Your skin is the largest organ in your body. In addition to providing a sense of touch, it also protects your body from pathogens, harmful UV damage, and environmental hazards. It facilitates important life-sustaining functions of your body, such as temperature regulation.1
Because of the various functions your skin performs, it is prone to various ailments: eczema and psoriasis are the most common examples. According to the University of California, San Francisco, eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) affects 31 million Americans.2 Meanwhile, psoriasis affects more than 8 million Americans.3
Distinguish between Eczema and Psoriasis
One of the main symptoms of psoriasis is a rash, but its appearance varies from person to person. Darker skinned people have a purple rash with gray scales, while lighter skinned people often have a pink or red rash with silvery scales. Itching, burning, pain and bleeding are also common symptoms.4
In the case of eczema, the rashes are the same. According to the New York Times, here are the defining features:5
“Atopic dermatitis can appear differently in different people. A person with darker skin may have a brown, purple or gray rash, while the rash may look pink or red on lighter skin. Regardless, dry, itchy skin is a sign of the problem and other symptoms. Symptoms include: And they include thickened or peeling skin, experts said.
While eczema and psoriasis share similar symptoms, that’s where their commonality ends. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes your body to produce skin cells out of control.6 Meanwhile, eczema rashes are caused by impaired skin barrier function, which is made more susceptible to exposure due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.7 The Cleveland Clinic offers additional guidelines to help you distinguish between the two:8
“Psoriasis plaques result in thick, scaly patches of skin. Eczema causes dry, scaly skin rashes. Eczema typically causes more intense itching than psoriasis.”
If you suspect you have psoriasis or eczema, visit your healthcare provider right away. You can eliminate the causes by various tests. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, you can choose the appropriate management strategy rather than trial and error.
How to effectively manage eczema
Although there is no cure for eczema, there are various ways to help manage the symptoms. Here are some tips for you to try, according to The New York Times:9
• Wash your skin Keeping your skin moisturized helps protect the skin while reducing breakouts. Use products that are hypoallergenic and be sure to check the label to make sure they are compatible with your skin.
Avoid using fancy, scented moisturizers because they contain irritants and ingredients that can cause eczema. “Blonde is great when you have eczema,” says Dr. Brittany Craiglow, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.
• Short bath – According to Craiglow, long, hot showers and baths can dry out your skin. Instead, wash in lukewarm water, and limit it to 10 minutes or less. Afterwards, apply a smooth, fragrance-free moisturizer to your damp skin while it’s still damp to lock in moisture.
• Use a natural anti-itch cream: The New York Times suggests 1% hydrocortisone cream, but the issue here is over-the-counter steroids. Instead, I recommend a safer option – colloidal oatmeal cream.
2020 study10 “Colloidal oatmeal, a natural product with proven protective, moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, may have a positive effect on the severity of eczema symptoms in patients with chronic inflammatory HE (hand eczema).
In addition to these tips, there are other strategies that can help manage eczema effectively without the use of drugs and pharmaceutical creams. For example, the National Eczema Society recommends keeping your home at a normal temperature to reduce the risk of a fire, and wearing light clothing that you can put on or take off as needed.
Consider using a dehumidifier to increase the humidity in your home during the winter months. Also, pay attention to cold parts of your body like your hands and face when you go outside. Use soft, seam-free clothing to prevent irritation from scratchy hats, scarves and gloves.
Another way to deal with eczema is to manage your stress levels. Studies suggest a link between stress and this skin condition. I recommend regular exercise to combat stress, and this is what the researchers have proven:11
“Psychological stress is an important factor to consider in the management of AD (atopic dermatitis) patients. In particular, chronic stress can worsen AD. The type of stress may affect the quality of itching in patients. Unexpected events and decisions as important. Triggers are frequently mentioned and exercise is reported to provide beneficial effects.
Formaldehyde exposure worsens eczema symptoms
Studies have shown that cigarette smoking is a major cause of eczema due to its formaldehyde content. For the uninitiated, formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling chemical used in a variety of applications, such as construction and disinfectants. Moreover, tobacco has been found to be carcinogenic when burned.12
In a study published in 2021,13 Researchers have suggested that exposure to formaldehyde increases the risk of eczema. Between February 2019 and February 2020, they selected 55 children with moderate-to-severe eczema and measured indoor formaldehyde levels in their homes.
In their experiments, they found that homes with mold or damp indoors had higher concentrations of formaldehyde compared to clean homes. Moreover, parents who smoke at home have higher levels of formaldehyde, which increases the severity of eczema symptoms in children.14
On a related note, your eczema can be triggered by things you own, like your purse. In a case study published in Cureus,15 Researchers found that the person who experienced the symptoms of eczema came into contact with the backpack while traveling abroad. Because the skin repeatedly came into contact with the bag, a severe erythematous rash developed when the bag was eventually discontinued.
