Issue #047 - Eczema and Hair Loss
Welcome to June's edition of the Eczema Bulletin e-zine, and thank you for subscribing.
This is the 47th edition of the Eczema Bulletin. It will bring you articles and news about eczema, and also any updates to what-is-eczema.com. If you would like to add any suggestions for articles or news, or even add your own then I would love to hear from you.
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This month's Eczema Bulletin includes
- June's Featured Article – Eczema and Hair Loss
- My favourite eczema news article
- Tip of the Month
- 5 Ways To.....have an eczema friendly flight
Eczema and Hair Loss
Losing hair as an eczema sufferer is uncommon, but it is possible.
Hair loss can occur on any part of the body, although it appears more common on the scalp and face. One reason for this is Seborrhoeic Eczema.
Seborrhoeic eczema is thought to be caused by Pityrososporum ovale. This is a type of yeast that naturally lives on our skin. In most people it doesn’t cause any issues, but for others the yeast grows too much. This can cause a reaction and the symptoms of seborrhoeic eczema can develop.
It can appear on any part of the body, but it can be mainly found on the scalp, forehead, eyebrows, eyelids and around the nose. If it is left untreated then hair loss may occur. Eczema can damage your hair follicles and the skin cells that surround them. This means that any hair that grows could be thin and weak, and you may notice that your hair stops growing altogether.
Once
treatment of eczema has started then the hair may start to grow back. In a few cases the damage done to the hair follicles may not be able to be reversed, so the hair may never grow back.
It's so important to treat the eczema to limit further skin damage. This in turn will improve the chance of hair growth returning or improving.
Part of the treatment is to kill the yeast that causes seborrhoeic eczema to develop. If the eczema is on the scalp you can use an anti-fungal shampoo 2-3 times a week. On the other days you can use an irritant-free anti-dandruff shampoo. Using a shampoo containing tea tree oil could help as it has natural anti-fungal properties.
If the eczema is on other parts of the body you can treat it with anti-fungal cream or topical steroid creams. For a more natural treatment try a 50/50 mixture of organic apple cider vinegar and distilled or bottled water. Use some cotton wool to apply the mixture to your skin. If it stings use a
weaker mixture by using more water. Also if you want to improve the smell you can add some tea tree oil.
You always need to use an emollient on your skin to keep it moisturised. This limits damage and breakage and helps to repair the skin. You can either use your normal emollient or try a natural alternative, like coconut oil.
If hair loss becomes a concern you should speak to your doctor or dermatologist. They'll be able to advise if your eczema is contributing to it, or they'll into it further if needed, perhaps by referring you to a hair loss specialist.
Eczema News Article
Scientists have found that a deficiency in the skin's barrier is key to triggering eczema.
A team from Newcastle University worked with scientists at Stiefel and found that an important skin barrier protein called filaggrin impacts on other proteins in the skin. This can increase the risk of developing eczema.
These findings may also help develop treatments which could treat the underlying cause of eczema rather than the symptoms.
Previous research has found that when the skin has an inadequate amount of the protein filaggrin in the skin that there is a strong link to the development of atopic diseases, including atopic eczema, asthma and hay fever. This recent research adds to the previous findings that when there is a lack of filaggrin in the skin, it leads to a deficient skin barrier which increases the risk of eczema developing.
This is great news for all eczema sufferers. It is much more beneficial to treat the cause of eczema before
the main symptoms of eczema develop. When symptoms get severe they are harder to treat and can have a negative effect on a sufferer's everyday life.
Tip Of The Month - How Milk Thistle Can Benefit Eczema?
Milk thistle belongs to the daisy family, with the main active ingredient being Silymann.
It can be eaten, but the seeds are mainly used as a natural treatment for the liver and skin.
Milk thistle is suggested if you are detoxing or if you are a frequent alcohol drinker. It protects the liver and helps to prevent toxins entering the liver cells. It also has natural anti-inflammatory properties and is a great antioxidant which helps to keep the liver working as it should.
There are some links between how the liver functions and the skin.
One of the liver's jobs is to get rid of toxins out of the body. If the liver isn't working properly then the toxins will exit the body through the skin instead. As they leave they damage the skin's layers which increases the chance of bacteria entering the skin. This can cause the eczema to become infected. An infection makes the symptoms harder to treat and the skin looks more inflamed and becomes even
more itchy.
A faulty liver can also contribute to leaky gut syndrome. If the liver is damaged then the protective barrier of the gut becomes damaged. The lining of the gut is a defence barrier, made up of lots of very small holes. These holes only allow certain substances to get through into the gut, like nutrients. When the lining is damaged the holes become bigger. These bigger holes allow different substances in, that normally couldn't get through.
Also as things get in, other substances get out, including bacteria, food particles and waste products. These leak into in the bloodstream and are then carried in the blood around the body. Your immune system kicks in, and the symptoms of an allergic reaction, like inflammation and itchiness, occur. These symptoms may appear as eczema.
Because of the links between the functions of the liver and your skin it is important to keep your liver as healthy as possible. Parts of our modern lifestyle do not
help with this, so sometimes we need a bit of help, especially if you have a skin condition.
Milk thistle can be taken in various ways including capsules, as a herb, as a tincture or as a liquid extract. If you are on any medication or are pregnant speak to your doctor before trying.
If you have tried or are currently taking milk thistle I'd love to hear about your experiences of it. Have you noticed any difference? What is the best way to take it? Please share your stories :)
