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Pet Allergies and Eczema: Is it Time to Switch to a Pet-Free Home?

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

By Laura Dolgy (see bio below)

Do you adore animals, but you’re terribly allergic to them? If dogs, cats, or any other animals cause you or your children major allergies,  it might be time to consider giving the pet to a new home. Why put yourself or your children through the torture of allergies, eczema, or asthma, if it can be avoided? But the idea isn’t ever an easy one. After all, our pets are really part of our family, how can we imagine saying goodbye?

In our post this week, we take a deeper look at pet allergies and eczema, as well as the tough decision to possibly switch to a pet-free home.

Please keep in mind that although these treatments can relieve eczema, we are in no way medical professionals. If you’re experiencing severe eczema symptoms like fever or an infection, it is best to seek medical advice immediately.

Pet Dander and Eczema and the Hypoallergenic Pet Myth

Before answering that tough question, let’s first consider whether eczema can truly be caused by pets. As mentioned in What Triggers Eczema? With Dr. Peter Lio, a major contributor of eczema symptoms are allergens – including pet allergens. When focusing on health conditions like eczema, allergies, and asthma, one of the most common allergens is pet dander. Dander is actually the animal version of dandruff! Dander is usually the cause of most animal allergies because it is so easily spreadable. It can attach itself easily to clothing or be inhaled.

Dander can appear in almost all animals, but that does not mean that dander among all species is equal. For example the dander levels between a heavily furred dog and a rabbit are very different.

Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog or furry animal. Curly haired dogs produce next to no fur, but does that mean the most common allergen, dander, is reduced to? Not necessarily according to Mayo Clinic “Some dog breeds are marketed as hypoallergenic because they don’t shed fur or they shed very little. Because these dogs don’t shed, the allergy-causing dander that sticks to their fur doesn’t get released into the air or onto the floor as much as with a shedding dog. But while you may have less dog hair with a nonshedding dog, no dog breed is hypoallergenic.”

But what if it’s not dander? You may also be allergic to a pet’s saliva and if you are unable to train your pet not to lick you and give you kisses, then saliva is a hard allergen to avoid. In our previous blog post: Pet Alternatives for People with Animal Allergies, we look at some other allergens that might be triggering your eczema.

Whatever the cause – once you learn which animal allergen is triggering your eczema, you’ll be able to work toward a more effective plan of managing your reactions.

What if I’m Not Ready to Give Away my Pet?

Giving away an animal is never easy and believe us – it’s something we do not encourage unless it is absolutely necessary. In fact – we encourage you to explore ALL other options before giving away your pet! Below, you’ll find a few suggestions on treatments and practices that can help you live a better (and less itchy) life with your furry pal.

Treatments

Nasal Irrigation

Do you have mild or moderate allergies to your pet? If so, most commonly you’ll experience watery eyes and a runny nose. If you happen to feel constant congestion, then working some nasal irrigation into your daily routine can drastically help you control those symptoms.

One of the most popular systems for nasal irrigation happens to be a Neti Pot. Many people who suffer from allergic rhinitis swear by this device because it is quite effective at removing mucus or dirt that may fall into the nasal cavity, like dander.

Homeopathy

If you happen to suffer from eczema caused by dogs or cats, then you might want to look into what homeopathic remedies can help you. Homeopathy is a great natural solution for eczema and allergy symptoms. Although, it’s always best to seek medical advice and visit with a homeopath, there are a few types you can try specifically for pet allergies such as Allium Cepa.

Antihistamines (Stinging Nettle)

Although we would never recommend over the counter antihistamines, as they are not a safe long-term solution, there are some natural antihistamines that can be used to suppress pet allergies. Surprisingly, the herb, stinging nettle is a fantastic antihistamine and can be used for eczema, hay fever and inflammation. We recommend opting for freeze-dried stinging nettle pills like this one, as the freeze-dried versions seem to react better to allergens.

Moisturize

There are also several natural topical remedies that can help one’s eczema from pet allergies. Because eczema affects the skin barrier, you want to make sure to keep the area well moisturized in order to avoid inflammation and infection.

However, because there are many types of eczema, you want to make sure to opt for a moisturizer that is made just for the type of skin symptoms you are experiencing.

