yourself and ultimately help you care for someone with eczema.
My mum recognised this need for me, we just were not coping as well as we could. She found a beautiful psychologist (I initially refused to go, but luckily mum said, ‘bad luck we are going’). These sessions allowed me to voice my fears, apprehensions, anxieties and I learnt strategies that really helped. For me, this was such a positive experience. My mum said she should have had some sessions too!
We also made these outings positive. After each session, we would treat ourselves with a gluten and dairy free (of course) pizza. This made the experience extra special for me.
I suppose what I am trying to say is if you need that extra support please ask.
During my darkest times, mum asked my Allergist if there was extra ongoing support, but they did not offer any psychological support. However, there are health plans available that allows these extra supports to be affordable, so please discuss it with your GP.
Let’s face it, having eczema is not cheap! Speaking of money, my mum took me to a different GP one time who commented that we should have a Health Card and she should be paid as a carer! Mum said no to the carer allowance but yes to the health card! Make sure you discuss this with your GP as you might be eligible too.
I hope these tips can help some of you on your eczema journey. For all the carers out there, we love and thank you.
Bonnie x
Article by nutritionist Bonnie, who now works with Karen Fischer at Skin Friend and Eczema Life. Karen Fischer's eczema books and additive-free supplements for skin health and wellbeing can be found here.
]]>I recently returned from an epic 3 month backpacking trip throughout Europe, don’t be too jealous! Because of my life experience with eczema, I would like to share with you my ‘eczema travel tips’.
For many years eczema, or as I like to call it- ‘bloody eczema,’ at times stopped me from socialising with friends, going swimming in chlorine pools and generally made me retreat from life. However, as I gradually educated myself via the wonderful Skin Friend community, overtime I was empowered to make significant lifestyle changes- altering my diet, introducing supplements, exercising more and meditating. Through these changes I was able to heal my skin and myself. Although eczema continues to raise its ugly red rash at times - stress, weather and lapses with diet - it has never been as severe as it used to be and I feel that I now can manage these outbreaks so much better.
Although I was so very excited for this long-awaited adventure, I was also very nervous. That niggle of an eczema flare is always just sitting within the recesses of my mind. Would my skin react in the cool Irish air or the intense heat of the Spanish seaside? How would I maintain my healthy skin diet and still eat all the Italian gelato I was dreaming about? Would a severe skin reaction ruin my trip and leave me running home instead of running through the Swiss Alps? But this adventure was something I had dreamed and planned for, and I was not going to allow my anxiety surrounding eczema ruin it. Instead I took some calculated steps in order to be prepared and prevent my skin from flaring, and guess what…it worked! Planning was the key! I hope that some of these tips shared can help lessen anxiety around travelling with eczema.
Prepare your body
Book in advance
Learn the Language and do your research
Exercises to de-stress
Packing right
I hope these few tips can help my fellow eczema friends going on a travel adventure!
Bon voyage!
xx Bonnie
]]>Although I was an ‘atopic kid’, suffering from environmental allergies, hayfever and asthma, growing up I was lucky enough to be free of food allergies or eczema. The first time I experienced eczema was during year 11 and 12 due to stress from school work and it showed its red angry face under my arms. As many eczema suffers out there would understand...it is horrible. However, once the stressful exam periods finished it would go away and vanish from my mind until it returned.
As I got older, I grew out of my day-to-day asthma, with it only effecting me during excessive exercise or in a really bad allergic reaction, or a case of hay fever. However my hay fever and other environmental allergies stuck around like a bad smell. To be honest, I never really took the allergies seriously and just used antihistamines daily to cope. This only served as a band aid, not addressing the underlying issue.
At 21, I commenced a new journey, changing my whole lifestyle and embracing a vegan diet. So naturally, I started to consume more soy products as a replacement for meat and dairy.
About a year into it, I started working at a local cafe, where I was washing dishes constantly. My hands were always either in a sink full of water with harsh dishwashing chemicals, or were getting washed with ‘food grade’ hand wash - again full of chemicals. In addition to this, I was also enjoying a soy hot chocolate at least once a day (as well as everything else I was eating that was soy based!).
It didn’t take long before I ended up with pretty severe, and super painful, eczema on my fingers. It would start out as tiny little blisters, that looked like white heads, which would then pop and ooze out clear liquid. Once they had popped, thats when the itching began. As anyone with eczema probably knows, itching is the worst thing you can do for your skin - but oh is it satisfying in the moment! Of course, the more I itched, more of these white blisters would appear, and then would pop, continuing the cycle. The eczema continued to worsen and I could hardly straighten my fingers because they were so severely painful, dried, cracked, and infected. My skin was so thin and if I moved my fingers the wrong way, my skin would crack and bleed. I would wake up in the middle of the night scratching like crazy and it got to the point where I would shower with plastic bags over my hands and my partner would have to wash my hair, as anything that touched my poor fingers was excruciatingly painful. I even wore socks over my hands to bed at one stage to try and stop the night scratching! I had rings on my fingers that I struggled to get off because of how swollen my fingers were. Holding ice packs over my hands was the only relief that subsided the bone-deep itch and burning sensation.
The photos above don't portray the eczema at its worst. Often my entire fingers would be covered, cracked and oozing.
I knew quite a few people that experienced eczema from constantly having wet hands, so I started reducing the amount of washing up I was doing at work and tried to keep my hands as dry as possible. I applied thick moisturisers and barrier creams but nothing improved the eczema.
Keep in mind, I was still drinking my soy hot chocolates and eating soy products everyday…
I ended up seeing my doctor and of course she prescribed me steroid creams. As common with most eczema suffers, these helped for a few weeks but I’d end up needing something stronger. I haven’t always had a natural, holistic approach when it came to treating my eczema, however I was never comfortable using steroid creams as my Mother would love to remind me "they'll thin your skin sweetie!" Every cream I was prescribed also said 'do not apply to broken skin' so, luckily, I never ended up using steroid creams consistently as my skin was always broken. Every time I saw my doctor, I asked whether it could be related to anything with my diet and she would just give me a stronger prescription and told me ‘it was something I would have to live with and eczema can’t be cured.' This is something I commonly hear speaking to patients suffering from eczema in the Skin Friend community, however when it comes to healing your eczema there is hope with the right information.
Every night before bed I would google ‘hand eczema’ desperate for answers. Often I would read about 'normal' eczema and felt like it didn't describe or even look like what I was experiencing on my hands. One night, I came across a blog that talked about dyshidrotic eczema. Dyshidrotic eczema causes small blisters on the hands, fingers or feet that itch and burn, go away within 2 weeks and leave the skin red, cracked, tight and dry. Everything clicked and I entered a google vortex of dyshidrotic eczema. Finally, every single thing I read explained my eczema as if they were recounting my experience, and photos I were seeing were exactly what my fingers looked like!
The next thing that surprised me was that nickel in foods such a soy beans was a common trigger for dyshidrotic eczema. I remember this moment so vividly and from the next morning I cut out soy products completely from my diet. I had a huge build up in my system, but in just over a week my hands were almost clear. After over a year of intense itching, pain, infection and desperation, I finally felt calm. When I trialed not eating soy I also stopped using steroid creams which really confirmed to me that it was soy causing my issues. My skin was still dry, thin and damaged but I was so amazed at how much difference there was in just over a week - it was truely an eye opening moment. I decided to test my theory and had a soy hot chocolate and within half an hour the itching was back and the next day my fingers had flared again - my partner and I were in shock and couldn’t believe that something so simple had been causing me so much pain.
I continued to cut soy out of my diet (which was so hard being vegan!) and was really strict on it for months and my skin completely cleared up. I had scarring and my fingers didn’t look the same as before but there was no eczema. After a while, I got lazy and started to reintroduce a few things back into my diet on special occasions. At first my skin didn't react badly so this made me greedy...then the eczema started to return.
Through trial and error I have figured out that my body can tolerate smaller amounts of soy. I am careful not to over indulge and I haven’t had a flare in over a year. I still use soy sauce multiple times a week and eat tofu, but I just make sure not to go crazy and I am totally fine. I now also notice that if I eat too much soy I get digestive issues and I end up with bumpy pimples all over my forehead within just a couple of days. This further confirms that my body does not like soy. My fingers now look basically as good as new - some of the skin looks slightly thinner than before with faded scarring but I'll take that over the eczema any day!
