The lone star tick, whose bite causes allergies to red meat, is spreading across more states, according to news reports.
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Tag Archives: Causes
Erysipelas: Causes, symptoms, and treatment
Erysipelas is a form of cellulitis that affects only the top layers of the skin. In this article, learn about its causes and how to prevent outbreaks.
Eczema / Psoriasis News From Medical News Today
Psoriasis on the face: Symptoms, causes, and treatments
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that effects the skin, causing itchy and painful patches to form. Learn more about how it can affect the face.
Eczema / Psoriasis News From Medical News Today
What Causes Eczema? With Dr. Peter Lio
We have a really great video for you today from Dr. Peter Lio (see bio below). Scroll down to watch the video or read on for a full transcript.
Here’s what Dr. Lio had to say………
(transcript begins)
Today’s question is what causes eczema?
This is a great question and unfortunately we do not have a great answer to “what causes eczema?” or “what is eczema?” But some of the pieces that are important to think about include the fact that the skin barrier is leaky.
We know that the goal of the skin is to keep water in and keep things like bacteria and viruses, allergies and irritants out. When the skin is strong, it is doing its job, but if the skin becomes more leaky and that barrier is damaged then we lose water and those unwanted things enter in. This in turn triggers an inflammation response. The immune system is normally there to protect us, but in this context it starts to go crazy; attacking the skin, causing more breakdown, which fuels the process and also causes itch, which is another important component of eczema. That itch creates a cycle of scratching, which then further damages the barrier and allows more stuff to get in. Patients usually become stuck in this vicious itch-scratch cycle.
All of these things work together to cause trouble. We also know there is a role with bacteria as well. When that skin barrier is damaged, abnormal colonization by bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus, further worsens this.
For some patients we know there are multiple factors playing a role in what causes eczema. We do not fully understand which is the most important for each patient and that is part of what we are trying to understand. We do know that no matter where you begin, all these things come together to cause the disease.
(transcript ends)
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And for more from Dr. Lio on our blog, check out these great posts:
Will Your Child Outgrow Their Eczema?
4 Tips For Parents On Managing Eczema in Children
Topical Steroid Withdrawal: Myth vs. Fact
Bio: Dr. Peter Lio is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of
Dermatology and Pediatrics at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine. He is the co-founder and co-director of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center and very passionate about finding safe treatments that work for eczema. Dr. Lio received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, completed his internship at Boston Children’s Hospital and his dermatology training at Harvard. He has had formal training in acupuncture under Kiiko Matsumoto and David Euler, and has held a long interest in alternative medicines. He currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the National Eczema Association. His clinical office is located at Medical Dermatology Associates of Chicago.
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What Causes Eczema? A Q+A with Dr. Peter Lio
We have a really great video for you today from Dr. Peter Lio (see bio below). Scroll down to watch the video or read on for a full transcript. Here’s what Dr. Lio had to say……… (transcript begins) Today’s question is what causes eczema? This is a great question and unfortunately we do not have […]
It’s an Itchy Little World
How Histamine Causes Leaky Gut
The gut barrier is meant to keep bacteria from our food from crossing into our bloodstream. Histamine, an inflammatory mediator released by mast cells that make up part of the immune system, and also contained in foods, can compromise this barrier, causing intestinal permeability (also known as leaky gut). Foods and bacteria migrating from the stomach to the blood stream are believed to trigger allergies and intolerances, and according to some studies, may contribute to autoimmune symptoms. Probiotics and prebiotic fiber, as well as other mast cell related treatments may be helpful.
A properly working intestinal (gut) barrier protects the body as a whole from invasion by microganisms and toxins we ingest daily. But shut down that barrier too tightly and we may have problems absorbing nutrients and fluids essential to our survival. Overdosing on nutrients, medications and supplements can all affect this delicate balance, leading to inflammatory bowel, celiac, food allergy, as well as obesity and metabolic diseases (of which diabetes is one).
