Millions of people around the world have eczema. In fact, it’s spreading at near epidemic proportions. Unfortunately, most eczema sufferers never find a cure: The skin care products they try either don’t work at all or work only for a short time. A treatment that works today might be useless in just a few weeks or months. The same is true of medications – once the medication is stopped, the condition returns. Thousands of doctors now recommend a shielding lotion as eczema treatment, but you may also have underlying nutritional deficiencies contributing to the problem. Find out what they are, and what you can do about them.

One of the primary nutritional factors behind eczema is vitamin B deficiency. The usual suspects are B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) B7 (biotin).

B3 is necessary for hormone production, detoxification and helping the body process carbohydrates to produce energy and form fat. While forming fat might not sound like a great idea, we’re not talking about weight or weight gain. We’re talking about good fat – the kind that is combined with dead skin cells and oils to form the protective layer of the skin. Without it, the skin loses its natural moisture which, in turn, can lead to skin problems. If you also have problems with insomnia, weakness, mental confusion or aggression, B3 may also help your eczema.

B5, which, like B3, also helps convert carbohydrates to energy and fat, helps the body form healthy red blood cells and antibodies, and helps it make hormones. It may also help detoxify the body. If your skin condition is accompanied by stomach discomfort, headaches, fatigue or difficulty sleeping, you may be deficient in vitamin B5.

B6 helps process amino acids – the building blocks of all proteins and some hormones. If you find you’re not as sharp as you’d like to be or your mood is not very pleasant, you could have a B6 deficiency.

PABA, considered by some to be part of the B vitamin family, is an antioxidant that fights free radicals, helps form the red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body, enables the body to break down proteins, and maintains intestinal flora. If you have red, itchy and patchy skin or lesions along with depression, fatigue, irritability, nervousness, and constipation, chances are you need PABA.

B7, in addition to many other functions, helps the body produce new cells, maintains proper function of oil glands, and helps control glucose levels. If your blood sugar tends to run high, your eczema might be connected to B7 deficiency.

As you may have noticed, many of the B vitamins have similar functions and they do work together. Sometimes it’s best to take a supplement that includes all the B vitamins but, if you’re already doing that, you may want to increase the dose of one or the other, depending on your symptoms.

Many people take vitamin B supplements on a daily basis. If you have eczema, it’s vital. However, don’t forget the shielding lotion: Vitamin B may help the internal problems but if your skin is continuously exposed to household and environmental chemicals, the nutritional handling you’re working on will be an uphill battle. Your best eczema treatment protocol is a good shielding lotion for the outside, and good nutrition for the inside – starting with vitamin B.

I have received some questions on how eczema actually look like. If you have not seen eczema before, it could be difficult to identify the condition. Eczema is always confused with skin rashes. While some eczema looks like a skin rash, it is often more serious than that. It can become weepy and oozing blisters, especially when the skin is scratched. Eczema can appear on the face, neck, scalp, arms, elbows, wrists and knees.

Mild Eczema

More serious eczema on hand

Erupted Eczema when the skin is scratched

Although less heard of, plantar eczema is a common type of eczema usually caused by modern footwear and is more common in males. This type of eczema usually occur during puberty as well as childhood. It causes the sole of the foot to become red, hot and sore with a glazed appearance. One or both feet may be involved and sometimes the hands. The average duration of the disease is longer than previously reported and there is an increased prevalence of atopy in these patients. Findings suggest that allergic contact dermatitis is more common in children than generally appreciated and that patch testing is a practicable and clinically worthwhile procedure in children.

A random sample of 2491 students from schools throughout the State of Victoria, Australia were examined by dermatologists and dermatology registrars to record the prevalence of common, plantar and plane warts. The overall prevalence of warts adjusted for the age and sex of Victorian school children was 22% (95% confidence interval (CI) 20.1–20.7) varying from 12% (95% CI 9.4–15.7) in 4–6 year olds to 24% (95% CI 18.3–30.4) in 16–18 year olds. This was also echoed in a report by Elewski and Schwartz . Mandez and colleagues also reported on one patient with urticaria complicating dermatophytosis. The other associated dermatoses were onychomycosis (33.3%), atopic dermatitis (14%), plantar warts (10%), and chronic urticaria (5%). Tinea pedis and onychomycosis cleared after treatment with topical antifungals with or without systemic antifungals in all cases.