Although soy is a common allergen, it only affects about 0.4% of children with atopic dermatitis and most people develop a tolerance by late childhood (Jarmila et al., 2013). There isn’t many studies looking at soy allergies and eczema, as it is more common for allergic patients to experience gastrointestinal issues as a reaction.
My greatest piece of advice is to not give up! I know how disheartening it is to be in constant pain without knowing exactly why and end up reaching for your steroid cream - but I can promise you that it is SO worth it once you figure out what your trigger is!
Shop the story
You can find more detailed information on the best foods for eczema, diet programs to heal your skin, up to date research, evidence, and further inspiring recipes by reading The Eczema Detox book found here. It is truly the best investment for your skin and overall wellbeing.
Click on the images to view more details:
Make sure you're signed up to our Newsletter at skinfriend.com (scroll to the bottom) for regular recipes, tips, and up-to-date information on skin health.
Much love (and happy skin)
Reference
Jarmila, C., Květuše, E., Karel, E., Jaroslava, V., & Josef, B. (2013). Soy allergy in patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. Indian journal of dermatology, 58(4), 325. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.113938
]]>By Bonnie
I have struggled with eczema for most of my life. I’m sure as any eczema sufferer reading knows, eczema can be a real pain in the butt. My personal eczema journey led me to Karen Fischer and her book The Eczema Diet and her Skin Friend supplements, which along with a commitment for change, healed my skin from the inside out.
A few recent ‘naughty’ weekends indulging in gluten, alcohol and appalling food (yes, I mean crispy chicken and hot chippies), as well as stressful circumstances, have welcomed back my old adversary in an angry red, oozy rage.
I’m sure many sufferers out there can relate—beyond flare ups—the broader pain which affects us not only physically but also mentally. I would go to work wearing a long sleeved shirt in 30°C
(86 °F) weather, cancel plans with friends, cry and generally retreat from life.
This can also affect our family and loved ones as they watch the suffering from the sidelines.
The return of the eczema brings on all the bonus extras—pain, stress, shame, misery, frustration, sadness and insecurity. At times, you feel helpless seeing no end in sight as if the eczema will be there forever.
Let me tell you now (this is a sneaky giveaway to the end of this story)… this is not true, you can heal your skin, develop resilience and live the life you’ve always wanted (minus the mansion on some Island in Greece with a personal masseuse!).
After my whinge, I decided it was time to pull myself together and actually do something about it, apart from watch soppy romantic movies and complain to my poor mother.
I picked up Karen’s most recent publication, The Eczema Detox, and started my journey to reclaim healthy skin. Although I had done the program years ago, then I was a 14-year-old teenager who most days snuck in a 7/11 slurpee and ice cream behind my mother’s back, so this time was going to be different. I was older, wiser (I like to think so) and ready to learn more and commit (because at first it is hard to change).
The eczema program is well supported with research and clearly outlined in this fabulous, insightful book. Not only does it draw you in with the big juicy pancakes on the front cover (tell me who doesn’t like pancakes, eczema or no eczema), but every page is full of such valuable and informative information that is clearly outlined and easy to process. Some things you’ll find in the first few chapters include ‘the itchy dozen worst foods for eczema’, ‘before you begin do this now’, ‘FAQ’, ‘choosing your program based on your needs- skin supplement program, the eczema detox program or the Food Intolerance Diagnosis (FID) program’. In addition to this, the book shares the most up-to-date research on eczema and other skin conditions.
I value evidence-based information, we all should! Myself and my parents have spent so much money on stuff that holds no evidence. We eczema suffers are known for falling into easy fixes that don’t fix the underlying issues.
Based on my personal needs, I followed the Eczema Detox program. Although you might be incredibly disheartened after reading the ‘itchy dozen worst foods for eczema’ realising all your favourite foods are now a no-go, you’ll soon realise (once you’ve flicked to the recipe section) that these lifestyle changes and choices will not leave you deprived. It’s just about making different choices now.
Eczema is a healing is process and I now realise there is no quick fix to this complex condition.
It also becomes easier to embrace as the healing begins.
Feeling my skin and energy levels improve lifts my spirits, bringing me out of the darkness (and out of my room!), encouraging and making it easier for me to continue with even more determination than before.
The most challenging aspect for me was to give up a few of my favourite food groups—chocolate, coffee and being a young twenty something…alcohol. However, the book offers alternatives and once I tried them I realised this new diet was achievable. Some examples include Carob Protein Balls (recipe found on the Skin Friend blog), carob tea and fresh juices.
As for the alcohol…nothing gets you more buzzed than watching your eczema fade away!
So after all I have been through, what I am trying to reassure my eczema friends is that this program delivers what is needed to ‘kick eczema on its head’, with information, nutritional support, supplements, truly delicious recipes (my Dad steals my Carob Protein Balls) and results. Not only is my skin looking great, but for me more importantly, I feel so much better in both my head space and energy level (and I can wear a singlet again!).
So enough talking, put down that donut and start your journey to heal your skin from the inside out, today.
Bonnie xx
At Eczema Life, we recommend nutritionist Karen Fischer's low food chemical program (The Eczema Detox) along with additive-free supplements for skin health and wellbeing. Click on the images to view more details:
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What's different about The Eczema Detox?
Firstly, what's the same ... The Eczema Detox follows the same principles as the original eczema diet book, as both books discuss the critical roles that chemical intolerances and food intolerances play in the appearance of eczema. So both books may be used together.
However, the new detox book is different in many ways:
1. The Eczema Detox contains A LOT more recipes, with mouth-watering images to inspire and make it easy and enjoyable to follow.
2. The Eczema Detox contains my new and updated 'Food Intolerance Diagnosis (FID) Program' to help you work out your specific triggers. This is important for anyone with skin inflammation as allergy tests are often inaccurate. The FID Program will give you a clear indication of what types of chemicals and foods you are intolerant or allergic to: knowing your triggers is the key to clearing up your skin!
3. The Eczema Detox also contains new treatments and tips which I have gathered from the past 5 years working with DIFFICULT cases of eczema, psoriasis and TSW/red skin syndrome.
4. It also has a separate (yummy) detox program ...
5. And I have left out most of the scientific info (nutritional biochemistry, which I love), so it's much easier to get straight into the program and clean up your skin.
1. On the other hand, The Eczema Diet book contains more of the scientific information (how the diet works biochemically, with diagrams and hundreds of scientific references). So this book is ideal for people who want to know technically WHY it works and WHERE the research came from.
2. The Eczema Diet book is great for NORMAL eczema, but for very difficult cases of eczema (i.e. if you have severe chemical intolerances or head-to-toe eczema or have multiple allergies), then The Eczema Detox is a better book for you.
I've been told The Eczema Detox (the new book) is much easier to follow – I think having the recipe photos, skin disorder tables and food lists really help people to enjoy and understand the new eczema detox program.
The Eczema Detox is also helpful for easy AND difficult cases of eczema and other types of skin inflammation – if you have tried everything and nothing has worked for you, The Eczema Detox is the book for you.
Read the first part of The Eczema Detox for free >>
At Eczema Life, we recommend nutritionist Karen Fischer's low food chemical program (The Eczema Detox) along with additive-free supplements for skin health and wellbeing. Click on the images to view more details:
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My eczema (when I had it) was on my face, especially around my eyes, and it was on a couple of fingers, and my recovery seemed to be pretty quick while on the Eczema Diet. The initial recovery was a 3-month period of following the diet religiously and taking the supplements, going through the detox process to get my skin clear.
However, post my initial recovery I have since:
So I thought I'd tell you about my latest eczema journey ...
It’s important to understand that the Eczema Diet (now The Eczema Detox) and the Skin Friend supplements give you the tools to recover from eczema, but they also give you that base line to understand your own personal triggers. This is important.
Keep in mind that your triggers may be different to everyone else. What sets off your skin may not have the same effect for someone else.
When I first went travelling about 6 months after recovery, I had a reaction that appeared and recovered almost immediately. It seemed my tolerance for foods not permitted on the eczema diet was low. Meaning, as soon as I transgressed, a reaction was visible. This was the same for recovery. Again eliminating those restricted foods and eating foods which were permitted and rich in nutrients, saw immediate results.
