Cleansing | Is Eczema Curable? Find Out What Can Cure Eczema PermanentlyIs Eczema Curable? Find Out What Can Cure Eczema Permanently

Last week, we briefly looked at the different types of surfactants and understand their functions. This week, we’re looking deeper into baby skin and the research around cleansing baby skin.

Baby Skin Structural Vulnerabilities

In the Skin Fact series, we’ve discussed much about baby skin structural differences. Below is a recap of certain baby skin characteristics that increase its vulnerability during skin cleansing:

Higher transepidermal water loss due to thinner stratum corneum – More vulnerable to water loss during bathing and skin barrier breakdown when there’s excessive friction (from over-washing or from rubbing skin when toweling dry).

High surface-area to volume ratio – along with a thinner stratum corneum and immature drug matebolism, make baby skin more vulnerable to harmful chemicals used during bathing

Less total lipids – make it vulnerable to further reduction of skin lipids lost during washing

Cleansing Baby Skin – Research on What’s Best

From a search on Pubmed for review articles on the research for baby skin cleansing, there’s actually not much research on it. From a 2009 European round table meeting, the consensus is:

Learning about cleansers for Baby Skin

Liquid cleansers in bathing are beneficial over water alone – Water cannot remove dirt, oil that can only be removed by oil. Prolonged washing with water dries the skin and depending on the pH of the water itself, it may be more alkaline than the natural pH of the skin.
Liquid cleanser are preferred, rather than soap which alters the skin pH and affect the skin lipids, increase skin drying and irritation – Learn more about soap and its impact on skin pH in the skin pH series. The pH of skin can affect its skin lipids, which (a lower skin lipids) in turn causes drying, itchiness and skin inflammation.
Liquid cleanser should be mild, non-irritating, non-stinging (especially to the eyes as babies may not be able to blink fast enough) and non-pH altering, and contains moisturizing function

For cleansing of baby’s skin, I’ve found two other articles that offer recommendation on what’s best for baby skin.

Extracted from http://www.hindawi.com/journals/drp/2012/198789/tab2/ – Review article on The Infant Skin Barrier: Can We Preserve, Protect, and Enhance the Barrier?

Apart from the three points above, additional points are:

4. Avoid Anionic Surfactants, these are those that cleanse very well but most irritating to skin, an easy way to identify them is to look out for those chemicals ending with Sulfates.

5. Choose those with large head groups and have the ability to form larger micelles. Surfactants organize into groups of molecules called micelles and generally the larger these micelles are, the less irritating the surfactant is. This is related to larger micelles being less able to penetrate the outer layer of skin (stratum corneum).

6. No preservatives is not best as bacterial growth can happen in such products

7. No scent does not mean no fragrance (potential irritant) is used, it can be one fragrance masking that of another.

Why Baby Skin needs Cleansing

Just like last week we asked the question ‘Why not just use water to clean?‘ (because 40% of dirt, oil can only be removed by oil), we also have to understand why baby skin needs cleansing. Baby skin has saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, germs and dirt which can potentially irritate the skin when left on the skin. It is also possible that both skin allergy and the body (ie food allergy) can develop from foods being left on the skin for too long. It is therefore important to clean baby skin. However, baby skin, given its structural vulnerabilities, should not be over-washed and to avoid using baby wipes on face or baby wipes that are non-hypoallergenic, especially those containing fragrance and MI.

Next week, I’d (make a brave) attempt to look into how surfactants affect skin and in particular, impact on eczema skin. It’s a very ‘chemical’ topic and not easy, so appreciate if there’s feedback to improve on the blog post, and share your best cleanser!

References

Eczema Blues

Juice detox for eczema

Today I popped in to see Sonia and David at Today Extra at the Nine Network studios to chat about juice cleansing. I was surprised to find out David sufferers from eczema (it’s very mild, just on his hand).

Here are my top tips for juicing for good health and clear skin.

David Campbell, Karen Fischer and Sonia Kruger

WHAT IS A JUICE CLEANSE?

A juice cleanse or fast is a period of time where you omit foods and only consume freshly made juices and filtered water. People often use ingredients such as watermelon, oranges, grapefruit, kale, lettuce, carrots, ginger and apples in their juices and it can cause a range of detox reactions and side-effects. However, fans of juice fasting claim it’s great for weight loss, appetite reduction, rehydration and it “rests” the stomach, liver and gut allowing time for repair. It can also be alkalising and help to restore acid alkaline balance to the body. So what are the facts?