Based on this information, I recommend monitoring any clothing and other items that touch your skin, such as bags. If you notice a rash, it is more likely that you have formaldehyde. Companies add this toxin to their products during the dyeing process, and it also reduces wrinkles on fabrics.16
Try these natural remedies to control psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, and like eczema, there is no known cure. However, there are ways to control the symptoms while driving. Below are some effective natural strategies for psoriasis, according to a study published in Inflammopharmacology.17
• Vitamin D – “Sunshine vitamin” helps to regulate autoimmunity, especially T-cell activity by “reducing T helper (T) cell proliferation and supporting the transition from proinflammatory to tolerogenic state.” It was also found to inhibit inflammatory cytokines.
Vitamin D levels between 60 and 80ng/mL are ideal for improving overall health. To find out if you are in this range, check your blood regularly. But before you expose your skin to sunlight, there are some precautions that I want to emphasize.
If you’re eating a high-fat diet in LA, your chances of getting sunburned are high. To help reduce this risk, your first step is to reduce your LA intake to 5 grams per day or less. Additionally, avoid high-intensity sunlight for at least six months after reducing your LA intake.
Rather than being outdoors during peak hours of sunlight, choose exposure in the morning or afternoon when the sun’s rays are less intense. This approach gives your body time to adjust and helps protect your skin from damage. To further protect your skin, take 12 milligrams of astaxanthin daily, use a niacinamide cream, and/or take a low-dose aspirin.
• aloe vera – The gel found in the leaves of this plant contains bioactive compounds such as aloe-emodin and acetaminophen to relieve the symptoms of psoriasis such as redness and skin irritation. It also promotes better hydration and wound healing by increasing collagen activity. Aloe vera also has keratolytic activity thanks to salicylic acid, which helps to remove psoriatic patches.
• coffee – If you don’t like drinking coffee, I suggest you give it a try, research suggests that caffeine inhibits Th1/Th2 cell proliferation while simultaneously promoting the release of anti-inflammatory biomarkers such as adiponectin. It has also been shown to inhibit cyclin adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), the immune system.
But don’t just buy any coffee beans you can find – choose organic beans to keep your health, ideally with a splash of raw, grass-fed milk and raw honey to create a healthy drink. That said, too much caffeine can cause heart palpitations and insomnia, so drink in moderation.
• Curcumin – A bioactive compound found in turmeric, curcumin, has anti-tumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties for the treatment of psoriasis. Similar to caffeine, curcumin works by inhibiting proinflammatory compounds as well as targeting signaling pathways associated with inflammation.
• Garlic – This common cooking ingredient contains bioactive compounds and sulfur compounds that help control psoriasis. In particular, the researchers pointed to the effectiveness of aged garlic extract (AGE).
“A complex combination is AGE. Allin, cyclophilin, S-methyl-l-cysteine, S-allyl-l-cysteine, S-acetylcysteine, S-allylmercapto-l-cysteine, S-1 propionyl-l-cysteine, fructose- Arginine, and beta-chlorogenic include l-arginine, l-methionine and l-cysteine.
Psoriasis is now associated with nuclear transcription factor kappaB activity. Extensive research has confirmed this path. Garlic (S-allyl mercapto cysteine, diallyl sulfide, ajonene) can inhibit this transcription factor.
General strategies for skin health
While psoriasis and eczema both have their own remedies, there are still other ways to improve overall skin health. Adding more polyphenol-rich foods to your diet has many benefits, including protecting your skin.18,19
Don’t forget to improve your sleep quality. I wrote about the dangers of lack of sleep, you can read it in my article “Five habits that ruin your sleepNotable examples include slower reaction time, impaired memory, and an increased risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
In addition to these, studies show that lack of sleep affects the quality of the skin. Basically, not getting enough sleep accelerates internal aging and impairs the skin’s ability to recover from external stressors such as prolonged exposure to UV rays.20
Adding healthy fats, including omega-3s, is important for healthy skin. If you notice that your skin is dry, rough and wrinkled, a small increase in dosage may help. It is involved in processes such as moisturizing, reducing inflammation, reducing sun damage and the effects of aging.21
However, do not overdo your omega-3 intake as it is still a type of PUFA. When used in excess, omega-3 causes the same metabolic damage as omega-6 LA, because it is broken down into dangerous metabolites (ELS) (advanced lipoxidation end products).
Remember that most of your calories still come from carbohydrates, which are your body’s ideal energy source. Also, reduce your intake of LA, as it is a major source of DNA damage and inflammation.
Astaxanthin is another superstar for your skin. It is a carotenoid derived from Haematococcus microalgae, and is produced as a defense mechanism against UV light and other stressors. In a 2021 meta-analysis22 Published in Nutrients, researchers found that astaxanthin helped participants prevent wrinkles and skin hydration, and even improved skin elasticity.