Further down the track I saw a different reaction with Zucchini. I loved Zucchini pre-Eczema and could eat mountains of the stuff. I had always wanted to reintroduce it and when I felt I was ready I did. However, I typically don’t do vegetables in moderation, and with this particular gourd I noticed that my tolerance point is only in the moderation zone. Having too much zucchini causes a reaction, when I ate more than 200grams of it.
This is fairly common with eczema sufferers. Having too much of a good thing can hit breaking point and bring on a reaction. If you have some favourite foods and try to eat them in excess you may also find something similar happening. If you have a reaction, test the amount you can tolerate. Start small, wait for a reaction, then increase the amount and do this gradually over time. Try anywhere from a quarter to half the original amount. If you do go over your threshold, wait for skin to clear and go back to the previous amount before the reaction occurred.
Still travelling along fairly well after my zucchini incident, I believe that my tolerance has increased somewhat and a reaction from a food I’m not yet ready for may take longer to appear. My body can withstand its sensitivities just that much more, causing those reactions to new foods to appear sometimes a few weeks later. This is what happened a month or so ago when I let loose on a festive period. My skin had been so good for so many months, and knowing I don’t have the same eczema panic when I wasn’t in control makes it that much easier to cheat. So I cheated.
My eyes were hit and a couple of fingers, new fingers that hadn’t been affected before. I even scored an allergic reaction in one of my eyes. It wasn’t fun and I wanted it gone. I went back to basics on the diet, upped my dose of Skin Friend AM and also cut out some other foods that were moderate in salicylates.
This time I’ve noticed that recovery time is a bit longer. But, that could be because I’m still learning about how my body reacts and how to manage these reactions. It’s taken me a while to work it out!
It took a couple of weeks for the reaction to dissipate, but the learning is still there and repeated consistent cheating does not have a good result for me.
Two key things I’ve learned over the past year is that my tolerance to certain foods does have a limit and I need to be mindful of that. The second thing is because tolerance is higher, a reaction may not be immediate. Guessing, checking and experimenting is the key to get back on the right path again. And as I come out on the other side with clear skin once again, it’s good to know I’m back in control.
If you’re at the beginning of the diet and having flare ups, see Healing Crisis – can your eczema get worse before it gets better?
If you have any questions, feel free to send an email or write a comment on the blog.
Deb x
At Eczema Life, we recommend nutritionist Karen Fischer's low food chemical program (The Eczema Detox) along with additive-free supplements for skin health and wellbeing. Click on the images to view more details:
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This information is the opposite of what many bloggers recommend for eczema. And it's a common mistake practitioners have been making for years when treating eczema and other types of skin inflammation.
In fact, I made some of these mistakes when I first became a health practitioner many years ago, mainly because the research I am discussing is new. Like all scientists, I'm willing to be wrong in order to get to the truth. But often we get stuck 'defending our herbal prescriptions' rather than changing them when the new research demands it.
As I'm a nutritionist specialising in eczema, I receive hundreds of emails from eczema sufferers and I've noticed this: eczema sufferers are confused and more itchy than ever because there is so much conflicting information available.
So I'm hoping to get the word out about eczema. Here is a sample of the information I will be teaching at my eczema workshops throughout the year, and it's a good start to understanding your eczema...
While some ingredients such as turmeric and green tea are healthy, if you have a Th2 dominant condition such as eczema, they can actually worsen your skin. Let me explain...
(A quick lesson on the immune system... it will be brief!)
In a healthy immune system, the two types of T-helper Cells (abbreviated to ‘Th’) are called Th1 and Th2.
Th1 and Th2 do several jobs:
Now this 'balance' can be likened to a seesaw, you want both Th1 and Th2 to work synergistically, and not have one type of T-helper cells take over and dominate on a long-term basis.
Eczema is Th2 dominant: T cells down, B cells elevated
Diseases are usually either Th1 dominant or Th2 dominant but some autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto’s, can switch from one to the other. Psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis are usually Th1 dominant diseases. Confusing I know! But if you have eczema this information is important.
In your body, Th2 cells deal with:
So they are the good guys if they are kept in balance. Th2 dominance means they can overreact to foods and your environment and that worsens your eczema (but it's not the whole story, as my book, The Eczema Diet, explains).
eczema
atopic dermatitis
asthma
sinusitis
inflammatory bowel disease
sinusitis
|
allergies
cancer
ulcerative colitis
Lupus
Scleroderma
Candida albicans infestation
|
If you have a Th2-dominant conditions such as eczema, asthma, Lupus or dermatitis, the following foods can worsen inflammation as they stimulate Th2.
While some of the above ingredients are perceived as healthy and can be fine for people who are not Th2 dominant, if you have a Th2 dominant condition such as eczema, avoid these ingredients as a part of your recovery.
People often recommend general health advice to eczema sufferers but eczema is a special condition and you need carefully formulated prescriptions. This sums it up perfectly:
One man's medicine is another man's sleepless night itching!
While the health benefits of green tea is well documented, it can mess with your immune system if you have eczema, as it stimulates your Th2 immune system, which is already over-stimulated.
Research on turmeric extract (HSS-888) revealed it can increase Th2 immune responses and promote a shift from Th1 to Th2 immunity (Douglas Shytle, 2012; Ukil, 2003). So while turmeric might be good for Th1 dominant diseases, it might worsen an already elevated Th2 dominant condition such as eczema.
Turmeric is also very rich in a natural chemical called salicylates (a natural pesticide), which can worsen eczema in more than 52% of people with eczema (Loblay and Swain 2006). So before taking turmeric, you need to know if you are Th2 dominant or sensitive to chemicals - if you are then turmeric could make you itchier.
Chocolate, coffee and regular black tea also worsen Th2 dominant disorders including eczema, as caffeine suppresses Th1 immune function.
Cacao, Matcha tea and some soft drinks also contain caffeine which could make you itchier than ever as they stimulate Th2 (which we want to calm down, not stimulate).
In animal studies, olive leaf extract significantly elevated Th2 immune system responses, so if you have eczema it may be risky to consume olive leaf extract (Park, 2013). Olive oil may be a problem for the same reasons.
Marijuana and hemp seeds (including hemp products such as protein powder and hemp seed milk), contain THC which suppresses Th1 immune function. Now this is a problem if you have eczema as you want to increase Th1, not suppress it as this will only worsen your Th2 dominant condition. (Newton, 2004)
So avoid smoking and hemp seed products if you have a Th2 dominant condition such as eczema.
Yes, in most cases you can balance your immune system but it is not a passive event where you merely take a pill, then go back to drinking coffee, eating sugar and smoking cigarettes - you've got to look after your health and eat well.
Also ensure you don't have nutritional deficiencies. I am a big advocate of supplements as they are the fastest way to reverse nutritional deficiencies. Your skin needs vitamins and minerals every day and a simple deficiency such as vitamin A or vitamin E can unbalance your immune system and make it Th2 dominant.
Here is how to reverse it:
Vitamin E is the predominant antioxidant in human skin and it is essential for preventing skin inflammation for many reasons, most notably its balancing effect on the immune system.
6 surprising facts about vitamin E:
While vitamin E is brilliant for eczema, no nutrient works alone. Vitamin E works best when combined with several other nutrients:
While a vitamin A deficiency is one of the causes of Th2 dominance (and Th1 suppression), DO NOT take vitamin A (retinol) supplements as they can make your skin flake off in droves. I learnt this the hard way and my face peeled for a week when I briefly took a vitamin A oral supplement.
Avoid: retinol types of vitamin A
Fat-soluble, retinol forms of vitamin A dry out the skin and worsen eczema so avoid retinoic acid and other forms of vitamin A.
Favour: natural betacarotene
Instead, take natural beta-carotene as it is a safe way to boost your vitamin A levels. When buying supplements, look for words such as "natural beta-carotene" and "Dunaliella salina" - a natural microalgae best known as a source of natural beta-carotene.
What is Dunaliella salina?
To survive in a salty environment, Dunaliella salina makes high concentrations of beta-carotene to protect against the intense UV light. In a similar way, the antioxidant activity of beta-carotene from Dunaliella salina, when consumed on a daily basis, provides mild sun protection for your skin.
Why could this be useful?
The use of topical steroids and immunosuppressants (creams) commonly prescribed to eczema sufferers, thin your skin and make it more susceptible to sun damage and skin cancer. Also, eczema sufferers often cannot apply sunscreen to their eczema so they are at risk of sunburn if spending time in the sun.