  • Itchy Eczema – The most common form of eczema for allergens is usually itchy, dry eczema. This type of eczema appears as red, itchy and sometimes flaky patches. Essentially the skin barrier is lacking moisture. For a deep moisturizing treatment, make sure to try Emily Skin Soothers for Itchy Eczema which uses both olive oil and beeswax to soothe dry, itchy skin.
  • Red Weeping Eczema – If your skin is inflamed, red or weeping, then moisturizing skin can be a little difficult. Not only can the affected area be painful, but it is most likely extremely sensitive. If you’re suffering from weeping, red eczema, then make sure to check out EczeHerbal #1 – Oozing Eczema Treatment. This treatment uses specific Chinese Herbs to calm weeping skin and prevent further infection. Another really good one is Emily’s Hot Skin Soother.
  • Scaly Eczema – Lastly, scaly, dry eczema also requires sufficient moisturizing to eliminate further infection. This type of eczema usually appears as “crocodile skin” and can easily be calmed with a variety of deep moisturizing treatments like this Organic Manuka Honey Skin Soothing Cream. This cream is full of nourishing ingredients such as beeswax, Manuka honey and Manuka oil to keep skin well moisturized.

Practices

Pet Bedding and Food

If you’re dead set on not giving up your pet, then you may want to look into whether your pet’s bedding or food might actually be causing your eczema to flare. Cleaning your furry pal’s bedding or usual hangouts can actually reduce the spread of dander and can perhaps decrease your chances of eczema flareups.

Here are a couple daily tasks you can adopt to eliminate the spread of dander, as well as possibly reduce the onset of nasty allergies:

  • Dust and vacuum frequently.
  • Have the dog bathed regularly.
  • Keep the pets out of the bedrooms and always off beds and sofas.
  • Use an air purification unit specifically made to filter out pollens, dander, and dust.

Lastly – if you haven’t checked out your pet’s food – you might want to do so as soon as possible. For people that suffer from a shellfish allergy, some pet foods can wreak absolute havoc on your system, even if you’re not the one consuming it. Gluten and soy are major fillers used in dog food as well. Make sure to check the label and ditch the food if you think it might be the main culprit of your eczema.

If you’re not able to find relief after conducting all of the above – then maybe it’s time to really consider making a pet-free home. As we already mentioned, it’s NEVER easy giving up a pet and we never recommend it unless it’s absolutely necessary. However, is it really fair to make yourself or others suffer? Think about your pet too! Shouldn’t they deserve to be cared by someone who can give them 100%? Honestly – it stinks and it’s never an easy decision, but it’s important to consider the bigger picture.

Alternatively, if your family is looking to bring home a pet, then it’s always best to do some allergy-free research beforehand! If dogs seem to trigger a reaction, try another animal, not all animal allergies are the same. It’s also great to research some alternatives to pets that do not have dander such as reptiles, fish, and some types of birds.

Whichever option you choose, remember that your health or your family’s health is just as important!

Do you suffer from pet allergies and eczema? Let us know how you handle it in the comments below!

Bio: Laura is a contributor and content developer for It’s An Itchy Little World. She is in no way a medical professional. Her comments, suggestions, and reflections are not intended to replace any medical advice. Always seek the help of a medical professional before undertaking any diet or lifestyle changes. Please see It’s An Itchy Little World’s disclaimer for information about affiliate links and more.

Pet Allergies and Eczema: Is it Time to Switch to a Pet-Free Home? appeared first on itchylittleworld.com. Come read more about natural remedies for eczema!

itchylittleworld.com

No Time for Exercise? How about 3 minutes?

Are you tight for time and want to try Pilates?

 “I don’t have 10 minutes to myself” sound like you? To busy to book in at a club, drive to the club, and attend a class….

I know that time is precious and on occasion it’s a struggle to book into classes. So provided you can find a little space and less that 10 minutes for yourself, Try my 3 minute Pilates videos!

The Pilates Method has many benefits. improved Posture is a strengthening muscles that stabilize the spine pelvis and rib cage (Inner unit muscles) lengthen tight muscles.

Setting up a natural/neutral spine while in the supine position is important… Follow these steps below to get a spot on spine in supine!