Intestinal permeability/leaky gut is linked to symptoms relating to:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Autism
- Autoimmune disease
- Eczema and psoriasis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Bloating
- Gas
- Heartburn
- Acid reflux
- In checking the UK National Health Service (NHS) website as I sometimes do for more information, I found the following statement:
- “While it’s true that some conditions and medications can cause a “leaky” gut (what scientists call increased intestinal permeability), there is currently little evidence to support the theory that a porous bowel is the direct cause of any significant, widespread problems.”This directly contradicts the numerous studies out there.
- How histamine and mast cells affect our intestinal barrier and triggering permeability/leaking
- An animal study showed that histamine increased permeability of the intestines. Pre-Treatment with an H1 receptor antagonist (an antihistamine similar to Claritin and Zyrtec for example) didn’t stop this, but an H2 antagonist (a stomach medicine which is also an antihistamine like Zantac/Ranitidine) did prevent the intestinal permeability.
- Researcher from another tells us that Interleukin-9 (released by mast cells) is involved in intestinal permeability/leaky gut, and that this process plays an important role in food allergy.
A small sample study on 21 patients with self-reported food allergy and intolerance on an allergen-free diet. Intestinal permeability was diagnosed by a standard test involving the ingestion of a sugar preparation (Lactulose/Mannitol) and their urinary excretion. They found that those with the most severe symptoms had a higher Intestinal Permeability Index.
Some interesting research on co-infections showed that malaria triggered gut “mastocytosis” (which is a mast cell related disorder) and histamine levels temporarily caused gut permeability and the movement of bacteria in an animal model. They were able to to prevent this by using antihistamines.
You can read more about my experiences here and how junk food and emulsifiers found even in organic foods can trigger it here.
Serotonin and histamine act as pro-inflammatory mediators, causing enough permeability to allow the flow of needed nutrients, but not so much that the nasty stuff escapes.
Did you know that maintaining the gut barrier takes up around fourty percent of the body’s energy? That might be why relieving the body of the strain of digestion by fasting, or in my case, a fasting mimicking diet, has been really helpful in managing all my symptoms, but especially anything relating to my tummy. In my case I managed to heal my stomach just through diet and a few carefully chosen supplements (but not probiotics), but we are all different and will need a number of approaches to get the job done.
Probiotics have been found to be helpful, but it’s important to get the right strain.
I refer to my friends over at OptiBac Probitoics for an explanation on why the strain is so important:
“‘Bacteria’ or ‘Yeast’ is a kingdom of organisms, in the same way that humans belong to the ‘Animal’ kingdom. The bacteria can then be separated out into different groups based on similar characteristics, with increasing detail down through the phylum, class, order and family, until the genus level is reached e.g. lactobacillus. Within the genus level is the species level e.g. acidophilus (for humans the equivalent would be Homo sapiens).
For many people their knowledge of probiotics stops here, without realising that it gets more detailed, and this detail allows us to find out more about the bacteria. The next step down from the species is the strain level, and there are tens, if not hundreds, of strains within the species L. acidophilus (as there are within any bacterial species) e.g. NCFM®, Rosell-52 etc. The strain name usually consists of numbers and letters which indicate a microbiology institute e.g. NCFM = ‘North Carolina Food Microbiology’ research centre. It’s only at this level that a probiotic can really be judged on its worth, as the strain name points towards the research and the quality of the probiotic1.
Take the example of L. plantarum. In this species the strain CECT 7528 has been shown in scientific research to be especially good at binding onto dietary cholesterol so it cannot be absorbed by the body, whereas the strain CECT 7529 is particularly good at producing propionic acid (a type of short chain fatty acid which helps to decrease cholesterol levels)2. Both of these strains are in the species L. plantarum, but there are subtle, yet significant, differences between them.”
So here are some of the strains that my wonderful research scientist friend Katerina has found that are particularly beneficial for both histamine intolerance and leaky gut/intestinal permeability:
Lactobacillus rhamnosus 19070-2
L reuteri DSM 12246
bifidobacteria infantis (B. infantis) 35624
Additionally, quercetin has been shown to be a very effective gut barrier fixer thanks to it stopping mast cells found in the area from leaking histamine and other inflammatory agents.
