Psoriasis And Vitamin D Deficiency
A topical supplement may help your treatment.
Fighting psoriasis, a condition characterized by patches of irritated, flaky skin that usually appear on the elbows and knees and across the trunk, is difficult throughout the year, especially in winter. New research may help explain why. Scientists in Italy found that people with psoriasis also suffer from vitamin D deficiency.
“We speculated that vitamin D might be low in psoriasis patients, but this is the first good study that substantiates it,” says Dr. Suzanne Olbricht, an associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School.
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- Research health conditions
- Prepare for a doctor’s visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
Best Natural: Wild Naturals Eczema & Psoriasis Cream
Looking for a lotion that provides itchiness relief, repairs damaged skin cells, and smooths the skin, all while not using any harmful additives, fragrances, or chemicals? Then Wild Naturals Eczema & Psoriasis Cream could be the lotion for you.
The formula boasts all-natural ingredients, including organic aloe veraan anti-inflammatory that penetrates deep to soothe cracked skinand manuka honey, which provides healing properties. In all, the moisturizer combines vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to help seal in moisture so the skin stays hydrated for hours on end. Customers say the product brightens and smoothes their skin while minimizing psoriasis patches.
How To Get Rid Of Psoriasis & Eczema
Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes skin cells to build up on the skin, creating scales and causing the skin to be dry, itchy, red or irritated. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin disorder that usually accompanies asthma or hay fever. Both diseases are chronic, which means that there isnt a cure and they wont ever go away completely. However, there are steps you can take to treat your skin when an outbreak occurs.
Avoid soaps, lotions or creams that have high concentrations of fragrance or other irritants to reduce the occurrence of symptoms and lessen the severity of symptoms. Use hypoallergenic products whenever possible.
Avoid scratching. Keep nails trimmed or wear gloves to help resist the temptation. Wear cool, smooth-textured clothing to prevent irritating your skin.
Take a warm bath. Add colloidal oatmeal, Epsom salt or bath oil to the bath and soak for 15 minutes. These items will help add moisture to the skin and calm inflamed skin. Use a gentle soap to wash your skin, applying light pressure in a circular motion on scaly areas in order to remove dry skin.
Apply cool, wet compresses to the areas of your skin that become irritated or itchy. Place clean, dry towels in cold water. Squeeze out the excess water and place on your skin.
Use a humidifier in your home. Dry, indoor air can cause skin dryness. Skin dryness can exacerbate eczema or psoriasis symptoms 1.
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How What You Eat Can Affect The Health Of Your Skin
Maintaining healthy doses of vitamins in your body can be extremely beneficial to the overall health of your skin. Our skin is maintained by vitamins that promote healthy cell growth, cell turnover, and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Supplements can be a great way to fill in any gaps in our diet when purchased from reputable manufacturers and used correctly. That being said, its recommended to improve your diet before you turn to supplements.
Vitamins and nutrients are most potent in their natural form, where they are accompanied by hundreds of helpful non-essential nutrients that might not be in your supplements.
If you are deficient in any nutrients, consider speaking with a nutritionist to discover how you can incorporate a more well-balanced diet into your day-to-day life.
Other Nutrients For Psoriasis
Vitamins are not the only types of nutrient that might help reduce psoriasis symptoms.
Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish and flax seeds, glucosamine and chondroitin, and methylsulfonylmethane may help to reduce inflammation and assist skin health.
While people often recommend the above vitamins to treat psoriasis, the most reliable solution is to eat a nutritious, balanced diet, free from processed food, alongside conventional treatments.
The United States Food and Drug Administration does not regulate dietary supplements. It can be difficult to make sure that all ingredients in a supplement are both of a high quality and mentioned on the packaging.
Ask a doctor to recommend reliable brands that include the ingredients on the label.
Supplements that contain unnamed ingredients may interfere with other medications a person is taking.
The cornerstone of psoriasis treatment is prevention. Avoiding certain triggers can prevent psoriasis from flaring up. This can help to reduce reliance on over-the-counter and pharmaceutical medications.
Some prevention tips to keep in mind include:
- minimizing stress levels
- keeping the skin moisturized, as outbreaks are more likely to occur on dry skin
- staying inside as much as possible during the winter, as cold weather can dry the skin
- using a humidifier during the colder months to help keep the skin moist and prevent outbreaks
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The Best And Worst Supplements For Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a frustrating condition for many people, not only because it can be challenging to treat but also because theres no way to prevent the occurrence of symptoms. The good news is that some supplements might help support your body and aid with general wellbeing. In this article, we look at some of the most promising supplements that could help reduce symptoms.
Can You Take Too Much Zinc
One of the most common supplements that people with skin issues take is zinc.
Add to that the fear of getting sick from the global pandemic, and zinc supplements are hot commodities.
Yes, zinc is natural.
And yes, zinc is obviously very important to your skin + health.
But too much zinc can cause trouble in your body if you take dosages that are much too high.
This is because zinc must be in a proper ratio with another important mineral copper.