So taking natural forms of beta-carotene can be a useful way to assist with skin recovery and improve UV protection.
While vitamin E, vitamin C and Dunaliella salina are only three of many nutrients which are essential to preventing eczema, you can get all the nutrients from one source instead of buying twenty products.
I'm not keen to spruke my products online - please use whatever you like to become 100% eczema-free and do your own research.
However, I am guessing you have probably tried every cream, probiotic and eczema drug and you still have eczema. I get hundreds of emails and messages on Facebook and Instagram) asking for my advice on eczema products. People tell me they have tried everything and have seen dozens of specialists, spent thousands of dollars and they are depressed and disheartened and still itchy.
So to save you time and money (as I am expensive to see in person), this is what I prescribe to my eczema patients and these are the products which featured in the "Breakthrough diet for eczema" story which aired on 7 News in Australia: Skin Friend and The Eczema Diet. (Again, my apologies for the promo. If you want to know more, please read on.)
Skin Friend AM is 100% non-GMO, vegan and soy-free and contains organic vitamin E, vitamin C and natural beta-carotene (14 nutrients in total) to balance the Th1 and Th2 immune system. It also "contains ingredients that assist in the healing and repair of the skin" (TGA wording).
Skin Friend is not another skin cream. It's a vitamin and mineral supplement. It contains no herbs so Skin Friend is also safe for children to use (over age 1).
Below is our 7 News interview which aired in Australia this year. Note my patient Georgie Broos was interviewed and you'll see she added Skin Friend to her smoothie in the news video.
Remember eczema is a unique skin condition so it needs specialised health advice.
Much love,
Karen Fischer (Eczema Life Clinic)
Watch our 7 News video here:
At Eczema Life, we recommend nutritionist Karen Fischer's low food chemical program (The Eczema Detox) along with additive-free supplements for skin health and wellbeing. Click on the images to view more details:
References
Abrahamsson, T., Sandberg, M., Forsberg, A., Bjorksten, B. and Jenmalm, M., A., 2011, Th1/Th2-associated chemokine imbalance during infancy in children developing eczema, wheeze and sensitization.
Park, J.H., Jung, J.H., Yang, J.Y. and Kim, H.S., 2013. Olive leaf down-regulates the oxidative stress and immune dysregulation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Nutrition research, 33(11), pp.942-951.
Han, S.N., Wu, D., Ha, W.K., Beharka, A., Smith, D.E., Bender, B.S. and Meydani, S.N., 2000. Vitamin E supplementation increases T helper 1 cytokine production in old mice infected with influenza virus. Immunology, 100(4), pp.487-493.
Niki, E., Noguchi, N., Tsuchihashi, H. and Gotoh, N., 1995. Interaction among vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 62(6), pp.1322S-1326S.
Stephensen, C.B., Jiang, X. and Freytag, T., 2004. Vitamin A deficiency increases the in vivo development of IL-10–positive Th2 cells and decreases development of Th1 cells in mice. The Journal of nutrition, 134(10), pp.2660-2666.
El-Baky, H.A., El-Baz, F.K. and El-Baroty, G.S., 2004. Production of antioxidant by the green alga Dunaliella salina. Int. J. Agric. Biol, 6(1), pp.1560-8530.
Xue, L.X., 1993. [Experimental study on extract of Dunaliella salina in preventing NSAR-induced cancer of proventriculus in mice]. Zhonghua yu fang yi xue za zhi [Chinese journal of preventive medicine], 27(6), pp.350-353.
Douglas Shytle, R., et.al, 2012. Optimized turmeric extract reduces β-Amyloid and phosphorylated Tau protein burden in Alzheimer’s transgenic mice. Current Alzheimer Research, 9(4), pp.500-506.
Ukil, A., Maity, S., Karmakar, S., Datta, N., Vedasiromoni, J.R. and Das, P.K., 2003. Curcumin, the major component of food flavour turmeric, reduces mucosal injury in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid‐induced colitis. British journal of pharmacology, 139(2), pp.209-218.
]]>"Earlier this year, in my mid 30s, I developed pretty bad eczema and on my face of all places. It was in 3 patches - my forehead, the right side of my face and a large stain on my right cheek. Sometimes my eyes were included in the mix. I’ve never really been an eczema sufferer, but know there has been a history of it in my family.
I began to try everything from Aloe Vera gel, borage oil, creams, any thing and everything that seems to be a magical remedy to the condition. Nothing worked, the frustration made the eczema worse and then I found Skin Friend and The Eczema Diet.
My journey took less than 6 months to get my eczema completely under control, including three months of following the regime religiously. Now my face is completely eczema-free. And there were lots of hiccups along the way, things I’ve noticed with other eczema sufferers. These tips may help give you the strength to stay committed and finally rein it in.
Being on the diet means cutting out the bad foods that cause eczema. The gut needs time to heal and you need to protect that process completely. Deviating from the diet when you’re still healing is risky and essentially restarts the entire recovery process.
The eczema diet was the opposite of everything that was my staple - zucchini, cauliflower and broccoli. I’m fairly simple, I worked out what ingredients I liked best (anything that was in the Chickpea Casserole), made recipes large enough to sustain me for most of the week and stuck to it.
I'm still basically on the diet. I have the standard foods that I eat which are all low in salicylates. I've switched out almost everything from before.
At the end of the first month of the diet and using the supplements my skin was the worst it had ever been. Firey, red and raw. Saying I was pretty annoyed at the process in those first 4 weeks is an understatement. I had to stop using all my skin care as it seemed to make it feel worse and the only thing that soothed it was 100% organic Aloe Vera gel and Shea butter.
My frustration which was borderline panic didn’t help either and that’s when I did something really stupid...
The internet told me to get some probiotics, rice bran supplements and liquorice – but they made my skin worse. I was so impatient to try anything and everything in those first few weeks, especially with those bigger flare ups that I didn’t realise the additives in those supplements and these self prescribed supplements were putting me back to square one again.
Everyone is different. Some people take a few weeks for their eczema to clear up, others could be a year. For me it took around 3 months for everything to clear up and also understand which foods are my triggers. After the initial 3 month period I began to see patterns in skin reactions once I re-introduced foods. This could only happen once my gut had restored itself, once I was neutral and had a baseline to work with.
As I mentioned above, I stopped using my skin care. I wasn’t sure if it was causing the skin to react, but the only way I would find out was to take it out of the equation. The same goes with anything else that you think is causing flare-ups: you may be adversely reacting to foods you eat daily and often it does not show up in allergy testing. The only way to know for sure is to remove it from your diet and then reintroduce it a few weeks later and see if it triggers a skin reaction.
Previously my eczema had made my eyes dry and this produced wrinkles that I’d never seen before. Happily, my skin is probably better than it was before and those extra dry lines have gone away.
I allow myself a cheat day every fortnight (or weekly if I’m desperate) to indulge a little. I do have a weakness for sugar and of course that’s my main eczema trigger. But because I know that, I’m not frustrated or panicked when I flare up and I take a little bit extra of the Skin Friend AM to repair the damage that I’m about to do!
Without doubt, I strongly recommend staying committed to the supplements and the diet for that first 3 month period. Deviation and only doing it 50% of the time, or still having dairy, or anything that is a common eczema trigger won't help your eczema.
I see so many comments from other eczema sufferers and I feel their desperation. Sticking to the diet and the supplements is the best thing they can do to make their eczema go away."
