Eczema sufferers assume that because they’ve been classified as having an overactive immune system that it somehow equates to a strong immune system. This is not the case. It is not overactive because it is strong. It is overactive in its response to allergens/irritants because it (the immune system) is out of balance, unhealthy; and as a result, overwhelmed by toxins infecting, affecting or effecting the body. When you understand that an eczema reaction is a result of an unhealthy immune system being overwhelmed by toxins, then your outlook on eczema changes. Instead of suppressing the immune system, you develope the point of view that states, “What can I do to improve the health of the immune system; so that the body can move from a defensive/weak position to an offensive/strong position in the fight for health. In other words, you switch from the “symptom suppressing” point of view to the “healing the body” point of view.

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First and most importantly, Elidel has been linked to skin cancer and lymphoma. This is why it carries a “black box warning”.

The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is a porous organ; and therefore, what you place on the skin penetrates beneath skin and into the bloodstream. As a result, this is why that medication can get into the bloodstream and promote lymphoma. The lymphatic system consists of a system of vessels, (like blood vessels, arteries, veins), that run throughout the entire body and serves as one of the body’s defenses against infection. You may be more familiar with the terms white blood cells or antibodies. Lymphocytes, a part of the lymphatic system, are white blood cells produced in the lymph nodes that defend the body against infection by the production of antibodies. The lymphatic system returns fluid from body tissues to the bloodstream; hence, the connection between the skin, bloodstream, and lymphatic system. For laymen it seems incredulous that a cream used on the skin could cause a cancer such as lymphoma. However, when you understand the skin as an organ that covers the entire body and begin to understand its working relationship between the other systems (like the lymphatic system or bloodstream) or other organs within the body, then you can begin to understand how a cancer connection could develop.

The reason that I’ve gone into limited detail regarding the lymphatic system in relation to the skin is to give you an idea of why it is so important to be aware of what you are putting on your skin. It has been widely known that steroids are damaging to the body and skin due to their suppression of the immune system and their wearing away of the epidermis (top skin layer). As a result of the general publics (laymen) awareness of the damaging effects of steroids, the medical community began to promote their non-steroidal medications for the treatment of eczema: protopic and elidel. In the 3-year period that these two medications have been on the market (2 years heavily marketed), more skin cancer and lymphoma cases is reported. As a result, people went from a non-life threatening skin disorder (which could have been healed naturally in a matter of days) to developing terminal cancers from medications used to treat eczema. In my opinion, please be aware of the dangers (side effects of the toxic medication) that come with the use of elidel and consider stopping the use of it immediately.

[tags]elidel,eczema,steroids[/tags]

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After many research hours, I finally come to the conclusion that the process of healing eczema takes a 3-step holistic approach: Healing from the Internal, from the External and Conquering the Foreign Elements. This simple 3-step approach is shared to me by a kind lady who has successfully healed her 3 nieces’ eczema WITHOUT using any medication. If you think this 3-step approach is some kind of miracle cure, you are wrong. Really, there is no quick fix for eczema regardless what those ads says.

Nonetheless, you’ve got to understand that treating eczema is more than topical. Unless you are addressing your eczema or your child’s by the 3 step approach, any attempts to heal will fall short and prove to be frustrating. One important thing to remember about using any natural approach of eczema healing is DON’T NOT EXPECT INSTANT RESULTS! Just because you can’t see the results immediately, do not give up.

You have got to weigh these months of progress against years of abuse to the body (though not intentional). What I tend to notice is that attempts to heal the body naturally are judged much more harshly than conventional medicines. One man I know has suffered from eczema for 40 years using conventional eczema medications. When I suggest trying the natural means of treating his eczema, he literally gives it a few hours and then expresses that the natural method of treatment doesn’t work. Your body is in the healing stages. Everything you’ve mentioned, even those things that you think are negative confirms this fact. You’ve got to keep things in perspective. Respect your body’s pace and let the success in one area provide hope for breakouts in other areas. Instead, you are allowing the new flareups to negate your proven success.

Even in the frustration, there are always clues.

When you begin to understand how to read its clues, it points you closer to healing. Half of the battle has already been won if you realize that you can heal the body of its eczema symptoms and reverse the damage done. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to do this at all.

I will be sharing ideas and resources on healing eczema WITHOUT medication. However, these are my personal ideas or suggestions of what you could consider as options. I am not (in any shape or form) a doctor nor herbal remedy specialist. Evaluate any information I give you with that knowledge and never go against your own peace. My objective of sharing this information is to see more children leading a eczema free and drug free childhood.

