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Flower Power May Be Answer To Itchy Problem

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Article Date: 26 Jun 2012 – 1:00 PST Current ratings for:
Flower Power May Be Answer To Itchy Problem
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Sunflowers may hold the solution to a problem which gets under the skin of millions of Australians every year.

Skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, rosacea and the lesser-known Netherton Syndrome pose an itchy problem for many sufferers world-wide, but a group of researchers from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are looking at ways to soothe the problem – with tiny proteins called peptides, found in sunflowers.


Simon de Veer, a PhD student and researcher for QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) said his team was working to develop novel inhibitors for three skin proteases – enzymes which play an important role in the skin’s constant regeneration.


By engineering the peptide known as sunflower trypsin inhibitor (SFTI), and modifying its binding surface, researchers have designed inhibitors for three skin proteases, kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) 5, 7 and 14.http://www.eczemablog.net/


Mr de Veer said it is these inhibitors that are the missing piece of the puzzle for sufferers of skin conditions.


“Proteases in the skin are primarily involved with shedding old cells from the skin’s surface by breaking the connections which normally hold them together as part of a protective barrier,” he said.


“This requires a balancing mechanism to maintain regular skin structure and thickness.


“Too much activity leaves the skin more permeable than usual, meaning it is open to allergens, infection and water loss.”


The naturally occurring SFTI peptide is an effective inhibitor of a protease called trypsin, which resembles the kallikrein proteases in our skin.


“Our goal was to harness the built-in activity of SFTI and give the binding surface a bit of a facelift so it was better able to target skin proteases and help restore the skin to its original state.”


Mr de Veer said the research he has been working on at QUT would be evaluated and extended upon during an eight-month fellowship with Professor Alain Hovnanian, one of the world’s leading researchers in the field, at his laboratory at Hopital Necker in Paris.


The fellowship was funded by France’s Rene Touraine Foundation, a non-profit European organisation focused on supporting dermatological research, while Mr de Veer’s PhD research has received funding through the State Government’s Smart Futures PhD Scholarship Program.


“Professor Hovnanian’s research team has made countless, highly significant contributions to understanding the genetic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of skin disease,” he said.


“The outcomes of our experiments are likely to provide new insight into how proteases contribute to skin pathology and will potentially lead to new atopic treatments for sufferers of skin disease.”

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Source: Source: Queensland University of Technology
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posted by Ken Y on 28 Jun 2012 at 9:05 am

This, with other protein research, suggests an answer to the old joke about dermatologists never curing anything!


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‘Flower Power May Be Answer To Itchy Problem’

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Eczema Blog

Oral Allergy Syndrome: Are Fruits and Veggies Giving you an Itchy Mouth?

Another great post from itchylittleworld.com – Natural remedies for eczema to soothe your itchy little world..

Spring is upon us and that means pollen allergies come out to play. If you’re one of many dealing with seasonal allergies, you’ll want to check out this post on Oral Allergy Syndrome…especially if you’ve ever noticed you have an itchy mouth this time of year.

Oral Allergy Syndrome

Copyright© National Jewish Health. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

What Is Oral Allergy Syndrome?

Oral Allergy syndrome, also known as Pollen Food Syndrome, is a mild allergic reaction to fruits and vegetables that have similar proteins found in certain pollens. Some of the most common foods that cause this type of syndrome can be found here:

Oral Allergy Syndrome Food List

Spring (trees)

  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Cherry
  • Kiwis

Summer (grasses)

  • Cantaloupe
  • Tomatoes
  • Watermelon
  • Honeydew

Fall (weeds)

  • Bananas
  • Zucchini
  • Cucumber
  • Peaches

What Are the Signs of Oral Allergy Syndrome aka Pollen Food Syndrome?

If you already experience allergic reactions to common pollen allergens AND are experiencing swelling of the mouth or lips, itchy roof of mouth, tongue, or throat, especially after eating raw food, then you might have Oral Allergy Syndrome. Keep in mind that reactions from Pollen Food Syndrome are always mild, so if your symptoms get worse then it’s always best consulting an allergist for further testing and treatment. And if you have difficulty breathing or experience an emergency, call 911 directly.

How to Treat Oral Allergy Syndrome

Although you can take oral antihistamine medications to relieve mild symptoms, avoiding raw foods that cross-react with your pollen allergies might be the best choice. Take another look at the list above to identify which foods cross react with each pollen. Usually it’s pretty easy to identify which raw food is triggering a reaction, but in case it’s not, you can always run an elimination diet with the help of your physician, so that you can figure out which foods you are reacting to. To learn more about elimination diets, check out our post: Our Eczema Elimination Diet Success (How You Can Do It Too!).

Lastly, if you can’t seem to avoid the fruit or veggies trigging your itchy mouth, you can always cook the food to degrade the protein that causes the allergy or peel off the skin of the fruit or veggie since many fruit and vegetable proteins are concentrated in the skin.