Juice cleansing for healthy skin, weight loss and detoxification… does it live up to the hype and are some juices actually good for conditions such as eczema? Here are the top 5 dos and don’ts for juicing.

THE TOP 5 DON’TS FOR JUICE CLEANSING:

1. Don’t juice too many fruits. Juice fasting can be beneficial if you choose the right ingredients. However, fruit juice is high in acid and fructose so avoid fruits such as oranges, kiwi fruit, strawberries, apples and most other fruits. Fruit juice can worsen conditions such as eczema and chronic fatigue syndrome, and it can trigger migraines, insomnia, hypoglacemia and hyperactivity. That is because most fruits are acid-promoting, rich in salicylates and sugars (fructose).

2. Don’t use grapefruit. Grapefruit contains naringin which is a flavonoid that inhibits liver detoxification. In fact, it can block the normal metabolism and breakdown of prescribed medications and alcohol as it blocks cytochome P450 (read the research here). So if you are taking medication, grapefruit could cause accidental overdose or drug medicines or alcohol. Favour other ingredients in your juicing (and once you have finished your health cleanse, don’t mix grapefruit with alcohol).

3. Don’t juice everything. If you have eczema, your skin will flare up on a juice cleanse if you choose the wrong ingredients. The worst juice ingredients for eczema include spinach, kale, tomato, oranges, grapes, kiwi fruit and pineapple, because they are very rich in salicylates, a natural pesticide made by many fruits and vegetables which can worsen eczema and trigger migraines, hyperactivity, insomnia, anxiety, depression and other mood disorders according to research (read the research here). See the juice recipe, below for a low-salicylate juice that is beneficial for the skin.

4. Don’t do a juice cleanse if you are frail, underweight or on medications as it could be counter-productive. If you are unwell and really want to do a juice fast you could alternatively do a medically supervised one or follow our tips, below.

5. You don’t have to go “food-free”. Juice cleansing should be a gentle, everyday practice. For example, drink one juice daily, added to a healthy diet.

In The Eczema Diet I recommend doing a 3-day cleanse that includes juicing, salads and soups so your metabolism is boosted not suppressed.

TOP 5 DOS FOR JUICE CLEANSING:

1. Juice more vegetables and less fruits. Purists can omit fruit all together. It will be more alkalising and less acidic, which is one of the main benefits of a well-designed juice cleanse.

2. Choose low-salicylate fruits and vegetables, especially if you suffer from eczema, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, anxiety, depression (and other mood problems), sleep problems or hyperactivity. See the Healthy Skin Juice recipe, below.

You can also instantly download, for free, the Complete Salicylate Food Charts when you sign up to my website (sign up here). You can use the charts to see which foods and drinks are best for your skin.

3. Do a short juice cleanse – three days is long enough. Then slowly add healthy foods back into your diet.

4. Add soups to your detox cleansing regime. Try this Detox Soup recipe >>

5. Get plenty of rest. You may feel tired and irritable as your body cleanses itself of toxins and chemicals that may have been stored in your tissues. During a detox these chemicals are released into the bloodstream for deactivation by the liver, so they can be safely removal via the kidneys and bile.

So rest, relax and avoid vigorous exercise while doing a juice cleanse, and you’ll reap the benefits of clearer, healthier skin.

HEALTHY SKIN JUICE RECIPE

This recipe is ideal for people with skin disorders such as eczema, topical steroid withdrawal, red skin syndrome, psoriasis, dermatitis and hives. It’s a low-salicylate juice so it won’t trigger itchy skin, rashes, migraines or sleep disturbances like normal juices can.

The sprouts are highly alkalising – ensure they are fresh and washed thoroughly. Only use fresh ones, preferably home grown – omit them if you are unsure. Only use these ingredients, not other types of sprouts.

Ingredients

1 large, ripe peeled pear (the peel contains salicylates)
4 stalks celery
1/2 head of iceberg lettuce
Optional: 1 cup mung bean sprouts or lentil sprouts
Optional: 1/2 cup of parsley (not too much)
1-2 scoops of Skin Friend AM

Method: Juice all fruit and vegetable ingredients in a juicer. Stir in Skin Friend AM. Then drink your way to healthy skin!

DO I NEED SKIN FRIEND AM IN MY ECZEMA JUICING PROGRAM?

For people with eczema we recommend Skin Friend AM and Calcium Matrix PM which are available in a kit. For the complete skin health program, see our information on The Eczema Diet and Skin Friend.