Follow my Facebook page for further technique ques on 3 minute Pilates. 👌 👍 ☯️

https://www.facebook.com/MarkWestbrookPeakPersonalFitness/

Neutral/Natural Spine Alignment Ques.

1, Knees bent at approx 90 degrees feet hip width apart. Arms by your side, using your hand as a guide, allow the lower back to lift and fall then settle. To do this you can rock the rib cage up/down and tilt the pelvis forward/backwards. The low back should have a little or no arch, the hand should feel a little pressure. Remove the hand and place by your side.

2. Drop the shoulders backwards and allow them to relax. Place the palms facing upwards. Look to have an even amount of weight through upper back and lengthen the neck via the crown of the head. Imagine a string is lengthening your spine through the crown of he head.

Breath is a major part of Pilates so this is also covered in a video on my Facebook page.

talkhealth Blog

5 great books for holiday ‘you time’

The holidays offer some time to unwind and recalibrate before the calendar flips to the new year. If you enjoy reading, here are five recommendations we hope will resonate with you, inspire you, and maybe move you into the New Year with just a little more insight and enthusiasm.
Dermatology Times – Dermatology

The Acai Berry – A Waste of Time Or Not?

The tree is fast growing, which is just as well as demand has grown rapidly since publicity began a few years back.

This little berry is portrayed as the number 1 super food, but why? About 5 years back a Dr. Perricone published a book where he stated it was the no. 1 super food. “Studies have shown this little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world” he wrote. Dr. Perricone then went onto appear on Oprah and talk about what he had written.

The berry is full of antioxidants, healthy Omega fats, nutrients and vitamins. It’s considered a super food as it has a complete nutrition profile. Because of this, it’s considered to be beneficial to your health and your cardiovascular system, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease. Whilst many people have said red wine is considered good for you, this berry has been claimed to contain far more ‘anthocyanins’. A study done by the University of Florida and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry demonstrated that antioxidants from the acai berry triggered a self destruct response to 86% of cultured Leukemia cancer cells tested. So is it beneficial to cancer?

The fruit is considered of high economic value to the regions where it is harvested, making up a major part of their diet. The Acai is widely consumed for example, in Brazil. Some examples include mixing it with Granola, as a juice, or even as an Ice Cream.

It is now being widely promoted as a dietary supplement, and beneficial to weight loss. One has to be very careful which claims to believe for the product to date, as there are a number of conflicting reports. Certainly omega fats are good for you in which case should benefit your good cholesterol, so too antioxidants are good for you. There are reports that claim it is beneficial to the aging process due to the amino acids and minerals that are contained.

Acai Berry juice is becoming more widely available, just ensure it’s 100% juice, with no added sugar. Look for products frozen quickly after harvesting otherwise a lot of the goodness will have disappeared.

We will keep a keen eye on the reports and research to see how this develops.

Lana Soko is passionate about health and writes for http://www.lose-weight-with-us.com

More Atopic Dermatitis Articles

The Inflammatory Mechanism Involved In Sunburn Described For The First Time

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Main Category: Dermatology
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines;??Eczema / Psoriasis
Article Date: 10 Jul 2012 – 0:00 PST Current ratings for:
The Inflammatory Mechanism Involved In Sunburn Described For The First Time
5 stars4 stars
The biological mechanism of sunburn – the reddish, painful, protective immune response from ultraviolet (UV) radiation – is a consequence of RNA damage to skin cells, report researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and elsewhere in the Advance Online Publication of Nature Medicine.

The findings open the way to perhaps eventually blocking the inflammatory process, the scientists said, and have implications for a range of medical conditions and treatments. http://www.eczemablog.net/


“For example, diseases like psoriasis are treated by UV light, but a big side effect is that this treatment increases the risk of skin cancer,” said principal investigator Richard L. Gallo, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. “Our discovery suggests a way to get the beneficial effects of UV therapy without actually exposing our patients to the harmful UV light. Also, some people have excess sensitivity to UV light, patients with lupus, for example. We are exploring if we can help them by blocking the pathway we discovered.”


