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Dermatitis

Tuesday 23rd June 2009 4:08 PM

When we get cross with a friend or partner they often erupt (an over reaction).

When a body over reacts to an irritant the result may be Dermatitis.

Dermatitis is the immune system sending out a message "I am irritated on the skin".

Allergic contact dermatitis: A red, itchy, weepy reaction where the skin has come into contact with a substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign, such as poison ivy, poison oak or certain preservatives in creams and lotions. This type of reaction reflects a specific sensitivity or allergy to a specific substance, also called allergic contact eczema.

We often find many people's skin will react quickly to such items as Nickel, Latex, Wool, synthetic fibres, chemicals in washing, and laundry products, also many other products can cause problems to people who are sensitive to them, the end result is a person with a sore red itchy skin.

A number of years ago a mother brought her two year old son to see me. As we removed the little fellow's socks his skin peeled away at the same time, leaving him with raw red sore flesh. At this time the child did not stand or walk due to the severe pain.

My first thought was of washing powders or fabric softeners; I preceded to allergy test him for many products all of which showed no reaction at all.

The rest of his body was not affected in any way just his feet up to the level of his sock's

The Childs Doctor had prescribed many steroidal type creams all with little or no effect.

I asked the Child's mother to bring me all her son's socks into the clinic for testing,

I then set about testing the child against his socks and to my amazement he reacted to all but four pairs out of a total of around thirty.

I placed the bad pairs into a bag and told the mother to only let him wear the four pairs for a few days to see if there was any improvement. After only a few days his feet were healing without any further reaction, by the end of a week the flesh was covered by a new layer of skin.

A week later the mother, a nurse, was on weekend duty and the father was looking after the child. He had told his wife that he thought my results were a lot of rubbish and it must be down to something else.

Unable to find any clean socks for the boy he put on a pair out of the bag of rejected ones and that night when he put the boy to bed he once again peeled of the new skin along with the socks.

We now had a reluctant convert in the father. I continued to test this child who after only a few weeks was running about for the first time, but he seemed to have a problem with certain pairs of socks up until around his fifth birthday, when he appeared to grow out of the problem which has never returned.

It is not always external substances that are the trigger, sometimes foods may also be a problem, and I would strongly recommend any one who is experiencing a skin condition to have an allergy test carried out in order to eliminate any suspect foods from the diet.

Doctors of Dermatology have known for years that minor deficiencies of certain Vitamins and minerals could produce Skin, Hair and Nail problems.

A large proportion of the public in the UK and America, although they are getting fatter, are in fact suffering from malnutrition, that is to say they are Vitamin and Mineral deficient. Considering Vitamins and Minerals are the building blocks of the body it is little wonder we are suffering more and more auto immune disorders.

Deplete the body of VIT-A, Biotin and other B vitamins, Vit E, or Zinc and it will not be very long before the body will develop a severe skin rash.

What Doctors are not sure about is what causes the body to react in this way and its consequential effects.

ZINC

Zinc alone is responsible for regulating the production of Protiens, Fatty Acids and DNA.

Zinc deficiency causes Skin rashes, loss of appetite, loss of taste, and impaired immunity.

Young children can often get rashes around their mouths and bottoms as a direct result of a Zinc deficiency.

Others who are at risk of Dermatitis due to a Zinc deficiency are persons undergoing Chemotherapy, Pregnant women, Alcoholics, or those suffering from IBS.

Other products which have been found to have a beneficial effect on all skin conditions are Royal Jelly, Star Flower Oil, and Omega 3 fish oil, all of which help to regulate the inflammation, reduce the itching and remove scaling.

(ALL THESE ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR SKIN CLEAR FORMULAE)

VITAMIN C

It has long been known that a Vitamin C deficiency can damage Gums and Skin yet many Doctors do not seem to think of it when prescribing skin remedies.

We are now beginning to realize the effect Vitamin C has on protecting the skin from damage. Vitamin C also speeds up wound healing and prevents Ultra-Violet induced free radical damage to the skin.

Research showed a decreased Photo ageing and susceptibility to sunburn in animals given supplementation of Vitamin C.