It’s finally here! Man Food – a high nutrient antihistamine and anti-inflammatory ingredient filled book geared towards guys, women who love to work out, yoga like they mean it, or just load up on healing nutrients. Features my personal shopping list of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory foods.
The Anti-cookbook and all liquid Anti-Detox Book, don’t treat any conditions, but feature a plethora of the high nutrient antihistamine and anti-inflammatory ingredients that have been instrumental in helping me feed myself on a limited diet. The Anti-cookbook features a four page list of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory foods and comes in regular and Paleo.
The Low Oxalate Cookbook features antihistamine and anti-inflammatory rich recipes.
Don’t miss the Low Histamine Beauty Survival Guide for non-toxic beauty tips, the skinny on histamine releasing (mast cell degranulating) beauty ingredients, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory beauty alternatives and the top brands natural brands I’ve found.
Take a peek at my other low histamine and antihistamine cookbooks for more high nutrient recipes
—-REFERENCES—-
Bjarnason, Ingvar. “Faculty of 1000 evaluation for Intestinal permeability in patients with adverse reactions to food.” F1000 – Post-publication peer review of the biomedical literature (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
“7 Signs and Symptoms You Have Leaky Gut.” Dr. Axe. N.p., 24 Feb. 2017. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
Potts, Rashaun A., Caitlin M. Tiffany, Nazzy Pakpour, Kristen L. Lokken, Connor R. Tiffany, Kong Cheung, Renée M. Tsolis, and Shirley Luckhart. “Mast cells and histamine alter intestinal permeability during malaria parasite infection.” Immunobiology 221.3 (2016): 468-74. Web.
Stevens, Richard L. “Faculty of 1000 evaluation for IL-9- and mast cell-mediated intestinal permeability predisposes to oral antigen hypersensitivity.” F1000 – Post-publication peer review of the biomedical literature (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
“Histamine and Histamine Antagonists.” Van Nostrand’s Scientific Encyclopedia (2006): n. pag. Web.
“”Leaky gut syndrome”.” NHS Choices. NHS, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
Mortillaro NA, Granger DN, Kvietys PR, Rutili G, Taylor AE. “Effects of Histamine and Histamine Antagonists on Intestinal Capillary Permeability.” American Journal or Physiology. 1981 May;240(5):G381-6.
Bischoff, Stephan C., Giovanni Barbara, Wim Buurman, Theo Ockhuizen, Jörg-Dieter Schulzke, Matteo Serino, Herbert Tilg, Alastair Watson, and Jerry M. Wells. “Intestinal permeability – a new target for disease prevention and therapy.” BMC Gastroenterology 14.1 (2014): n. pag. Web.
“Leaky gut: the mast cell (histamine), Crohn’s disease connection | Healing Histamine.” Healing Histamine | Histamine Intolerance Diet Foods Recipes. N.p., 12 Sept. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.
“Strain Myth.” OptiBac Probiotics. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.
Magistris, Laura De, Valeria Familiari, Antonio Pascotto, Anna Sapone, Alessandro Frolli, Patrizia Iardino, Maria Carteni, Mario De Rosa, Ruggiero Francavilla, Gabriele Riegler, Roberto Militerni, and Carmela Bravaccio. “Alterations of the Intestinal Barrier in Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorders and in Their First-degree Relatives.” Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 51.4 (2010): 418-24. Web.
D’eufemia, P., M. Celli, R. Finocchiaro, L. Pacifico, L. Viozzi, M. Zaccagnini, E. Cardi, and O. Giardini. “Abnormal intestinal permeability in children with autism.” Acta Paediatrica 85.9 (1996): 1076-079. Web.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170118145937.htm
Uncovering the Causes of Self-Medication
We live in a world with thousands of different kinds of drugs. Some of these are common in our daily lives (caffeine, nicotine) and some are more exotic (ayhuasca). It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is, there are many drugs which are available to you, some legal and some not. Drugs have been part of the international conversation for generations, with addiction and dependency topping the charts for relevancy. And even while nations like the Philippines take Draconian measures to curb illicit drug use, other nations around the world are starting to think about drug use in terms of public health and self-medication. It turns out that most people who use drugs do so because they temporarily solve a problem, one which may be physiological.