[tags]eczema,eczema treatment,skin disorder,natural remedies[/tags]

One of the major problems with steroids is called tachyphylaxis, the decreasing effect of the treatment with continual use, requiring ever stronger doses. High dosage can lead to a serious rebound flare if the treatment is stopped abruptly, perhaps when changing treatments. The rebound effect is not just a return of the symptoms, but often a body wide reaction, sometimes much worse than the previous condition. All dermatologists are well aware of these problems, which are even more acute in children. They will generally recommend a pulse therapy, which includes resting periods or rotating between other nonsteroidal treatments. This can help prevent some of the other side effects of steroids, such as thinning of the skin, causing striae or stretch marks, a tendency to bruise easily, and if absorbed systemically, possibly hormonal disruption, osteoporosis, and even psychosis. If they get into the eyes in even small quantities, they can lead to cataracts and glaucoma. Do not depend on a doctor to alert you to these problems. For whatever reasons, they may not think it is necessary. It is best to get informed about any medication you take, but be sure to ask your doctor about any side effects. Over The Counter (OTC) cortisones are mild compared to prescription products, but they still need to be used with caution.

A disturbing trend in the last few years is for unscrupulous marketeers to include potent steroids in their otherwise nondescript skin products, without any indication or warning on the label. People try the product and are amazed by the sudden remission. They may not realize that they can become dependent on it, and that it can be dangerous to suddenly stop. The euphoria of having clear skin can override any rational decisions about benefit vs risk. Word can spread rapidly from personal testimonials over the net. In many cases, even these turn out to be a fraud.

The most notorious product example is Skin-Cap. Psorigon followed shortly after. A product called Psorial supposedly containing Dead Sea extracts was banned in Sweden in 1998, and a UK analysis of Chinese Herbal creams found that more than half of the various samples contained potent steroids. Miralex (with offices and marketing in the USA) has also been tested in Canada and found to contain clobetasol propionate. (Note that in any of these cases, the FDA has only conducted tests after hearing of reports from other countries.)

Even after these fraudulent products have been identified and banned in many countries, copycat “clone” makers try to pick up the market share of people desperately seeking a substitute. There are several competing Skin-Cap clones which compound an ineffective zinc pyrithione solution with a prescription strength steroid. Most of the dealers provide their own “click and print” prescription forms, and attempt to identify themselves as the equivalent of the “miracle” or “magical” banned product. They claim the impressive benefits of superpotent steroids, with little or no warning of the side effects. Even worse are the marketers who claim all the benefits without any steroids or side effects.

(Article is taken from : http://www.pinch.com/skin/pshame.html)

[tags]steroids,eczema,side effects[/tags]

{{eczema}}The most common conventional [tag]treatment for eczema[/tag] is none other than [tag]corticosteroid creams[/tag] and ointments. These corticosteroid creams can be bought over-the-counter, but in many cases the doctor will prescribe a stronger corticosteroid cream or ointment. It is an established fact that these steroid creams, regardless its strength, brings about side effects of repeated or long-term use. These side effects include thinning of the skin, infections, growth suppression (in children), and stretch marks on the skin.

When topical corticosteroids are no longer effective, the doctor may prescribe a systemic corticosteroid. Typically, these medications are used only in resistant cases and only given for
short periods of time. The side effects of systemic corticosteroids are more serious. It includes skin damage, thinned or weakened bones, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, infections, and cataracts.

[tag]Hydrocortisone[/tag] or topical corticosteroid creams do not address the cause. They simply suppress the symptoms. This, in the long term, is very dangerous. In order to be healed, you really need to address the cause of the irritation, not the symptoms. Your skin is manifesting those symptoms to warn you of the dangers taking place within your body. It is a warning.

Silencing this warning gives you a false sense of security. It is like taking the battery out of a smoke alarm so that you no longer hear the annoying beep. The purpose of the smoke alarm’s high pitch ring is to alert you of impending danger and to save life. Silencing that warning signal is dangerous. I hope this analogy gives you an idea what hydrocortisone is doing to your body. You’re shutting off the body’s warning signal! Your body is warning you of the high toxicity that exists within it. The inflammation, redness, itchiness etc. are evidence of the fight existing between your immune system and those toxic invaders. Hydrocortisone (steroids) suppress the immune system and impedes their ability to fight and defend against those toxic invaders.

Nonetheless, the most important thing that you need to address is the identification of the toxic allergen/irritant that is promoting your distress. When you get rid of the thing that is promoting your distress than the body can truly heal. Hydrocortisone is not addressing the cause; its simply suppressing your body’s warning signal to alert of the danger happening within the body. In addition, and because the body sees the medication as an additional foreign allergen/irritant it is causing further damage to the immune system and promoting the longterm suffering.

Healing and symptom suppression are not the same thing. With the steroid/hydrocortisone treatments, you’re simply covering the problem; thus the problem remains. You need to remove the problem so that the healing can complete its course.{{/eczema}}