Changes in diet have been known to improve Psoriasis and also to make it flare up. Different foods can trigger different reactions in different people and it is a good idea to keep a food diary so that you can monitor your food intake and the symptoms that your body is displaying. Always maintain a healthy and balanced diet and if you have iron, zinc or foliate deficiencies, it may be worth adjusting your diet or considering taking vitamin supplements.

Food and PSORIASIS

Up comes the topic of food and diet again.  “Those greasy fries definitely won’t help your psoriasis!” Whenever we discuss health, food and diet is always related. After all, what we put into our body on a daily basis is more than likely to have a pretty huge impact on what goes on inside that body of ours. Now, let’s look at psoriasis alone. Is there any magic diet, as many claim, that’ll cure your psoriasis? The answer is: NO. On the other hand, a healthy well-balanced diet has proven to improve symptoms drastically.

PSORIASIS DIET TIPS
•    Drink up to 2 litres of water daily. Do not consume all of it at once.
•    Eat lots of green leafy vegetables.
•    Avoid Coke, red wine, oily foods, red meat, and other junk foods.
•    Consume multi-vitamin and zinc tablets
•    Don’t make any drastic changes in your diet.

Some foods that may help Psoriasis
Some Psoriasis sufferers have reported an improvement of symptoms after taking Omega3 rich foods like fish (or fish oil). 



Foods to avoid
Try to avoid excessively sugary items such as lollies, chocolate and sweets.

Have you found a skin condition remedy or cure that might help someone else? Have you got an effective home remedy for itchy skin disorders? We all pick up tips, ideas and treatments along the way and sometimes what works for you wont work for someone else or what doesn't work for you might work for someone else. Share your ideas, questions and remedies in our open Remedy Forum.

Skin Conditions in Newborn Babies

It can be disappointing when your adorable newborn’s fresh and clear skin is plagued by skin rashes. You will be pleased to know that most disappear within a few weeks or months and are nothing to worry too much about.

Some of the common itchy skin conditions in babies include:

Cradle Cap

Cradle cap can be very itchy for your baby. It usually appears in the first 2 months, and disappears within a year or so. It is also known as Seborrhoeic Dermatitis. It is characterized by scales, waxy skin, and red rashes on the eyebrows, scalp, and nose sides. Too much oil triggers this, and it is similar to dandruff. A doctor will probably prescribe a mild dandruff shampoo or lotion for your newborn.

Baby Eczema

In eczema, your newborn will show an itchy rash. It is red and is usually triggered by some sort of irritant. If your family shares a history of allergies, your baby is more likely to develop eczema. It could be a mild rash or even thicken into dry, scaly skin. Appearance anywhere on the body is possible. The best bet would be to pinpoint the irritant and avoid it. Avoid harsh soaps and lotions.

Diaper Rash

The baby might develop red and irritated skin in the diaper area. This might be due to the diapers being too tight, too wet, or even from a specific type of diaper or wipe you have been using. It can be treated by leaving the diaper region exposed to air, changing diapers frequently, and using cream of zinc oxide.

Newborn Acne

Pimple breakouts when only 3 weeks old?! It could be quite shocking for parents. However, be assured, that it will most likely disappear in a few months time, not to reappear until adolescence. Such acne is triggered by hormones from the mother that stimulate increased oil production in the baby’s glands, stimulating breakouts. It mainly consists of red pimples appearing on the cheeks or forehead. There is no need for any special treatment although gently cleansing the face with water daily might help.

Milia

In this non-contagious condition, tiny bumps that may even go unnoticed appear on the newborn’s face. These are little accumulates of keratin in the glands in the baby’s skin. Up to 50% of newborns have this condition. Unlike most skin conditions, it is yellow or white in color. It usually disappears after the first 3 months. If condition persists, consult with a doctor for other skin diseases.

You must be a very happy mommy or daddy if your child is safe and not suffering from any of the above conditions. On the other hand, if your baby is developing one of these conditions, you should consult with a pediatrician immediately.

See also, Allergy Relief for Pregnant and Nursing Mothers

WHAT IS ECZEMA? Eczema Overview

Eczema may be triggered by:

• Allergies- to a certain food, poison ivy, or even nuts
• Cold and dehydrated weather conditions
• Eating disorders
• Overload of toxins circulating in the human body
• Imperfect body mechanism ( E.g. Thyroid malfunction)
• Sensitive skin
• Varicose veins
• Stress

Symptoms of Eczema

Eczema rashes are usually red at first and worsen with increased scratching. They might even deepen to a thick brown color.

Other Eczema Symptoms and Visible Signs of Eczema Are:

• Inflamed & cracking skin
• Raised dots filled with fluid and puss
• Swollen lips
• Crusts on skin
• Blisters
• Extreme itchiness
• Tingly skin that is extra-sensitive to harsh chemicals or weather
• Dry skin
• Red and scaly patches of skin
• Weeping, inflamed areas of skin
• Mild Itchiness

Eczema and Eating Habits

Some common troublesome foods would include soy, wheat, eggs, yeast, nuts, fish, and milk products. You could simply cut out all these foods. Alternatively, you could track your eating patterns to investigate which one is the culprit. That way you can fight your eczema AND indulge your taste buds in the foods you enjoy. While tracking your food habits you could note down what you ate and the time that you ate it.

Making conscious changes in your eating style and maintain a food diary will soon help you cure your eczema for good.

Treating Eczema with Herbal Remedies

• Rub aloe vera gel over the inflamed area
• Drink chamomile tea or place the leaves over the affected area to soothe the itching.
• Add a tablespoon of turmeric powder to an equal quantity of bitter mint leaf with some warm water and use it as an exfoliant to speed up the healing process.
• Apply spearmint leaf juice to the rash.
• Crush almond leaves with water and apply. When the leaves have turned dark, cool the mixture and strain it out. Store the oil in a jar and massage over rash 2-3 times a day. This is a very effective procedure.
• Rub coconut oil on the damaged area gently to soften the skin.
• Brew fresh mint leaves in boiled mustard oil.
• Take supplements of Omega 3, like fish oil tablets.
• Relax with a calming mudpack. It does wonders for the eczema!

Alternative Treatments for Eczema

Doctors mainly aim to cure 3 things through medication: itchiness, swelling, and dryness. They may prescribe a topical lotion, topical steroids, antibiotics, antihistamines or even UV light treatment in extreme cases.

General tips you can put into effect immediately include:

• DO NOT itch! It’s just going to make it worse and possibly cause infection. You don’t want that, do you?
• When showering, do so with luke warm water. Hot water may cause your eczema to become irritated and inflamed.
• Wear cotton clothing. They are unlikely to aggravate your skin condition.
• Stay in cool and soothing weather conditions. Avoid intense heat.
• Avoid harsh chemicals, like cleaning liquids, bug sprays, or detergents.
• Use a petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, as a moisturizer to avoid dehydration of your skin.
• De-stress

Ongoing research into autoimmune drugs to fight eczema is also in process.