Anxiety and Lethargy – Common Causes of Addiction
Many of the drugs that we hear about on the news, and find in our own medicine cabinets, can be broadly understood as treating anxiety or lethargy. For people who feel pain (physical or emotional – both contributing to anxiety) there are numerous solutions like Xanax and various pain killers. For people who feel lethargic or gloomy, numerous stimulants are also available, from legal substances like nicotine and caffeine to the various amphetamines and cocaine. While there are other classes of drugs, including the popular psychedelics and entheogens, the stimulants and painkillers/anti-anxieties are the ones that touch our lives most frequently.
The most common reason that sees someone sent to various drug treatment programs is the feeling that such drugs are required for normal functioning (sometimes these drugs have been used so habitually that they become legitimate placeholders in a patient’s metabolism). In some cases, users are compensating for circumstantial problems, like an unhappy teenager stealing Xanax from the medicine cabinet during family troubles. Other times the problems are physiological, like the untreated ADHD patient smoking cigarettes for the stimulation to their sluggish central nervous system. Sometimes it’s a combination of the two, as with the depressed patient who is depressed because he’s out of work and recently divorced, having gotten involved with heroin to treat the feelings of misery.
Most people aren’t able to quit drugs cold turkey without addressing the core difficulty they were using drugs to alleviate. Skilled therapists can learn to discern the difference between circumstantial and biological problems, and the combination thereof. Sometimes it is enough to correct problems that start at home, investing in the happiness and stability of the individual so that drugs are no longer necessary. In other cases, a patient may have legitimate difficulties, learning disabilities, or neurological pathologies. Long term antidepressant or doctor-maintained stimulant therapies can be extremely helpful in these circumstances.
In every case, it is important to understand the patient as an individual with individual needs. It is easy to look at people who use drugs as thrill seekers or as morally abject, but the situation is always more complex. Drug use is a way of reaching out to solve a problem. Until a better solution replaces the use of drugs, most drug users won’t be helped.
The Most Important Eczema Causes And How To Avoid Them
Eczema causes are yet to be identified and are virtually unknown. This is quite astonishing given the fact that this is a condition that was identified well over centuries ago and affects as much as 20% of the population in developed countries. In this article, we look at some of the major factors which are believed […]
The post The Most Important Eczema Causes And How To Avoid Them appeared first on Best Eczema Remedies.
Eczema Causes and Symptoms and Home Remedies to preventing Eczema or Dermatitis
Eczema is a complex skin condition and in most instances needs professional treatment. The natural therapies have an extremely good record in treating people with Eczema and given the problems associated with the long term. Regular use of steroid creams, there is a lot to be said for looking at other options.
Read more on Home Remedies for Eczema and Home Remedies for Blackheads and also visit on Home Remedies for Cholesterol
Causes of Eczema
Primary causes of Eczema are:
1. Hereditary factors. People who have relatives suffering from health problems such as hay fever or asthma are prone to eczema.
2. Irritants such as chemicals, smoke, solvents and detergents can aggravate eczema.
3. Excessive stress, emotional stress and heat can increase the symptoms of eczema.
4. Problems of blood circulation in the leg can cause eczema.
Symptoms of Eczema
Top Symptoms of Eczema are:
1. Itching.
2. Redness of skin.
3. Flaky and dry skin.
4. Inflammation of the skin.
5. Itchy blisters.
Preventing Eczema or Dermatitis
1. Chlorine is an abrasive chemical so avoid swimming in chlorinated pools.
2. Keep away from substances that you are allergic or hypersensitive.
3. Avoid contact with detergents, use dishwasher and clothes washer, and for bathing use mild soaps.
4. Apply unscented moisturizer to damp-skin immediately after bathing to seal moisture. Apply moisturizer regularly to your hands in cold weather, to keep them soft. Use cool-mist humidifier to moisten indoor air.
