Get Relief From Skin Disorders

By Marilyn Zink

Sandy McCulloch knows what it’s like to deal with acne, both as a teenager and an adult.
It’s something she’s dealt with, but many people have to live with skin disorders like acne, rosacea, psoriasis and eczema/dermatitis on a daily basis. With the advent of summer and hot weather, we’re seeing more skin as people dress lighter.

There are a variety of causes for skin disorders, but it’s safe to say that your skin is a reflection of your body’s health. Next to the colon, the skin is the second largest organ that excretes toxins.

“Pretty much all skin disorders come from the digestive system,” says Suzanne Horner, a medical intutitive who runs Dragonfly Moon Aromatherapy in Nanaimo’s old city quarter.
Georgina Attridge, who runs Mid-Island Colon Hydrotherapy in Qualicum Beach, says build-up in the colon can lead to skin problems like eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. “Psoriasis, other skin problems like rosacea, are all related to colon health.” She says people mistakenly believe a bowel movement once every three days is normal. A colon cleanse can do much to improve the skin’s health as well as the digestive problems and bowel gas that are causing problem skin.

McCulloch says break-outs are an indication of what’s going on in the digestive tract.
“A lot of times the breakouts are an indicator of yeast overgrowth – an indication of what’s happening in the digestive tract.”

Food allergies can be a big indicator that food isn’t being digested properly, so if the body can’t get rid of toxins through the liver and colon, it excretes the toxins through the skin.
Let’s look at the different types of skin disorders and what can be done to help.

Acne and Rosacea

Most people are familiar with acne, which is generally caused by hormonal changes in adolescence. Keeping the skin clear of bacteria that causes blackheads and having a healthy diet can play an important role in clear skin. When acne occurs as an adult, there are often other factors that come into play. Hormonal shifts in middle age affecting women can cause acne as well as food allergies and poor bowel health.

Rosacea is a condition often referred to as adult acne, but it is much more than that. It usually manifests between age 30 and 40. Redness or ruddiness of the complexion develops on areas of the face, including the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Red blood vessels may become prominently noticeable. The condition often worsens with time and fair-skinned people are particularly susceptible. Spicy food should be avoided. Most experts believe the cause is a bodily response to bacteria. Digestive disorders such as acid reflux are closely linked to rosacea.

“Almost every rosacea patient is on medication for acid reflux,” notes Horner, who has a line or rosacea creams at her store.

Eczema/Dermatitis

Eczema or dermatitis, is a group of skin conditions which can affect all age groups. In middle forms of the condition, the skin is dry, hot and itchy while in severe forms the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding. Although it can sometimes look unpleasant, eczema is not contagious. There are various forms of eczema, so it is important to get a correct diagnosis before treatment. Some eczema is caused by environmental factors, stress, allergens such as nickel and yeast overgrowths and irritants such as chemicals and detergents.

Psoriasis

This is a condition in which the skin becomes red, inflamed, covered by scales and flakes easily. Affected areas are often itchy and can appear anywhere on the body. Current understanding is than psoriasis is an inflammatory response – the body’s immune system seems to target its own cells. The result is that new skin cells replicate at an extremely elevated rate, leading to the buildup of plaque-like flakes within days. The process normally should take months. Psoriasis supposedly becomes more severe in those whose immune systems are suppressed. Alcohol, sugar and caffeine consumption can exacerbate the condition as can stress. Lack of sunlight can make psoriasis flare up more strongly. However when people have psoriasis, they often don’t want to be out in the direct sunlight where the condition is plainly visible.

Treaments for Skin Conditions

Eating a healthy diet, avoiding irritants – and becoming aware of those irritants is the first thing to do. Keeping your colon healthy by using colon cleanses and internal herbal cleanses can also help. An overloaded liver can also cause hormonal imbalances and toxicity leading to skin problems. Make sure your body’s Ph is balanced, as a highly acidic or alkaline system will cause skin problems. Consume plenty of greens and have a green drink such as cholorphyll on a daily basis. Acidophilus can counteract the bad bacteria in your gut balancing out bacterial infections.

Essential fatty acids such as hemp oil, flax seed oil, fish oils and Evening Primrose oil can make a different as well, says Horner. She has creams for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Some creams address the inflammatory irritation and itch. “They’re really good at taking down the itch and any bacterial buildup, “she says. “It basically calms it. They will help you heal externally.”

Horner says keeping the stress levels down and finding ways to deal with stress can prevent conditions from flaring up. “If you’re stressed out, your body’s going to react and you’re going to break out. Your cortisol levels are too high so you become more sensitive to everything.”
McCulloch says she doesn’t have adult acne anymore as a result of modifying her diet.
“What we eat is a direct result of how our skin looks.” She also follows a skin care regime using toner, hydrating gel and moisturizer. She also used a medicated skin cream for acne from the Grace Cosmetic line she sells.

Other products to try include tea tree oil and Neem, both which are anti-biotic. Horner says keeping the stress levels down and finding ways to deal with stress can prevent conditions from flaring up. “If you’re stressed out, your body’s going to react and you’re going to break out. Your cortisol levels are too high so you become more sensitive to everything.”

Dermamed Pharmaceuticals has some excellent articles on various disorders at their website www.dermamed.com, which also covers conventional treatments and their side effects.

Their line of creams and gels is targeted at dealing with skin disorders.
Also look at www.beat-your-health-condition.com for more information.