Plantar warts are a common skin infection that occurs on the bottom side of your foot. Warts are benign tumors of the epidermis. HPV infects the top layer of skin, usually entering the body in an area of broken skin. The virus causes the top layer of skin to grow rapidly, forming a wart. Other types of infection also must be ruled out.

Plantar warts are noncancerous skin growths that develop on the soles of the foot. Like all warts, they are caused by a virus (human papillomavirus). The sole becomes shiny and glazed. Usually the heel is unaffected but it may be involved and occasionally the palms are affected too.

Although warts are not dangerous, if they are present on the foot and become large, they may be ulcerated because of the friction against the shoe and get infected. A dermatologist will decide, whether cryotherapy , electrosurgery or chemical treatment is the best therapeutical option. In addition to these disorders, there are at least three other histologic patterns which may present with eczema but have different histologic presentations. These are eosinophilic spongiosis, miliarial spongiosis, and follicular spongiosis.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. They can be difficult to spot at first when they are small and often painless, but this is the easiest time to treat them and a natural healing product made from essential oils is very popular for such treatment. Deep heat therapy: A paddle is applied to the foot and a deep heating treatment is applied. The heat penetrates beneath the skin, so it is completely painless.

Dyshidrotic Eczema is a common type of eczema affecting the hands (cheiroDyshidrotic Eczema), and sometimes the feet (pedoDyshidrotic Eczema). It is also known as vesicular eczema of the hands and/or feet. Dyshidrotic eczema is also known as vesicular palmoplantar dermatitis, dyshidrosis, or pompholyx. This form of eczema occurs in up to 20% of people with hand eczema and is more common during the spring and summer months and in warmer climates. Dyshidrotic eczema is a type of eczema (dermatitis) of unknown cause that is characterized by a pruritic vesicular eruption on the fingers, palms, and soles. The condition affects teenagers and adults and may be acute, recurrent, or chronic.

Dyshidrotic eczema is more likely to occur in women than men. Dyshidrotic eczema is often a chronic condition, but it may go away for long periods of time. It often reappears after a period of nervous tension, worry, or stress. Dyshidrotic eczema is an irritation that occurs on the palms of hands and soles of the feet where clear, deep blisters pop up that itch and burn. They seem to be worse with sunshine exposure.

Dyshidrotic eczema is characterized by a history of preceding dyshidrosis. Thus, on questioning, patients will describe the onset of their disease as consisting of pinhead-sized, noninflammatory vesicles situated on the tips or sides of the fingers. Dyshidrotic eczema is a recurrent or chronic weakening form of vesicular palmoplantar dermatitis. The ailment counterfeit teenagers and adults and may be acute, recurrent, or chronic. Dyshidrotic eczema is a recurrent skin reaction affecting the hands and feet. More specifically the palms and soles and the sides of the fingers and toes.

Dyshidrotic Eczema is caused by abnormal sweating. Other types of eczema arise as a result of causes within the body. Dyshidrotic eczema is characterized by a history of preceding dyshidrosis. Thus, on questioning, patients will describe the onset of their disease as consisting of pinhead-sized, noninflammatory vesicles situated on the tips or sides of the fingers. Dyshidrotic eczema is aggravated by physical or emotional stress, and runs in families.

Avoid canned foods, chocolate, baking powder, cocoa, and tea. They al contain nickel. Avoid anything that will irritate the skin like soaps, harsh cleaners, coarse fabrics and excessive exposure to water.

Scratching, as expected, can make the condition worse, or even cause an infection. Soaking the affected areas in a Hydrogen Peroxide solution or Epsom Salts can also be beneficial by helping keep the areas clean. Scratching leads to skin changes with thickening. Scratching may also lead to secondary infections .

Nickel is found in costume jewelry, while the other substances are used in manufacturing. Nickel is found in costume jewelry, while the other substances are used in manufacturing.

As with other types of eczema, healing starts from within the body. Check out my articles on natural healing from internal.