5. Use meditation or yoga to maintain emotional stability and to ward off dermatitis triggered by stress.
Home Remedies for Eczema
1. Itching on the areas that are affected by Eczema can be avoided by applying smashed papaya seeds on it.
2. Water treatments like cold compress and cold wet fomentations are very much beneficial in treating Eczema. Its frequency of application depends on the severity of the eczema.
3. One of the effective home remedy for eczema is applying a paste of turmeric and bitter neem leaves. This controls eczema to a greater extent.
4. A paste is formed by adding little camphor and few drops of sandalwood oil; this should be applied on the affected areas to lessen the effect of Eczema.
5. Sunbathing helps to kill the harmful bacteria that breed on the affected areas of the Eczema.
6. One of the best home remedy for Eczema is applying a light mudpack over the affected areas of Eczema.
7. Coconut oil can be applied on the affected areas of the Eczema; it helps you to cool down and to soften the affected region of the Eczema.
8. Make a paste of almond leaves and apply it on the affected skin, it is a best Eczema treatment.
Read more on Home Remedies for Eczema and Home Remedies for Blackheads and also visit on Home Remedies for Cholesterol
Eczema Causes And Symptoms And Home Remedies To Preventing Eczema Or Dermatitis
Eczema is a complex skin condition and in most instances needs professional treatment. The natural therapies have an extremely good record in treating people with Eczema and given the problems associated with the long term. Regular use of steroid creams, there is a lot to be said for looking at other options.
Read more on Home Remedies for Eczema and Home Remedies for Blackheads and also visit on Home Remedies for Cholesterol
Causes of Eczema
Primary causes of Eczema are:
1.Hereditary factors. People who have relatives suffering from health problems such as hay fever or asthma are prone to eczema.
2.Irritants such as chemicals, smoke, solvents and detergents can aggravate eczema.
3.Excessive stress, emotional stress and heat can increase the symptoms of eczema.
4.Problems of blood circulation in the leg can cause eczema.
Symptoms of Eczema
Top Symptoms of Eczema are:
1.Itching.
2.Redness of skin.
3.Flaky and dry skin.
4.Inflammation of the skin.
5.Itchy blisters.
Preventing Eczema or Dermatitis
1.Chlorine is an abrasive chemical so avoid swimming in chlorinated pools.
2.Keep away from substances that you are allergic or hypersensitive.
3.Avoid contact with detergents, use dishwasher and clothes washer, and for bathing use mild soaps.
4.Apply unscented moisturizer to damp-skin immediately after bathing to seal moisture. Apply moisturizer regularly to your hands in cold weather, to keep them soft. Use cool-mist humidifier to moisten indoor air.
5.Use meditation or yoga to maintain emotional stability and to ward off dermatitis triggered by stress.
Home Remedies for Eczema
1.Itching on the areas that are affected by Eczema can be avoided by applying smashed papaya seeds on it.
2.Water treatments like cold compress and cold wet fomentations are very much beneficial in treating Eczema. Its frequency of application depends on the severity of the eczema.
3.One of the effective home remedy for eczema is applying a paste of turmeric and bitter neem leaves. This controls eczema to a greater extent.
4.A paste is formed by adding little camphor and few drops of sandalwood oil; this should be applied on the affected areas to lessen the effect of Eczema.
5.Sunbathing helps to kill the harmful bacteria that breed on the affected areas of the Eczema.
6.One of the best home remedy for Eczema is applying a light mudpack over the affected areas of Eczema.
7.Coconut oil can be applied on the affected areas of the Eczema; it helps you to cool down and to soften the affected region of the Eczema.
8.Make a paste of almond leaves and apply it on the affected skin, it is a best Eczema treatment.
Read more on Home Remedies for Eczema and Home Remedies for Blackheads and also visit on Home Remedies for Cholesterol