More About Seasonal Allergies:

For natural treatment of your allergies, make sure to check out our post: Top Natural Remedies for Allergies.

If you think pollen allergies may be causing your eczema to flare-up, which is very comment, check out this post: How To Determine if Pollen Is Making Your Skin Flare-Up: The Eczema and Allergies Connection.

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Oral Allergy Syndrome: Are Fruits and Veggies Giving you an Itchy Mouth? appeared first on itchylittleworld.com. Come read more about natural remedies for eczema!

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New Itchy Skin Collection Gives Eczema Parents Something to Smile About

Montreal, QC (PRWEB) August 21, 2012

What do “Keep Calm and Carry Balm” and “Only My Smile is Contagious” have in common? Both are part of the new Itchy Skin Collection developed by Jennifer Roberge, owner of The Eczema Company and mother of two children with eczema. Ask any parent of a child with eczema and they’ll understand immediately why these two catch phrases won The Eczema Company’s contest searching for the best eczema related phrases.

Selena Bluntzer, of the blog Amazing & Atopic, is one such parent and a contest winner. “I think many of us have been out with our babies during an eczema flare-up and felt the eyes on our little one’s red, inflamed skin. There were times when I could almost hear other people’s thoughts and felt the urge to say, ‘No, it’s not contagious – it’s just eczema.’ I thought ‘Only My Smile is Contagious’ was a nice way of getting that across, without having to say a word,” states Bluntzer. When a child has severe eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, not only do strangers stare, but they often project a look of pity on the child and their irritated, sometimes infected, skin. Roberge and Bluntzer both agree that the Itchy Skin Collection will encourage people to smile rather than judge children with eczema or their parents. Eczema is stressful enough on families without having to deal with comments or discouraging looks from others.

Roberge debuted the eczema clothing line at the National Eczema Association’s Patient Conference in Atlanta during the last weekend in June. The feedback from eczema parents and physicians was outstanding. One physician enjoyed a knowing laugh before taking a photo to share with family and friends of a “Keep Calm and Cary Balm” infant bodysuit. The smiles and shared understanding from conference attendees were all Roberge could ask for since she knows first hand how difficult managing eczema can be for parents. “Eczema is so hard on families, both emotionally and physically. There are many sleepless nights, struggles as cream or medication is applied, and constant reminders to stop scratching. It all takes a toll on the child especially, but also the parents and siblings. My goal with this collection is to show my support for other families like ours.

The Itchy Skin Collection is available online exclusively at The Eczema Company. The children’s sized t-shirts, onesies, and bibs are made from 100% organic cotton and printed with eco-friendly dyes. They are crafted entirely in the USA.

About the Eczema Company:

The Eczema Company was created for families dealing with the daily emotional and physical strains of eczema. The online store provides ”products to help soothe your itchy little world” that include scratch protective clothing, healing jewelry, and natural, non-toxic skincare.

http://www.eczemacompany.com







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Eczema And Infants: An Itchy Problem

Eczema is a dermatological disorder, which means it affects the skin. It can cause redness, inflammation, red blotches plus general irritation and often creates a massive urge to scratch the afflicted area. Eczema in infants is quite common; doctors have identified children as being prone to the condition of atopic dermatitis. The condition can flare up as a result of environmental conditions such as heat and humidity, allergic reactions are also a factor in dermatits appearing.

The most commonly affected areas of the body are the elbows, inner folds of joints and behind the knee. The symptoms can vary from being slight; to the extent that they are barely noticeable, to more severe, with massive patches of affected skin. Eczema can be very painful; fortunately there are a number of ways in which it can be treated. This article will discuss both the natural and conventional treatment methods which have been proven to be effective.

A quick internet search will provide a number of home remedies which claim to be effective in the treatment of dermatitis. The common themes however are good diet, exposure to sunlight and the use of creams containing natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera and Chamomile. Eczema is considered by some to be caused by the body’s immune system’s over reaction to a bacteria found on the skin. Exposure to sunlight can help with this for some, though others find it too drying.

Some say that sunlight helps because it helps the body produce certain vitamins that can combat the skin irritation. It is important to remember to use sunlight in proportion. You should not expose yourself to the sun between 11am – 2pm, as the sunlight will be at its strongest and you may run the risk of being burnt. You should use sunscreen when out in the sun, generally one hour is long enough for your body to start to produce the vitamins you need. Moisturizing is very important for dermatitis, whether you are in the sun or not. Moisturizing with a lotion that doesn’t contain alcohol has been helpful for improvements. Omega 3 oils are another natural remedy for skin repair.

The most common medical treatments for infant eczema are hydrocortisone creams and stronger steroid creams. Steroid cream may be required for more severe symptoms and is known to provide fast acting relief. You should always consult a physician before treating any dermatitis in infants at home. Oral steroids are not generally given to very young children, though they may be prescribed for adults.

Learn more about Toddler Eczema and Skin Rashes.

More Infant Eczema Articles