The upper limit on zinc intake is set at 40mg/day which includes the total of both supplementation and dietary sources. And for every 15mg of zinc you get, about 1mg of copper should be consumed .
Excess supplementation of zinc is considered to be daily doses of 50mg or more for up to 10 weeks.
This presents two problems. First, it can mess up the Zinc-Copper ratio resulting in health problems. Second, high zinc consumption causes your body to essentially block appropriate absorption of copper in your gut ultimately skewing the ratio even further.
Needless to say, more is not always better!
Supplementing at high doses without testing and guidance can have some serious risks.
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How Can Supplements Benefit Your Skin
- Many supplements are suitable for skin types because they contain valuable contents like vitamins, minerals, etc. These can help your body work properly and help repair the damaged skin cells.
- It is reported that some people who were suffering from psoriasis found improvements in their condition after using some particular kind of food supplement.
- There are many studies published where it says that if you increase your intake of omega 3 fatty acids, this will positively affect your psoriasis condition, so it is best to start including more oily fish in your diet or any other food supplement containing these fatty acids.
- Another important study says that if you take vitamin B supplements, it can help reduce the symptoms of psoriasis because vitamins act as antioxidants and fight against disease-causing free radicals present in our body.
- Some food supplements like soy isoflavones can reduce inflammation which is considered one of the primary reasons behind psoriasis, so it is best to consume food items rich in soy isoflavones or go for some supplement.
- It is also reported that supplements containing vitamin D can have a positive effect on psoriasis conditions because people who have Vit D deficiency always suffer from different types of skin allergies, autoimmune problems, etc., so it is best to increase your vitamin D intake through natural sources like sunlight but if this is not possible then go for any other natural supplement rich in Vit D.
Can Zinc Be Absorbed Through Skin
If youve wondered if zinc can be absorbed through your skin, the answer to that is YES.
As you know, your skin is an absorptive barrier similar to your gut.
Many nutrients can be absorbed through the skin including zinc and Vitamin D .
Its one of the reasons that it is included in the Z+ Rebuilder cream to help you rebuild healthier skin.
With skin rashes, the skin barrier is often leaky and compromised.
One recent study found that a compromised skin barrier increased the amount of zinc that ended up in the epidermis 6065-fold.
Ill dive more into zinc and your skin in an upcoming episode, so stay tuned!
For now, know that zinc may be a crucial piece of your puzzle. Its not likely to be THE ONE PROBLEM, but addressing low zinc can make a significant difference in your symptoms.
Leave your questions and comments below so we can keep the conversation going!
And share this episode with our community members especially those who are interested in looking deeper at their skin. Nutrient depletions are more common than youd think in those with chronic skin rashes, so this episode could be a wake-up call for someone who never realized the importance of zinc and their skin issues.
Thank you so much for turning in and I look forward to seeing you in the next episode!
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Use Calamine Lotion To Help Psoriasis
Psoriasis is just one of many skin conditions that appreciate the helping hand of calamine lotion.
Dermatologist Dr Anton Alexandroff, spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation says: Calamine lotion is surprisingly universal and completely safe.
It can be used for any itchy condition, not just bites. These include psoriasis, dermatitis and sunlight allergy, as well as the itching caused by diabetes, renal or liver impairment.
Of course, active treatments for the condition still need to be used, but these usually take some time, whereas calamine works instantly.
Zinc Oxide: What Is The Best Fabric For Eczema
Dermatologist recommended Soothems Eczema sleepwear and Psoriasis clothing are FDA registered, class 1 medical device, exempt status for adults and eczema suffering children are made from a proprietary fabric called TEWLTect®.
SOOTHEMS® has been developed as a therapeutic treatment to help people with particularly sensitive skin, such as those suffering from Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema, Psoriasis, Neurodermatitis, Xerosis and other skin allergies.
SOOTHEMS® are made from a proprietary smart fabric calledTEWLTect®, a blend of high performance sustainable cellulosic polymer fibers enhanced with completely safe, non-allergenic biopolymer called Chitosan and Zinc Oxide. The beneficial properties of TEWLTect® Skin Smart fabric provide a positive, soothing effect that reduces itchiness and helps preserve moisture levels on the skin. When the skin naturally releases moisture, there is an active exchange between human skin and the unique properties of TENCEL lyocell fibers with Chitosan, TANBOOCEL® viscose made from bamboo pulp fibers and the zinc oxide that encapsulates the fabric:
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Independently Tested: Sensitive Skin Safe And Dermatologist Recommended
Soothems eczema clothing use medical-grade zinc oxide particles that are incorporated into the TEWLTect® fibers through an encapsulation process that can never wear out or wash out. The zinc oxide contributes to the regeneration of the skin, naturally soothing irritated skin and used to heal wounds. Besides being thoroughly tested for harmful chemicals, Soothems has tested negative following the Human Repeated Insult Patch Test, have independently passed the EU certification REACH, and use only Oeko-Tex Standard 100certified materials. They are completely safe for the most sensitive human skin.
