Occurs most frequently in children who wre born caesarian section or normal and not breast fed, or who's mother lacked sufficient bifidobacterium in the bith canal (vagina) at time of birthing. Or in an infant, child or adulkt who has had antibiotic treatment and did not reinocculate with bifidobaterium, acidophilus and B group vitamins.
The Birthing and bifidobacterium infantis
Let us examine the bifidobacterium pathway. When an infant is born, normally (intravaginally), the infant picks up numerous bacteria including fecal bacteria in the birth process, most of these whilst essential to normal gut function, uncontrolled, can and do create havoc both within the gut and outside the gut. A common example is Candida Albicans which, in the female, invades the vagina and is commonly known as thrush. There is one other bacteria among all of these which is the control lactobaccilis. Bifidobacterium Infantis, the friendly Probiotic.
Under the influence of breastfeeding by day seven Bifidobacterium in a healthy infant comprises 90% of the infants stool.. Now, if the infant is breast-fed for several months the bifidobacteria proliferates with the function of improving digestion and immune status, manufacturing certain nutrients including, but not confined to:
Biotin
Choline
Folic Acid
Inositol
Para Aminobenzoic Acid (PABA)
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B5
Vitamin B6
Vitamin K)
and importantly controlling the detrimental bacteria, which if uncontrolled, proliferate and in time eat away at the mucosal lining of the gut with the consequence of a hyper-permeable gut lining "Leaky Gut".
If an infant is born via caesarian section or not breast fed there will not be enough friendly bacteria to control the unfriendly bacteria with consequent proliferation and penetration of any body tissue causing inflammation and/or pain.
A common example might be infant eczema. Of course antibiotics, the most over-prescribed medication on this planet, will destroy much of the friendly bacteria, especially acidophilus located in the small intestine. Interestingly, mothers of today do not have near the amount of bifidobacterium in the birth process that their grandmothers had a few decades ago. A recent Danish study could not find any bifidobacteriun in infants born in a Danish hospital. Bifidobaceria thrive on what are called Fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Best sources of FOS are banana, onion, garlic and tomatoes.
Most infants and children's allergic and/or minor infectious episodes respond to intensive probiotic treatment. Bifidobacterium and acidophilus are very potent antibacterial/virus agents to which infectious bacteria cannot become resistant, unlike all antibiotics.
More on skin:
Always assuming attention is given to the above cellular nutrients and maintaining a 40:30:30 dietary intake and where appropriate attention to dietary lectins (ABO Blood Type).
Retarded wound healing, and in fact all skin lesions respond to a balanced zinc supplement, which is also essential to at least 300 enzyme functions as well as being essential for DNA synthesis.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) preferably as fish oil are important in the respiration of vital organs, and assist oxygen transport to all cells, tissues and organs .EFA's are also essential for the function and integrity of the glandular system, especially the adrenal and thyroid gland, and are necessary for nourishment of the mucous membrane, nerve cells and skin.
However, baseline therapy in improving cellular respiration would demand an intensive treatment program with Zell Oxygen, a liquid yeast produced in high-density oxygen tanks, and originally formulated by German scientists for its therapeutic effect in treating cancer. Successful treatment of eczemic-like skin lesions has been accomplished nutritionally by restoration of deficiencies of vitamin B6 and essential fatty acids which may produce this condition. The sulfur amino acids work with selenium and both deficiencies of selenium and excesses of selenium can produce skin lesions. One of the symptoms of selenium excess is a dermatitis, which is seen in some patients who overuse selenium containing anti-dandruff shampoos.
Skin eruptions particularly those of the eczematous type may be the result of dietary protein malabsorption with consequent sensitivity or allergy to partially broken down polypeptides which are capable of either an immunological (histamine) reaction or a kinin mediated (non‑immunological reaction). In many cases a result of hypochlorhydria and or pancreatic insufficiency. In the breastfed infant allergy or sensitivity may be manifested as acrodermatitis or eczema due to transmition via breast milk of the mothers allergic responses to commonly met food substances. Infants weaned onto cows milk will often manifest acrodermatitis enteropica with inflammation at all body excretory orifices, due to the infants inability to digest the protein component of cows milk. disorderitionall we now must pay attention to the glycoproteins known as Lectins which can elicit red blood cell aglutination and histamine reaction in any body tissue according to blood type.
Attention to glucose tolerance (Insulin Zone)is essential to the management of all skin problems. Dietary adjustment to ensure foods that are low in the Glycemic Index rating are important in the effective management of dermatological risk factors. Always ensuring that the low GI rated foods are also complex and not refined carbohydrates.
Early warning signs of potassium deficiency include acne in the adolescent and dry skin in older people. Potassium deficiency may be related to increased diuresis and diets high in refined carbohydrates. Magnesium sufficiency is essential to retain potassium storage.