FOOD AND DERMATITIS

Some foods have been found to be the trigger for Dermatitis, or in some cases to make it worse, common foods such as-

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Milk allergy in small children can often trigger a response resulting in Atopic Dermatitis,

In these cases then one should avoid Cows Milk, Cheese and Butter altogether.

Although Yoghurt is a diary product it is often less likely to cause a reaction.

Eggs also have been known to cause a skin reaction in some people.

WHEAT

Wheat contains a protein known as Gluten which often may cause red itchy skin on the arms and legs and sometimes in the scalp.

Avoiding Gluten is very difficult as it pops up in all sorts of processed foods. There are more Gluten free foods about these days but the supermarkets on the whole do not seem to stock them, and this means going to your local health food store.

Gluten can also be found in Rye, Barley and Oats although in smaller amounts.

SHELL FISH

Shrimps, Prawns, Lobster Crab etc. are deadly to some people causing a severe reaction in those sensitive to them.

SOY

Soya is often given as a milk substitute, or it can be made into Gluten free bread, however again certain people can have a bad reaction to anything with Soya content.

RECOMMENDATIONS

· Get an allergy test (see our list in links).

· Take the following supplements.

Natures Choice Skin Clear Formulae

Elemental Zinc

Vitamin C

See list of allergy testers in Links

www.natureschoicesupplements.co.uk/allergy_testers.htm

Stan Richardson

The above is for information only and is taken from my personal experience. It is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice.

Posted 4:08 PM | Permalink

Candida Albicans

Friday 17th April 2009 4:07 PM

There are many strains of Candida in the environment. The two which affect humans to the greatest extent are Candida Albicans and Candida Tropicalis. In this discussion the reference to Candida will refer to Candida Albicans. The disease process that its overgrowth produces is referred to as chronic mucocutaneous Candidiasis.

Candida Albicans is a body yeast present in all humans. Normally its presence is limited to the skin, the vagina, and the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tracts. This yeast is controlled by the normal bacterial flora and the immune system, however, Candida is an opportunistic organism. If something destroys the normal flora and the immune system becomes depressed, inefficient, or overwhelmed, the yeast multiplies and an overgrowth (chronic infection) results.

These yeast colonies release metabolic products and toxins which may be absorbed into the blood stream causing widely varying symptoms, including lethargy, chronic diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, asthma, migraine, headaches, and depression. The symptoms can be so severe that they are totally incapacitating, or as mild as indigestion and heartburn. Any symptom is possible, and any organ can be affected. Candida is known as the great masquerade. Many patients with severe yeast problems have never told all their symptoms to one physician for fear of being labelled neurotic or a hypochondriac.

Although Candidiasis is typically thought of as a minor infection of the mucous membranes, skin, and nails, Candida overgrowth is not a simple problem. The use of antibiotics kills the normal bacterial flora and allows the Candida to proliferate and to become a chronic intestinal infection. This is an increasing problem as more and more antibiotics are prescribed; also some meat may contain antibiotics. Low stomach acid also fosters the growth of Candida.

The use of birth control pills, cortisone, other steroids, and other anti-inflammatory drugs, causes hormone imbalances in the body, which also allow the Candida to grow more abundantly. The chemicals produced by the yeast attack the immune system, and as it weakens, the Candida will spread and affect other parts of the body. Because of a compromised immune system membranes swell; micro-organisms multiply; and nasal, throat, sinus, ear, bronchial, bladder, vaginal, and other infections develop. When such infections become a problem, antibiotics are prescribed which promote additional yeast growth. Health problems will continue to deteriorate until the cycle is interrupted by correct treatment.

The most common place for growth of the Candida is in the digestive system, mouth, stomach, bowel, etc. therefore diet contributes to continuing yeast growth. Diets with excess refined or simple carbohydrates,sugar and junk food, contribute heavily to Candida overgrowth. Foods high in mould or yeast content such as bread, brewers yeast, beer, cheese, and mushrooms, also contribute to the problem of Candida overgrowth. Candida Albicans causes further problems and damage by interfering with the receptor sites for hormones in the body. The result is a slowing down of the production of some of the hormones such as thyroid, adrenal, oestrogen or progesterone, pituitary, or testosterone. When the hormonal system is affected all manner of side effects can develop, which if left untreated may lead to other more serious conditions.