~ Deb from the Eczema Life Clinic
“I have been exploring holistic treatments for so many years. I have spent so much money paying for all kinds of naturopathic doctors to heal me and eating gluten- and dairy-free and doing gut healing but your additions of salicylates has been a game changer! I am forever indebted to you and your supplements are perfection. I have tried so many supplements but have been itchy afterwards so I give up. This diet and the supplements are healing my eczema and changing my life. I feel pain and itch free for the first time in my life. I want a lifetime supply!” Rhiannon (via Facebook)
“Being 57 years old and struggling with debilitating eczema on my hands for the first time in my life has been a source of deep discouragement. The past year has been spent in anguish and humiliation and franticly searching for relief. Allergist testing revealed nothing helpful. Countless creams and ointments and oils were expensive experiments and seemed futile. One day I ran across an article about The Eczema Diet and ordered the book that very hour…I read about the Skin Friend supplements and ordered them as fast as I could get them! Following the diet and supplementations as carefully as I could, I actually started seeing some relief within a week. It’s now several months later…my hands are virtually free from their painful bondage and I can function and feel like a normal person again!” Ginger (via YouTube)
"My son Pete is 47 and has suffered from eczema since he was two weeks old. Doctors could only say it was "from stress" and prescribe steroid creams. We accidentally came across this book and sent for it, and undertook the extremely stringent diet together, following every step diligently. After five weeks, PETE'S SKIN WAS CLEAR! As the book indicates, he began trying an occasional departure from the "eczema safe" foods--an organic corn muffin with sugar and strawberries, for example--and broke out again. Stopped that! Back on the diet, the rash cleared up. Every time this happened, we would look at each other: "The diet works!" Boy, does it ever. We are astonished, and SO GRATEFUL to Karen Fischer for this life-changing diet. It is really a revelation. I have read some reviews complaining that the diet is too strict, too hard to follow--and it is--it took us three weeks to get into a routine--BUT IT WORKS! And that makes everything worth it. I only feel bad that I've been poisoning this kid all his life--but we didn't know! I think the book should be required reading for all physicians and therapists--it has application far beyond eczema sufferers--and some of the basic nutrition principles should be taught in school. I can't express how deeply grateful we are to have stumbled across this exceptional, dedicated professional. She has virtually saved our lives." Annie (via Jolieeskin.com)
At Eczema Life, we recommend nutritionist Karen Fischer's low food chemical program (The Eczema Detox) along with additive-free supplements for skin health and wellbeing. Click on the images to view more details:
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You may have heard of ‘chemical sensitivity’ or ‘chemical intolerance’... If you are sensitive to chemicals you might adversely react to perfumes, household cleaning products and the chlorine in your pool. You could also be sensitive to food colourings, artificial favourings and preservatives. People with eczema, rosacea, psoriasis or asthma are often sensitive to food additives but it can be hard to know which ones are tame and which ones are to blame (for the itch!).
Use this page to check the food chemicals in your foods. You can do this by doing a search within this list to see if you can consume it safely (on Mac: Command+F; and on PC: Ctrl+F).
For a downloadable spreadsheet version click here, for a PDF click here.
Additives sourced from Treffers S., 1999. Food Additives, Pocket Reference Series, A Pocket sized reference to their use origin and effects.
Additive Code | Additives | Advice |
---|---|---|
100 | Curcumin or turmeric (contains salicylates so avoid it if you are sensitive to salicylates) | CAUTION |
101 | Riboflavin, also called lactoflavin, vitamin B2, Riboflavin-5′-phosphate | OK |
102 (artificial) | Tartrazine, also called yellow #5, CI 19140 (yellow food colour) | AVOID |
103 | Alkanet or Alkannin, pink (could contain salicylates) | CAUTION |
104 (artificial) | Quinoline yellow, CI 47005 | AVOID |
110 (artificial) | Sunset yellow FCF, yellow #6, CI 15985 | AVOID |
120 | Cochineal or carmines or Carminic acid, red (certain people are allergic) | CAUTION |
122 (artificial) | Azorubine or Carmoisine, CI 14720 | AVOID |
123 (artificial) | Amaranth, also called CI 16185 | AVOID |
124 (artificial) | Ponceau 4R, also called brilliant scarlet, CI 16255 | AVOID |
127 (artificial) | Erythrosine, also called red #3, CI 45430 | AVOID |
129 (artificial) | Allura red AC, also called red #40, CI 16035 | AVOID |
132 (artificial) | Indigotine, also called indigo carmine, blue #2, CI 73015 | AVOID |
133 (artificial) | Brilliant Blue FCF, also called blue #1, CI 42090 | AVOID |
140 | Chlorophyll (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates) | CAUTION |
141 | Chlorophyll-copper complex, sodium and potassium salts (may contain salicylates or glutamates) | CAUTION |
142 (artificial) | Green S, acid brilliant green, CI 44090 | AVOID |
143 (artificial) | Fast green FCF, green #3, CI 42053 | AVOID |
150a | Caramel, safest out of all caramels | CAUTION |
150b | Caramel, may cause gastrointestinal problems | CAUTION |
150c | Caramel, known to cause convulsions in animals | CAUTION |
150d | Caramel | CAUTION |
151 (artificial) | Brilliant black BN or Brilliant black PN, CI28440 | AVOID |
153(artificial) | Carbon blacks, also calledVegetable carbon | OK |
155 (artificial) | Brown HT,also called chocolate brown, CI 52028 | AVOID |
160a | Carotene, or beta carotene | OK |
160b | Annatto extracts,also called bixin, norbixin, CI 75120, | AVOID |
160c | Paprika oleoresins (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates) | CAUTION |
160d | Lycopene (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
160e | b-apo-8′-Carotenal | OK |
160f | b-apo-8′-Carotenoic acid methyl or ethyl ester | OK |
161a | Flavoxanthin (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
161b | Lutein (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
161c | Kryptoxanthin (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
161d | Rubixanthin (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
161e | Violoxanthin (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
161f | Rhodoxanthin (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
162 | Beet red (may contain sodium nitrate- not suitable for infants and small children) | CAUTION |
163 | Anthocyanins also called Grape skin extract or Blackcurrant extract, red, blue, violet (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates) | CAUTION |
164 | Saffron or crocetin or crocin (commercial saffron may be mixed with artificial colour 102. Pure color from the saffron plant is safe) | CAUTION |
170 | Calcium carbonate, or mineral colour and calcium supplement | CAUTION |
171 | Titanium dioxide, or mineral colour, white, CI 77891 | OK |
172 | Iron oxide, red, black, yellow mineral colours, CI 77491 | OK |
173 | Aluminum, mineral colour | OK |
174 | Silver, mineral colour | OK |
175 | Gold, mineral colour | OK |
181 | Tannic acid or tannins, brown (may contain high salicylates, amines or glutamates). Large doses can cause gastric problems. | CAUTION |
Preservatives - sorbates (related with food intolerance reactions) | ||
200 | Sorbic acid (skin irritant) | AVOID |
201 | Sodium sorbate (manufactured from sorbic acid) | AVOID |
202 | Potassium sorbate (possible liver damage) | AVOID |
203 | Calcium sorbate (manufactured from sorbic acid) | AVOID |
Preservatives - benzoates (related with food intolerance reactions) | ||
210 | Benzoic acid (large doses can induce gastrointestinal problems) | AVOID |
211 | Sodium benzoate (nettle rash sufferers are likely to be sensitive) | AVOID |
212 | Potassium benzoate (nettle rash sufferers are likely to be sensitive) | AVOID |
213 | Calcium benzoate (nettle rash sufferers are likely to be sensitive) | AVOID |
216 | Propylparaben or Propyl-p-hydroxy-benzoate (sometimes included in medications, possible skin irritant) | CAUTION |
218 | Methylparaben or Methyl-p-hydroxy-benzoate (sometimes included in medications) | CAUTION |
Preservatives - sulphites, sulfites (are linked with intolerance reactions but particularly asthma. Not to be confused with sulphates 514-519 which are safe | ||
220 | Sulphur dioxide, (can be fatal to asthmatics) | AVOID |
