Eczema and Detergents

The first and primary recommendation is that people suffering from eczema shouldn’t use detergents of any kind unless absolutely necessary. Current medical thought is that people wash too much and that eczema sufferers should use cleansers only when water is not sufficient to remove dirt from skin.

Another point of view is that detergents are so ubiquitous in modern environments and so persistent in tissues and surfaces, safe soaps are necessary to remove them in order to eliminate the eczema in a percentage of cases. Although most recommendations use the terms "detergents" and "soaps" interchangeably, and tell eczema sufferers to avoid both, detergents and soaps are not the same and are not equally problematic to eczema sufferers. Detergents increase the permeability of skin membranes in a way that soaps and water alone do not. Sodium lauryl sulfate, the most common household detergent, has been shown to amplify the allergenicity of other substances

Dermatological recommendations in choosing a soap generally include:

• Avoid harsh detergents or drying soaps.
• Choose a soap that has an oil or fat base; a "superfatted" soap is best.
• Use an unscented soap.
• Patch test your soap choice, by using it only on a chosen area until you are sure of its results.
• Use a non-soap based cleanser.

How to use soap when one must

• Use soap sparingly
• Avoid using washcloths, sponges, or loofahs
• Use soap only on areas where it is necessary
• Soap up only at the very end of your bath
• Use a fragrance free barrier type moisturizer such as vaseline or aquaphor before drying off
• Use care when selecting lotion, soap, or fragrance, avoiding suspected allergens. Ask your doctor for recommendations.
• Never rub your skin dry, or else your skin’s oil/moisture will be on the towel and not your body

To read more about Eczema and Detergents click the provided link.

Psoriasis Symptoms

The symptoms of psoriasis vary depending on the type you have. Some common symptoms for plaque psoriasis — the most common variety of the condition — include:

• Patches of red, inflamed skin, often covered with loose, silver-colored scales. These patches may be itchy and painful and sometimes crack and bleed. In severe cases, the patches of irritated skin will grow and merge into one another, covering large areas.
• Disorders of the fingernails and toenails, including discoloration and pitting of the nails. The nails may also begin to crumble or detach from the nail bed.
• Patches of scales or crust on the scalp.
• Small areas of bleeding where the skin is scratched.

Read th full article on the Symptoms of Psoriasis at www.webmd.com

Is It Psoriasis or Eczema?

People ask this question all the time when they call in. Is my condition Psoriasis or Eczema? And of course, what is the difference? To help answer these questions, please continue reading.

Eczema is a symptom that flares up from time to time, or it is a condition that a person has once and never comes back. Meaning that you can have eczema at some point in your life and never have to experience it again once you clear it up. It could reoccur but it would still be just a temporary problem. The only way to tell if it is a symptom of psoriasis is to see your dermatologist. He or she should be able to diagnois your condition by a simple visual exam.

Psoriasis is not just a symptom or temporary condition. It is an actual disease and should be treated as soon as possible. Once you have psoriasis, it means that you also have eczema. The skin condition associated with psoriasis is eczema, but people who have eczema, do not necessaryly have psoriasis also. Lets just say eczema is step one of the skin condition and psoriasis is step two. If you have step two then you definitely have passed and have step one. But if you have step one, it doesn’t mean you have reached step two.

Hopefully, the analogy makes it easier to understand. Either way, there are ways to treat both psoriasis and eczema. Unfortunately there is no cure for psoriasis, just treatments and relievers; although, you can stop eczema.

Pictures of Psoriasis

Psoriasis can generally be diagnosis by your dermatologist with a simple exam and glance at your skin. For most people, psoriasis could be confused with many other skin conditions because they are unaware on the true appearance of a moderate to severe form of psoriasis. To view some pictures of the different types of psoriasis, click here.

As you can see, psoriasis is not a condition to be taken lightly. It can have many effects on your body and your life. Finding a treatment that works and will not cause more problems is the key. Many products that are over the counter contain many harmful chemicals and have bad side effects. Try an all natural psoriasis treatment, like Skin Original, to help reverse your unsightly skin conditions.

Bathing and Eczema

Bathing and eczema is a controversial topic, but many people think the practice of limiting baths is old school or old fashioned. Many experts now recommend a daily bath for kids with eczema.

A daily bath for at least 15-20 minutes helps to moisturize the skin and make it less itchy. Be sure to use a mild, nondrying soap, such as Dove, Neutrogena, Tone, Caress, Dial, Basis, or Purpose, avoid vigorous scrubbing, use a soft towel to pat the skin dry and immediately (within 3 minutes) apply a lubricating cream afterwards.

If your child’s skin is not tolerating a daily bath, limit baths to every other day or try using a soap substitute, such as Cetaphil. Avoid using bubble baths, harsh or drying soaps and keep shampoo off the affected areas.

To read the full article on Bathing and Eczema, click here.

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Plaque Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a very diverse skin disease that appears in a variety of forms. Each form has distinct characteristics. Typically, people have only one type of psoriasis at a time, but occasionally two or more different types of psoriasis can occur at the same time. Psoriasis can also occasionally change from one form to another. Trigger factors may "convert" some forms of psoriasis, such as plaque, to another form, such as pustular. Generally, one type of psoriasis will clear and then another form of psoriasis will appear later.

Read the full article on Plaque Psoriasis here.

Psoriasis Treatment Needs a Nutritious Diet

Although researchers haven’t found a clear link between diet and psoriasis, certain foods may trigger flares in some people. If you think a particular food or food group affects your skin, try eliminating it for a time. Other than that, the best dietary approach is the same one that’s recommended for most people: well-balanced meals that emphasize fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. Especially helpful are the right kinds of lipids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for healthy skin. Your body doesn’t produce omega-3s — instead you obtain them from food or supplements. The best dietary sources are fatty fish or fish oil capsules — particularly salmon and salmon oil — flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, walnuts, and soybean and canola oils. Some dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli contain modest amounts of omega-3s. Incorporating these foods into your diet can help dry skin, but it does even more for your overall health. Omega-3s lower triglyceride levels and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. They also lower blood pressure and may reduce the pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis.

Find out more about a natural psoriasis treatment here.