Candida Albicans is capable of producing Acetaldehyde and Ethanol. The human body cannot convert these materials into useful substances and must eliminate them. When the load of these materials is too great, poor memory, light-headedness, and lack of concentration may result. Acetaldehyde is also a breakdown product of alcohol and is thought to cause the symptoms of a hangover. Candida Albicans is a very complex organism. It can release up to approximately seventy-nine poisons into the blood stream, which adversely affect the human body. If left untreated, a chronic Candida infection and overgrowth can severely debilitate the body, leaving it susceptible to more serious diseases.

Candida normally has a rounded, yeast-like shape, however, it can produce an invasive form in which it develops branching threads called mycelia. These mycelial branches can penetrate the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract looking for food. This mycelial form is more difficult to eradicate.

Men, women, and children can all have Candidiasis. Since women have a more complex hormone system, Candidiasis occurs in them more frequently, and with more severe effects. The children that it strikes are usually those who have received large quantities of antibiotics and/or are consuming excessive sugar and junk food.
Candida symptoms fall into four main areas.

1. Symptoms in the intestinal and urinary tracts include vaginal thrush - however, a B.E.R. Test (see details at the end of this article) will confirm this condition; menstrual complaints; bowel problems, such as bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, and gas; prostatitis; and inflammations of the oesophagus, stomach lining, colon, and bladder, athletes foot and skin disorders.
2. Allergic symptoms include asthma, migraines, headaches, bronchitis, hay fever, earaches, hives, and severe chemical and food sensitivities, Myalgic Encephalitis (ME).
3. Emotional and mental problems include severe depression, confusion, extreme irritability, fretfulness, memory lapses, inability to concentrate, difficulty in reasoning, drowsiness, insomnia, lethargy, and loss of selfconfidence.
4. Infertility problems: Candida overgrowth is also suspect in infertility difficulties in women. Babies can also be infected with Candida Albicans as they pass through the birth canal if the mother has a vaginal thrush.

The treatment for Candidias is:
Because Candida overgrowth causes the release of numerous harmful poisons, putting great stress on the immune system, and causing inflammation, it is necessary, while destroying the Candida, to support the immune system, reduce inflammation and assist healing. Because the regime of treatment necessitates a restricted diet, and the Candida situation itself inhibits absorption of essential nutrients to a certain extent, it is also necessary to support the diet by the addition of
essential vitamins and minerals. We recommend Natures Choice product "Candida Gold" which contains all the recommended supplements.

Candida can be treated successfully, however it does require a strong will by the person concerned to stick to the yeast and sugar free Candida diet, and to take all the recommended supplements. All areas of the body affected must be treated simultaneously. Where there are skin problems i.e. rashes, Athletes foot, vaginal thrush etc. these areas must be treated at the same time as treating the
problem internally. Several courses of action that will assist in this treatment are:

1. Use of a special, yeast and sugar etc. free diet.
2. Use of the recommended supplements.
3. Avoidance of the use of antibiotics, steroids, and other anti-inflammatory drugs, where safe to do so.
4. Avoidance of birth control pills and hormones if possible, particularly progesterone.
5. Avoidance of environmental moulds at home and at work.
6. Treatment of any other suspected illness.
7. Avoidance of chemicals in the environment as much as possible in order to lower the total load on the immune system.

Since most Candida infections are long standing and well established, treatment must be persistent. It must be continued for as long as necessary to prevent symptoms from returning. All sites of Candida infection in the body must be treated. There is no "quick fix." Treatment length will vary from patient to patient: treatment must be continued until there is no relapse when the treatment is withdrawn. Where there is a Candida infection it can take between twelve to eighteen months of strict adherence to the diet and supplementation in order to finally overcome the problem of yeast overgrowth.
Destroying the Candida organism does not immediately undo its damage to the immune and hormone systems. It has been found that it takes about one to three years for the body to build back its immune resistance against Candida Albicans infections. Faithfulness to the treatment program is a big factor in determining the rapidity with which Candidiasis is defeated.

If Candida overgrowth is not controlled it will continue to spread and break down the body's ability to fight off other serious diseases. If you would like a Candida diet sheet please mention this when you order. For a B.E.R. Test contact www.allergytest.co.uk

Stan Richardson

The above is for information only and is taken from my personal experience. It is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice.

Posted 4:07 PM | Permalink

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