Vitamin D status may be enhanced by proper exposure of the naked eye and skin to near ultraviolet light, that is, shielded behind window glass, for skin integrity. This may have to do with vitamin D synthesis or possibly more likely ultraviolet lights impact on the total endocrine system. This wavelength of light is in the region of the spectrum where extensive burning of the skin does not occur but activation of receptor sites for release of various hormones such as melatonin occurs.
Copper is a trace mineral essential to humans assisting in the formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells by facilitaing iron absorption. Copper also aids in the conversion of the amino acid Tyrosine into the dark pigment which colours hair and skin. Problems of copper deficiency are rare in our society and overload probably more common. Because copper is an antagonist to zinc which is essential to good skin it would seem prudent to ensure copper levels are kept under control by regular zinc supplementation in conjunction with magnesium.
Assuring selenium status is advisable because this trace element is a potent scavenger of free radicals and therefore preventive against certain cancers including skin cancer. Insffuicient perippheral levelsof Omega-3 are emerging as an important factor in skin cancer, especially melanoma. THat is to say moderate exposure to sun without burning is advisable to eleveta Vit. D levels an insufficiency of which is proven to increase the risk of cancer of all epethilial (breast, skin, intestines) tisssue, and the great majority of our society unless eating or supplementing oily fish/fish oil are ghrossly deficient in omega-3s
Lysine is an amino acid which is obtained only from animal protein, and essential in the lysine/arginine ratio for the prevention and treatment of the herpes virus both I & II. Arginine is found mainly in chocolate, grains, nuts and seeds. For this reason the incidence of herpes in vegetarians is much higher than in non-vegetarians. Every effort should be made to ensure adequate dietary intake of lysine by at least eating dairy products, such as yoghurt on a regular basis.
Vitamin E is a valuable nutrient in the treatment of burns and abrasions, and assists in the reduction of scar tissue, especially acne scars where x-ray treatment has been used. Free radicals which cause skin wrinkling this cross-linking process will be controlled by vitamin E which is also a potent scavenger of free radical pathology. Vitamin E is very useful when applied topically as well as taken orally in treating dry itching skin problems.
As the organ responsible for detoxification and normalisation of blood fats, optimising liver function is of paramount importance in treating skin disorders.
Alcohol (ethanol) prematurely ages the Skin.
Carbohydrates; Excessive consumption of Simple Sugars causes Cross-Linking (glycosylation) of the Collagen in Skin, resulting in Wrinkles.
These Ailments cause Eczema
Digestive System: Hypochlorhydria (insufficient production of Hydrochloric Acid) is the underlying cause of some cases of Eczema. peer-reviewed research
Intestinal Permeability is the underlying cause of some cases of (atopic) Eczema. peer-reviewed research
Immune System: Eczema (when the cause is not Essential Fatty Acid deficiency) is often the result of Allergies. research
Eczema patients generally have a high Helper T-Cells:Suppressor T-Cells ratio.
These Substances Cause Asthma or are Implicated in Eczema
Cytokines:Elevated IgE levels are associated with an increased risk of (atopic) Eczema. research
Hormones: Excessive production of Platelet Aggregating Factor (PAF) is implicated in Eczema (due to its Inflammatory function).
Lipids: Excessive production of Leukotriene B4 is implicated in (atopic) Eczema. research
Excessive production of Prostaglandin E2 is implicated in (atopic) Eczema. research
Minerals: Arsenic poisoning can cause Eczema. research
There are numerous natural substanmces which may effectively treat eczema. Hre are jus the oils:
Oils (dietary Oils)
Borage Seed Oil alleviates (atopic) Eczema. research
Evening Primrose Oil (1,000 - 3,000 mg per day) alleviates (atopic) Eczema. research
Fish Oils (3,000 - 4,000 mg per day consumed orally or applied topically) alleviate (atopic) Eczema (due to the Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) content of Fish Oils). research
Flax Seed Oil alleviates many cases of Eczema (due to the Alpha-Linolenic Acid (LNA) content of Flax Seed Oil). research
Olive Oil alleviates Eczema when the Eczema is caused by EFA deficiency (due to the Fatty Acids content of Olive Oil).
Oils (topical Oils)
Emu Oil (applied topically or consumed orally) reduces the Inflammation of the Skin associated with Eczema. Author: Absolutely superior to fih oils. In Australia "Emu Spirit" oil is only one with TGA approval for all of the claims made for Emu Oil
Lavender (oil added to bath water) alleviates Eczema.
Eczema responds well to Neem Oil (applied topically)
Oregano Oil (applied topically) alleviates Eczema. research
Tamanu Oil (applied topically) reputedly alleviates Eczema. research
Tea Tree Oil (applied topically to the site of the Eczema) alleviates the Itching associated with Eczema.