221 | Sodium sulphite or sulfite (gastric irritation, nettle rash) | AVOID |
222 | Sodium bisulphate or bisulfite (gastric irritation, nettle rash) | AVOID |
223 | Sodium metabisulphite orvmetabisulfite, meta (gastric irritation, nettle rash) | AVOID |
224 | Potassium metabisulphite, or metabisulfite, meta | AVOID |
225 | Potassium sulphite, or sulfite | AVOID |
228 | Potassium bisulphite, or sulfite | AVOID |
234 | Nisin (naturally occurring antibiotic) | OK |
235 | Natamycin or pimaricin (naturally occuring antibiotic) | OK |
242 | Dimethyl dicarbonate (preservative reclassified as a Processing Aid, like ozone, hydrogen peroxide, lactoperoxidase, sodium thiocyanate and octanoic acid) | OK |
243 | Ethyl lauroyl arginate (antimicrobial) | OK |
Preservatives - nitrates and nitrites (also colour fixative function. | ||
249 | Potassium nitrite (carrying ability of blood can be effected) | AVOID |
250 | Sodium nitrite (carrying ability of blood can be effected) | AVOID |
251 | Sodium nitrate (carrying ability of blood can be effected) | AVOID |
252 | Potassium nitrate (potential carcinogen) | AVOID |
Food acids | ||
260 | Acetic acid, glacial | OK |
261 | Potassium acetate also called Potassium diacetate (to be avoided by those with poor kidneys) | CAUTION |
262 | Sodium acetate, or Sodium diacetate | OK |
263 | Calcium acetate | OK |
264 | Ammonium acetate | OK |
270 | Lactic acid | OK |
Preservatives - propionates (found in bakery products in Australia, UK and USA, seldom used in Europe. Hidden under names such as ‘cultured dextrose’ and certain other ‘cultured’ ingredients) | ||
280 | Propionic acid | AVOID |
281 | Sodium propionate (causes possible migraines) | AVOID |
282 | Calcium propionate (skin irritation, migraine) | AVOID |
283 | Potassium propionate (causes possible migraines) | AVOID |
290 | Carbon dioxide (propellant manufactured from yeast fermentation) | OK |
296 | Malic acid (food acid) (may not be well digested by children) | OK |
297 | Fumaric acid (food acid) | OK |
Antioxidants (Gallates and TBHQ, BHA and BHT are used to preserve vegetable oils and margarines. When vegetable oils are used in other products, these antioxidants are often unlisted because of the 5% labelling loophole. BHA and BHT can also leach into products from cereal wrappers and clingfilm. Antioxidants 300-309 are failsafe) | ||
300 | Ascorbic acid | OK |
301 | Sodium ascorbate (synthetic sodium salt of ascorbic acid) | OK |
302 | Calcium ascorbate (suggested avoidance for those with kidney stones) | OK |
303 | Potassium ascorbate | OK |
304 | Ascorbyl palmitate | OK |
307 | α-Tocopherolalso known as Vitamin E | OK |
307b | Tocopherols concentrate, mixed, Vitamin E | OK |
308 | δ-Tocopherol, synthetic | OK |
309 | γ-Tocopherol, synthetic | OK |
310 | Propyl gallate (not permitted in foods for infants) | AVOID |
311 | Octyl gallate (not permitted in foods for infants) | AVOID |
312 | Dodecyl gallate (not permitted in foods for infants) | AVOID |
315 | Erythorbic acid (from sucrose) | OK |
316 | Sodium erythorbate | OK |
319 | tert-Butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ (potential nausea, vomiting, dizziness) | AVOID |
320 | Butylated hydroxyanisole, or BHA (possible carcinogen) | AVOID |
321 | Butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT (not permitted in foods for infants) | AVOID |
322 | Lecithin | OK |
More food acids | ||
325 | Sodium lactate (unsuitable for very young or lactase intolerant children) | OK |
326 | Potassium lactate (unsuitable for very young or lactase intolerant children) | OK |
327 | Calcium lactate | OK |
328 | Ammonium lactate (unsuitable for very young children with lactase intolerance) | OK |
329 | Magnesium lactate (unsuitable for very young children with lactase intolerance) | OK |
330 | Citric acid | CAUTION |
331 | Sodium citrate or Sodium dihydrogen citrate | OK |
332 | Potassium citrate or Potassium dihydrogen citrate | OK |
333 | Calcium citrate | OK |
334 | Tartaric acid (large doses can be mildly irritating) | OK |
335 | Sodium tartrate | OK |
336 | Potassium tartrate or Potassium acid tartrate | OK |
338 | Phosphoric acid | OK |
Mineral salts | ||
339 | Sodium phosphate, or dibasic, or monobasic, or tribasic | OK |
340 | Potassium phosphate, or dibasic, or monobasic, or tribasic | OK |
341 | Calcium phosphate, dibasic or calcium hydrogen phosphate, monobasic or calcium dihydrogen phosphate, tribasic | OK |
342 | Ammonium phosphate, also known as dibasic, monobasic or Ammonium dihydrogen phosphates | OK |
343 | Magnesium phosphate, also known as dibasic, monobasic, tribasic | OK |
349 | Ammonium malate | OK |
350 | Sodium malate, also called Sodium hydrogen malate | OK |
351 | Potassium malate | OK |
352 | Calcium malate | OK |
353 | Metatartaric acid | OK |
354 | Calcium tartrate | OK |
355 | Adipic acid | OK |
357 | Potassium adipate | OK |
359 | Ammonium adipates | OK |
363 | Succinic acid | OK |
365 | Sodium fumarate | OK |
366 | Potassium fumarate | OK |
367 | Calcium fumarate | OK |
368 | Ammonium fumarate | OK |
380 | Ammonium citrate, or Triammonium citrate | OK |
381 | Ferric ammonium citrate | OK |
385 | Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate or calcium disodium EDTA | OK |
Vegetable gums and thickeners | ||
400 | Alginic acid | OK |
401 | Sodium alginate | OK |
402 | Potassium alginate | OK |
403 | Ammonium alginate | OK |
404 | Calcium alginate | OK |
405 | Propylene glycol alginate | OK |
406 | Agar (large amounts can cause stomach bloating and gas) | OK |
407 | Carrageenan (may be carcinogenic) | AVOID |
407a | Processed eucheuma or seaweed | OK |
409 | Arabinogalactan or larch gum | OK |
410 | Locust bean gum also known as carob bean gum | OK |
412 | Guar gum | OK |
413 | Tragacanth gum (large amounts can cause stomach bloating and gas) | OK |
414 | Acacia or gum Arabic | OK |
415 | Xanthan gum | OK |
416 | Karaya gum | OK |
417 | Tara gum | OK |
418 | Gellan gum | OK |
Humectants also used as sweeteners (overconsumption may cause laxative effects) | ||
420 | Sorbitol or sorbitol syrup (over consumption may have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
421 | Mannitol (over consumption may have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
422 | Glycerin or glycerol | OK |
Emulsifiers | OK | |
431 | Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate | OK |
433 | Polysorbate 80 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate | OK |
435 | Polysorbate 60 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate | OK |
436 | Polysorbate 65 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan tristearate | OK |
440 | Pectin | OK |
442 | Ammonium salts of phosphatidic acid | OK |
444 | Sucrose acetate isobutyrate | OK |
445 | Glycerol esters of wood rosins | OK |
More mineral salts | ||
450 | Pyrophosphates, Potassium pyrophosphate, Sodium acid pyrophosphate, Sodium pyrophosphate | OK |
451 | Triphosphates, Potassium tripolyphosphate, Sodium tripolyphosphate | OK |
452 | Polyphosphates, Potassium polymetaphosphate, Sodium metaphosphate, insoluble, Sodium polyphosphates, glassy | OK |
Thickeners | ||
455 | Yeast mannoproteins | OK |
460 | Cellulose microcrystalline (anti-caking agent) | OK |
460 | Cellulose, powdered (anti-caking agent) | OK |
461 | Methyl cellulose | OK |
463 | Hydroxypropyl cellulose | OK |
464 | Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose | OK |
465 | Methyl ethyl cellulose | OK |
466 | Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (large amounts can cause stomach bloating and gas, suspected carcinogen) | CAUTION |
Emulsifiers | ||
470 | Fatty acid salts of aluminium, ammonia, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium(can irritate bowel lining and skin) | CAUTION |
471 | Mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids | OK |
472a | Acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol | OK |
472b | Lactic and fatty acid esters of glycerol | OK |
472c | Citric and fatty acid esters of glycerol | OK |
472e | Diacetyltartaric and fatty acid esters of glycerol | OK |
472f | Mixed tartaric, acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol or tartaric, acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol (mixed) | OK |
473 | Sucrose esters of fatty acids | OK |
475 | Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids | OK |
476 | Polyglycerol esters of interesterified ricinoleic acid | OK |
477 | Propylene glycol mono- and di-esters or Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids | OK |
480 | Dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate | OK |
481 | Sodium lactylate, oleyl lactylate, stearoyl lactylate | OK |
482 | Calcium lactylate, oleyl lactylate, stearoyl lactylate | OK |
