Eczema Bulletin, Issue #028 - Some Slightly Different Eczema Treatments
Welcome to November's edition of the Eczema Bulletin e-zine, and thank you for subscribing.
This is the 28th edition of 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
- November's Featured Article – Some Slightly Different Eczema Treatments
- My favourite eczema news article
- Tip of the Month
- 5 Ways To.....have an eczema friendly Thanksgiving
Some Slightly Different Eczema Treatments
Eczema sufferers are always looking for that one treatment that will stop the itch and clear their skin.
I decided to look into some of the more obscure treatments that have been used in the past, and some that are used today.
- Leech Therapy. Also known as Hirudotherapy. I remember a Blackadder sketch about leech therapy being prescribed for everything. Leeches have been used for many years, but even now some people recommend using leeches to help treat eczema. It is actually the leech's saliva that is reported to be beneficial, including being an anti-inflammatory and it stops the growth of bacteria
- Urine Therapy. A popular treatment with some people, who claim that it has many beneficial properties. I have previously heard of people drinking their urine for it's benefits, but hadn't come across anyone using it directly on the skin. It is urea, the active ingredient in urine, that is said to be beneficial. Fans of urine therapy
say that urine is full of the excess nutrients that the body doesn't need. Urea also attracts water, so if it is put on the skin it could help it hold on to water. This would definitely help eczematous skin
- Placenta Facial. I have heard a few stories about the benefits of consuming placenta. You can buy placenta powder and placenta tincture (essential oil). They can be mixed with your favourite emollient and applied to your skin. The powder and oil can have a slight smell to them, so it is recommended that a couple of drops of essential oil are added to the mixture. One of the reported benefits of it for eczema is that it helps to reduce inflammation
- Snake Oil. In Chinese medicine the use of snake oil isn't a new or strange thing. In conventional medicine it is not as accepted as a treatment. One of the reasons that the oil is used is because it is high in EPA. EPA is an Omega-3 fatty acid which is said to reduce inflammation. It is also
used as a moisturiser as it replaces the oil in the skin
- Arsenic. I definitely wouldn't recommend it as an eczema treatment. It was said to be used by Charles Darwin, while he was at university, to treat his eczema. I'm not sure how effective it was for his eczema, but he suffered a lot of ill-health in his life, so probably wasn't worth the risk!
I'm not sure that I'll be trying any of these treatments in the new future, but I'd be very interested to hear if any of you have. Did they work? How much did they cost? And if you've tried any other slightly obscure treatment.
Eczema News Article
A team of scientists have discovered that some of the genetic defeats that can cause the development of eczema can also appear in sufferers of psoriasis and Crohn's disease.
The scientists involved in the research have said that it may help them to understand why certain people develop certain conditions.
It may also lead to more effective treatments being found, and a way to prevent the development of these conditions.
Tip Of The Month - What is Folliculitis?
Folliculitis is a common skin condition that is caused when the hair follicles become infected and inflamed. A bacterial or fungal infection is usually the cause of it. The Staph aureus bacteria is one of the causes. This bacteria is also the main cause of when eczema becomes infected, so eczema sufferers can be prone to the condition.
It is most commonly found under the armpits and on the face, but can also develop on the genitals.
It appears as small red lumps that may become pimples with a white head. The spots appear around the hair follicles and can be itchy. The white headed spots can also become sore. Avoid wearing tight clothing that can rub on the skin. It can make the condition sore and cause it to spread.
If you have a mild case it may clear in a few days if you look after your skin. One thing that may help is to stop using razors. If you cut your skin with a razor it can allow bacteria into your skin and an infection to occur. It can
also help the infection to spread as the bacteria can be carried around on the razor blade.
If the folliculitis becomes severe you'll likely need to visit your doctor. They may prescribe you antibiotics which can help to clear your skin. Once your skin is clear you'll be better able to manage the condition, as there is a chance that it will reoccur.
I decided to write an article about folliculitis as it is something that I've had for around 6 years. When I first got it, it was diagnosed as Molluscum Contagiosum, so it wasn't treated properly. I went on holiday and carried on using razors under my arms. The condition spread and was sore and inflamed. I ended up wearing longer sleeved t-shirts to cover it, but was very uncomfortable. I was finally given antibiotics, which cleared it, but as I didn't realise what was making it reappear, it came back.
It's only been in the last 12 months, after changing my doctor, that I was told that it was
folliculitis. After another occurrence under my arms, it started to spread down and across my torso. My new doctor explained what it was and gave me a course of antibiotics, which again cleared the symptoms. As I then knew what it actually was and what caused it, I stopped using razors for hair removal and I haven't had an outbreak since.
I plan to write a page for my website in the future about folliculitis, so I can give more information about the causes, symptoms and treatments of this skin condition. As it is mainly caused by the Staph aureus bacteria I reckon that more eczema sufferers have had a bout of it at some time.