Zinc Therapy In Dermatology
Zinc, elemental or in its various forms , has been used as a therapeutic modality for centuries. Topical preparations like zinc oxide, calamine, or zinc pyrithione have been in use as photoprotecting, soothing agents or as active ingredient of antidandruff shampoos. Its use has also expanded manifold over the years for a number of dermatological conditions including infections , inflammatory dermatoses , pigmentary disorders , and neoplasias . Although the role of oral zinc is well-established in human zinc deficiency syndromes including acrodermatitis enteropathica, it is only in recent years that importance of zinc as a micronutrient essential for infant growth and development has been recognized. We review here various therapeutic uses of both topical and oral zinc in dermatology clinical practice .
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Vitamin For Boosting Immunity
Vitamin D was given a superstar status last year, and for good reason. Ranging from immune system support to boosting energy and mood, this vital vitamin contributes to many aspects of health.
Clarissa said: Vitamin D is synthesised by sun exposure on our skin, which is why those who live in darker and colder climates are advised to supplement during the winter months .
What Fabrics To Avoid For Eczema Sleepwear And Psoriasis Clothing
Fabrics of man-made fibers such as nylon, polyester, modacrylic fleece and naturally coarse wool fibers irritate the skin and can make eczema and psoriasis rashes incredibly hot and itchy. Similarly, although the anti-bacterial properties of Nano-silver coated or infused fibers would seem ideal for eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis sufferers given their inherent antimicrobial properties, fabrics made from these high tech fibers also tends to be very hot, as the silver minimizes heat loss and reflects energy back to the skin and for some sensitive skin people that suffer from contact dermatitis and metal allergies there can be also an allergic reaction to silver.
Cotton is soft and comfortable next to the skin if you have eczema, psoriasis or dry or sensitive skin but cotton tends to stick to open sores and rashes and will breed bacteria. Cotton is an absorbent fiber and can inadvertently wick away the skins natural moisture levels leaving it unnaturally dry and itchy and also reduce the efficacy of topical moisturizers and medications. And cotton is terrible for wet wrapping therapy a common moderate to severe eczema treatment because it gets soggy, heavy and sags out of shape. Dont be fooled Organic Cotton only references the type of fertilizer and pesticides used in growing the cotton, not how the organic cotton was processed into yarns and how the constructed fabric was finished with chemicals.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Calamine Lotion
There are almost no proven adverse effects associated with the use of calamine lotion .
But, in rare cases, you may experience:
- Irritation
- Swelling around the calamine-treated area
- Hives on the tongue, throat, or face
If such symptoms persist, stop using calamine lotion immediately. Consult a healthcare provider, report your observations, and try an alternative medication .
Moreover, there is insufficient information about the safety of calamine for pregnant and nursing women and children/infants. Seek medical help before using it.
Do I Need To Use A Special Sunscreen If I Have Psoriasis
You dont necessarily need to use special sunscreen but wearing sun protection is important. Long sleeves and clothing with a UPF protection rating can come in handy.
If you have a flare-up or actively inflamed skin, sunscreen may irritate your skin further. In these instances, it may be best to avoid sun exposure or to wear clothing that protects your skin from the suns rays.
When flare-ups are managed, a sun blocker that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide may be your safest bet. Always use a sunscreen that has at least SPF 30.
If you take a medication for psoriasis, such as methotrexate or acitretin, you may have heightened sensitivity to the sun, increasing your need for protection.
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Zinc Oxide For Eczema: Understanding The Benefits
Zinc Oxide for Eczema Itch
Zinc oxide is medically recommended as an excellent anti-inflammatory treatment for irritated skin conditions including diaper rash, poison ivy and clinical research has also confirmed using zinc oxide for treating eczema to calm the itch and soothe the skin. Non-allergenic, zinc oxide is a mild astringent and offers antiseptic benefits.
Zinc Oxide is the most effective active ingredient indiaper rash creams like Desitin and anti-itch calamine cream and high-quality sunscreens. You will also find a zinc oxide derivative in a complex compound – zinc pyrithione – for treating dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis .Research studies and clinical trials by Mrinal Gupta and a team of research colleagues have also revealed the potential benefits and effectiveness of using Zinc Oxide to treat atopic dermatitis /eczema and psoriasis by providing relief from the burning skin sensation, control the itch and stop the spread of potential infections.
Clinical research has also shown that zinc oxide provides relief from the following skin disorders and illnesses: rosacea, varicella-zoster virus – chickenpox and shingles, pigmentary disorders, neoplasias, and certain viruses like some warts.
Lets take a look at what zinc oxide is and how it can provide relief specifically from eczema.
What Are The Supplements That May Not Be Good For Psoriasis
Most of the supplements have a good impact on the skin, but if you do not take supplements properly or take more supplements, it can have many side effects. You should always discuss which supplement is good for your skin and bring it under a doctors supervision as some accessories may suit you but not suit another person because of different skin types.
What to keep in mind before using supplements?
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