491 | Sorbitan monostearate | OK |
492 | Sorbitan tristearate | OK |
Mineral salts (often used as anti-caking agents too) | ||
500 | Sodium bicarbonate or Sodium carbonate | OK |
501 | Potassium bicarbonate or Potassium carbonate | OK |
503 | Ammonium carbonate or Ammonium hydrogen carbonate | OK |
504 | Magnesium carbonate | OK |
507 | Hydrochloric acid | OK |
508 | Potassium chloride (Large amounts associated with gastric ulcers, should not be given to children) | CAUTION |
509 | Calcium chloride (possible stomach irritant) | CAUTION |
510 | Ammonium chloride (large amounts can cause acidosis) | CAUTION |
511 | Magnesium chloride | OK |
512 | Stannous chloride | OK |
514 | Sodium sulphate | OK |
515 | Potassium sulphate | OK |
516 | Calcium sulphate | OK |
518 | Magnesium sulphate (laxative) | OK |
519 | Cupric sulphate | CAUTION |
526 | Calcium hydroxide | OK |
529 | Calcium oxide | OK |
530 | Magnesium oxide | OK |
535 | Sodium ferrocyanide | OK |
536 | Potassium ferrocyanide | OK |
541 | Sodium aluminium phosphate | OK |
542 | Bone phosphate (vegetarians may want to avoid) | OK |
551 | Silicon dioxide, amorphous | OK |
552 | Calcium silicate | OK |
553 | Magnesium silicate or Talc (suspected carcinogen) | CAUTION |
554 | Sodium aluminosilicate (high intake associated with Alzheimer’s and nerve damage because of aluminum salts) | CAUTION |
555 | Potassium aluminium silicate | OK |
556 | Calcium aluminium silicate (high intake associated with Alzheimer’s and nerve damage because of aluminum salts) | CAUTION |
558 | Bentonite | OK |
559 | Aluminium silicate | OK |
560 | Potassium silicate | OK |
570 | Stearic acid or fatty acid | OK |
575 | Glucono δ-lactone or Glucono delta-lactone | OK |
576 | Sodium gluconate | OK |
577 | Potassium gluconate | OK |
578 | Calcium gluconate | OK |
579 | Ferrous gluconate | OK |
580 | Magnesium gluconate | OK |
586 | 4-hexylresorcinol | OK |
Flavour enhancers, glutamates and glutamate boosters (often hidden as yeast extract, hydrolysed vegetable protein HVP or hydrolysed plant protein HPP | ||
620 | L-glutamic acid (unsuitable for infants and small children) | AVOID |
621 | Monosodium L-glutamate or MSG (unsuitable for infants and small children) | AVOID |
622 | Monopotassium L-glutamate (allergic responses-nausea, vomiting) | AVOID |
623 | Calcium glutamate | AVOID |
624 | Monoammonium L-glutamate | AVOID |
625 | Magnesium glutamate | AVOID |
627 | Disodium-5′-guanylate (prohibited in foods for infants or young children) | AVOID |
631 | Disodium-5′-inosinate (prohibited in foods for infants or young children) | AVOID |
635 | Disodium-5′-ribonucleotides | AVOID |
636 | Maltol (naturally occurring flavour enhancer) | OK |
637 | Ethyl maltol | OK |
640 | Glycine | OK |
641 | L-Leucine | OK |
Miscellaneous additives | ||
900a | Polydimethylsiloxane or Dimethylpolysiloxane (emulsifier, antifoaming agent, anti- caking agent) (possible carcinogen) | CAUTION |
901 | Beeswax, white and yellow (glazing agent) | OK |
903 | Carnauba wax (glazing agent) | OK |
904 | Shellac (glazing agent) | OK |
905a | Mineral oil, white (petroleum) | OK |
905b | Petrolatum or petroleum jelly (glazing agent) | OK |
914 | Oxidised polyethylene (humectant) | OK |
920 | L-cysteine monohydrochloride | OK |
925 | Chlorine (flour treatment agent)(oxidizes other nutrients) | CAUTION |
926 | Chlorine dioxide (flour treatment agent) | OK |
928 | Benzoyl peroxide (flour treatment agent) | OK |
Propellants | ||
941 | Nitrogen | OK |
942 | Nitrous oxide | OK |
943a | Butane | OK |
943b | Isobutane | OK |
944 | Propane | OK |
946 | Octafluorocyclobutane | OK |
Artificial sweeteners (may increase appetite and generally not recommended) | ||
950 | Acesulphame potassium | CAUTION |
951 | Aspartame, Nutrasweet, Equal (may cause headaches and hyperactivity) | CAUTION |
952 | Cyclamate or calcium cyclamate or sodium cyclamate (potential carcinogen) | CAUTION |
953 | Isomalt (excess consumption may have a laxative effect) | OK |
954 | Saccharin | CAUTION |
955 | Sucralose | CAUTION |
956 | Alitame | CAUTION |
957 | Thaumatin | OK |
960 | Steviol glycosides | OK |
961 | Neotame | CAUTION |
962 | Aspartame-acesulphame salt | CAUTION |
965 | Maltitol and maltitol syrup or hydrogenated glucose syrup (over consumption can have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
966 | Lactitol (excess consumption can have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
967 | Xylitol (excess consumption can have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
968 | Erythritol (excess consumption can have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
969 | Advantame | CAUTION |
Foaming agents | ||
999(i) | Quillaia extract (type 1) | CAUTION |
999(ii) | Quillaia extract (type 2) | CAUTION |
Additional chemicals | ||
1001 | Choline salts | OK |
Eczema is an itchy skin condition that can be painful and chronic. Eczema sufferers commonly have allergies and consuming a food you are allergic to elicits an IgE immune system response. The result is itchy, inflamed skin.
However avoiding your diagnosed allergy foods does not usually fix your eczema (or it only partially helps). So researchers in Vienna hypothesise that because the immune response can still occur after the allergy foods are avoided eczema “could be autoimmune" (Valenta 2009).
A drug company recently declared that "eczema is an autoimmune disease". And they stand to profit greatly from their findings. Their patented drug will hit the market (if it passes safety tests) and again we will clamour for the promise of a quick fix, only to find the side-effects are worse than the original skin disorder.
Remember that topical steroids were once the miracle cure eczema sufferers were praying for. Topical steroid addiction has been known of since the 1970s and after using (and stopping) topical steroids your eczema can spread to areas where it previously did not appear. So tread carefully when it comes to taking new drugs for eczema - there is a safer way.
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.
Let’s look at the facts: eczema is not only related to allergies and immune-system imbalance, it’s also strongly linked with the following:
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.
Dr Kimata from the Department of Pediatrics and Allergy at the Ujitakeda Hospital in Kyoto (Japan) 17% to 33% of children with eczema have non-alcoholic fatty liver. Your liver health is important to detoxify toxins and chemicals, and food sensitivities and allergies can result. So while treating allergies and the immune system is useful, we can also look at the underlying cause of allergies which is liver dysfunction and gut dysbiosis.
Leaky gut is related to coeliac disease and gluten intolerance. Fatty liver can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, low antioxidants in your diet, and high sugar and high fat intake. Fatty liver is reversed with supplementation and a change in diet but scarring and damage can occur from frequent drug use.
Garlic, officially known as Allium sativum, is not only used for flavouring cooking but has long been known for its protective health benefits. Promising research (especially with garlic extracts) shows it helps to regulate and maintain a healthy immune system (Arreola, 2015).
Certain studies have shown garlic compounds such as Alliin have anti-inflammatory effects on our immune system. For example, Alliin helps to suppress inflammatory signals; garlic oil helps to promote an anti-inflammatory environment as well as reducing the production of inflammatory cells, and garlic powder extract works on regulating inflammatory cells (Arreola 2015).
So adding garlic to your meals can be a great way to support your immune system.
If you have an autoimmune disease (such as lupus) should you avoid garlic?
We have not been able to find evidence showing garlic to be contraindicated in autoimmune disease. However if you are prone to stomach upsets (especially in autoimmune diseases such as Colitis and Crohn’s) and feel you react to garlic, then avoid garlic and any other foods you adversely react to.
My opinion differs to many medical professionals but most would agree that eczema is not an autoimmune disease. Some people with eczema also have autoimmune disease (i.e. an overactive immune system) but that is not the rule for everyone with eczema.
I have worked with eczema patients who have had overactive immune systems, which were overactive because they were eating foods they were highly sensitive to and they had nutritional deficiencies.
Long-term use of topical steroids can also cause problems, and often topical steroid withdrawal is involved and causes the eczema to be stubborn and hard to treat.
Their calcium levels were also very low and this caused insomnia (which caused more stress). Once these patients changed their diets and took Skin Friend supplements their immune systems gradually normalised. This took about 8 months.
For those with eczema and immune system issues, I find they need to be healthy long-term. For other eczema sufferers who have no autoimmune issues and no topical withdrawal symptoms, their eczema clears a lot faster.
In most cases, no. The immune system is usually an intelligent mechanism which alerts us when something is not right within the body. Just because you cannot identify the trigger/s does not mean you should presume the immune system is faulty (of course it may be faulty in some cases but we cannot assume this in all cases of eczema).
Often a radical change in diet and environment, plus nutritional support are needed to get the body back in balance. Sleep and laughter also help eczema according to Japanese researcher Dr Kimata.
Changing the diet is hard work and some people like taking pills as it is the easy option. But drugs often come with side-effects and you need to weight up if the side-effects are worth the short-term relief.
Some people absolutely need to take immunosuppressant drugs in order to live without pain so I’m not saying never take the medical option. I’m saying do both if you have to. But do your research on side-effects first as the drugs can end up worsening your eczema symptoms in the long-term so what begins as mild eczema can end up covering your whole body.
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
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.
The Eczema Diet and the Skin Friend supplements were initially designed for my two-year-old daughter who had eczema. I no longer wanted to use topical steroids and a nurse had advised us to avoid salicylates (which are in most supplements, in ingredients such as herbs and fruit extracts).
Skin Friend contains zinc gluconate, calcium carbonate, magnesium, organic vitamin E, chromium (for blood sugar balance), natural beta-carotene and B group vitamins (but not folic acid), in powder form which is easier to absorb than tablets or capsules.
After taking Skin Friend for 3 months, patients have reported renewed hair growth, less inflammation, softer skin, healing of mouth ulcers and cracks around the mouth, and their skin is no longer itchy.
When you change your diet you are changing your body’s biochemistry, improving your genetic health and normalising your immune system - this does not happen overnight. We need to change our mentality about seeking quick-fixes for eczema. Take the time to feed your skin from the inside out - you'll look and feel better for it.
At Eczema Life, we recommend nutritionist Karen Fischer's low food chemical program (The Eczema Detox) along with additive-free supplements for skin health and wellbeing. Click on the images to view more details:
Karen Fischer is a nutritionist and award-winning author of The Healthy Skin Diet and The Eczema Diet; and a frequent guest nutritionist on Today Extra (Nine Network). Karen’s “breakthrough diet for eczema” featured on prime-time 7 News in June 2016. Karen educates up-and-coming practitioners via her Skin Health and Skin Disorders course at Nature Care College in Sydney.
References
Valenta, R., Mittermann, I., Werfel, T., Garn, H. and Renz, H., 2009. Linking allergy to autoimmune disease. Trends in immunology, 30(3), pp.109-116.
Kimata, H., 2001. Fatty liver in atopic dermatitis. Allergy, 56(5), pp.460-460. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1398-9995.2001.056005460.x/full
Loblay, R.H. and Swain, A.R., 2006, ‘Food Intolerance’, Recent Advances in Clinical Nutrition, retrieved from www.nsw.gov.au.
O'Regan, G.M., Sandilands, A., McLean, W.I. and Irvine, A.D., 2009. Filaggrin in atopic dermatitis. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology,124(3), pp.R2-R6.
Arreola, R., Quintero-Fabián, S., López-Roa, R.I., Flores-Gutiérrez, E.O., Reyes-Grajeda, J.P., Carrera-Quintanar, L. and Ortuño-Sahagún, D., 2015. Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds.Journal of immunology research, 2015.
Reporter: Dr. Andrew Rochford
According to 7 News, "Groundbreaking research has revealed that diet could hold the key to an eczema cure."
"An Australian nutritionist has made a major breakthrough by identifying specific foods that clear it up, allowing sufferers to avoid years of discomfort."
Prior to her treatment last year, 12-year-old eczema sufferer Georgie Broos was in agony with the cruel condition.
“My eczema, it felt really bad, I couldn't do anything. I would scratch at night, I would cry, I couldn't go to sleep,” Georgie told 7 News.
Her arms and legs itching and covered with red eczema, nothing eased the pain for the young sufferer.
“They were giving us cortisone injections, cortisone creams," Georgie's father, Keith, told 7 News.
“At one stage they even suggested that we give her sleeping tablets so she could sleep at night and we thought no, we have to look for something different."
Photo: Georgie using the Skin Friend supplement on 7 News.
The family tried the new approach to treat the illness, swapping pharmaceuticals for food and supplements and Keith said the results were "unbelievable".
“The first month after starting The Eczema Diet and Skin Friend, the itchiness started to go away, second month the skin started clearing up. Third month? Unbelievable,” he said.
Nutritionist Karen Fischer, from the Eczema Life Clinic, says the fuel we put into our bodies has a huge impact on our skin. “Our skin is made from the foods we eat so it makes sense to change your diet if you have eczema," she said.
Ms Fischer says, “These are your itchy dozen worst foods for eczema and there's some surprises here like avocado and dark leafy greens, the usuals - dairy products and junk food are all bad for eczema,” she said.
Ms Fischer says, "Most people with eczema have tried basic dietary changes such as avoiding dairy and taking probiotics but they still have eczema because it's not a complete program. Chemical sensitivities are usually involved."
"So instead, we put eczema patients on The Eczema Diet because it is specifically designed for people with eczema, and it works."
"There is so much conflicting advice about diet for eczema on the internet and much of it is incorrect or one person's experience and not proven. However, The Eczema Diet takes the guesswork out of giving dietary advice for eczema and the supplements offer important nutritional support. You find out what is triggering your eczema, not someone else's, and it changes lives."
This story was featured on prime-time 7 News on June 29th, 2016.
At Eczema Life, we recommend nutritionist Karen Fischer's low food chemical program (The Eczema Detox) along with additive-free supplements for skin health and wellbeing. Click on the images to view more details:
If you have ever read The Eczema Diet you'll know that Salicylate sensitivity is the most common chemical sensitivity that eczema sufferers have. It can cause a worsening of eczema in more than 60 percent of people with eczema, and the rates appear to be increasing.
Well, back in the 1950s alkalisation was used as an effective treatment for eliminating salicylates from the body and this research can help to reduce your eczema symptoms.
According to research in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, medical staff at hospitals used alkalisation to treat salicylate poisoning (from aspirin overdose - aspirin is made up of salicylates). Researchers found, when the urine pH exceeds an alkaline reading of 7.5, more salicylates are eliminated than reabsorbed, and three times the amount of salicylates are excreted via the urine.
What does this mean for eczema sufferers (and people with salicylate sensitivity)?
If you suffer from eczema and/or salicylate-sensitivity, aim for a urine pH reading of 7.5, as this will temporarily increase your tolerance to salicylates so you are less likely to react to them.
Eczema is also an acid-forming condition (caused by excess inflammation) so consistently keeping your urine pH slightly alkaline or neutral, can help to reduce the itch. But you don't want to over-alkalise either as this is not good for you long-term as alkalosis can occur. So you can use a pH test kit to monitor your pH and ensure it's within the range for optimal health.
If testing your urine pH, aim for a reading between 6.75 and 7.5. If you have health problems associated with excess acids, such as eczema, skin problems, gout, arthritis, or salicylate- or chemical-sensitivity, aim for a urine pH of 7 to 7.5. If your reading is pH 8 or above, modify your diet so it is slightly less alkalising. If testing your saliva pH, aim for a reading between 7.0 to 7.5.
The Test My pH kit contains pH strips and an Eczema-Friendly Food Chart which shows you the best foods to effectively clear up your eczema. It also comes in a lovely tin that can be reused and recycled. I love the idea of minimising landfill and waste.
Calcium and magnesium are highly alkaline minerals which help to promote healthy sleep and are involved in the development and maintenance of the bones and teeth.
Calcium also promotes a healthy acid mantle in the skin, which helps protect the skin against microbes such as dust mites.
Much love,
Karen Fischer (Eczema Life Clinic)
Watch our 7 News video (Photo: the Skin Friend Smoothie featured on 7 News)
At Eczema Life, we recommend nutritionist Karen Fischer's low food chemical program (The Eczema Detox) along with additive-free supplements for skin health and wellbeing. Click on the images to view more details:
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