Using both human skin cells and a mouse model, Gallo, first author Jamie J. Bernard, a post-doctoral researcher, and colleagues found that UVB radiation fractures and tangles elements of non-coding micro-RNA – a special type of RNA inside the cell that does not directly make proteins. Irradiated cells release this altered RNA, provoking healthy, neighboring cells to start a process that results in an inflammatory response intended to remove sun-damaged cells.


We see and feel the process as sunburn.


“The inflammatory response is important to start the process of healing after cell death,” said Gallo. “We also believe the inflammatory process may clean up cells with genetic damage before they can become cancer. Of course, this process is imperfect and with more UV exposure, there is more chance of cells becoming cancerous.”


Gallo said it’s still not known how gender, skin pigmentation and individual genetics may affect the mechanism of sunburn. “Genetics is closely linked to the ability to defend against UV damage and develop skin cancers,” he said. “We know in our mouse genetic models that specific genes will change how the mice get sunburn. Humans have similar genes, but it is not known if people have mutations in these genes that affect their sun response.”

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click ‘references’ tab above for source.
Visit our dermatology section for the latest news on this subject. Jamie J. Bernard is currently at the Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University. Other co-authors are Christopher Cowing-Zitron, Teruakai Nakatsuji, Beda Muehleisen, Jun Muto, Andrew W. Borkowski and Benjamin D. Yu, Division of Dermatology, UC San Diego; Laisel Martinez, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and Eric L. Greidinger, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Division of Rheumatology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Funding for this research came, in part, from National Institutes of Health grants R01-AR052728, R01-A1052453 and R01-A10833358, a Veteran Affairs Merit Award, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Training Grant ES007148 and NIEHS Center Grant ES005022, Department of Veterans Affairs, NIH AR48805 and the Lupus Research Institute.
University of California – San Diego Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

University of California – San Diego. “The Inflammatory Mechanism Involved In Sunburn Described For The First Time.” Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 10 Jul. 2012. Web.
7 Apr. 2013. APA

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‘The Inflammatory Mechanism Involved In Sunburn Described For The First Time’

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Eczema Blog

What is the recovery time for knee realignment surgery?

Like any type of surgery, it’s useful to know the recovery time so you can make any necessary changes or arrangements for your care. So, how long does it take to recover from knee realignment surgery? Find out more about what the procedure involves and how this affects recovery time from Prof Adrian Wilson, one of the Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons specialising in knee realignment surgery at BMI The Hampshire Clinic.

What is knee realignment surgery?

An osteotomy (knee realignment surgery) is carried out to change weight-bearing away from the damaged part of the knee and is especially good in younger, more active patients. A knee realignment surgery can be carried out for several reasons; however, the most common is to take pressure off a damaged part of the knee to relieve pain. It will also help restore function of the knee without having to have the whole knee replaced.

What does a knee realignment surgery involve?

First, the limb is analysed with special x-rays, which are loaded into a software programme and this is used to plan to within a millimetre how much the bone needs to be opened or closed just below or less commonly above the knee.

Specially designed instruments are used to allow this procedure to be carried out quickly, accurately and safely. A precise cut is made in the bone and a wedge alters the angulation; the new position is then fixed with a plate and screws.

How long does it take to recover from surgery?

Like any operation, the recovery time for an osteotomy procedure varies, however some patients can fully bear the weight from day 1 and can usually get back to work by 4-6 weeks; patients undergoing a knee replacement, often go back to work between 6 and 12 weeks after surgery. You’ll have regular follow-up visits with your consultant to monitor your recovery.

Recovery time after knee realignment surgery can vary depending on a range of factors including:

  • Whether the surgery was closed wedge (removing bone) or open wedge (inserting bone)
  • Size and location of the wedge of bone that was either inserted or removed
  • The patient’s overall health and any complications during surgery

Professor Adrian Wilson:

Professor Wilson runs a bespoke research team that follows up all of his osteotomy patients, collection of both clinical information and patient reported outcome measures. It is from these results that they draw conclusions about their surgery and present their data.

What are the benefits of knee realignment?

A knee realignment procedure is joint preserving and can be highly successful. Osteotomy can be life changing for patients with both early wear and tear and bone on bone arthritis. With people living much longer and with a limited life expectancy of a joint replacement, we believe everything should be done to preserve the knee and knee function for as long as possible.

What is the success rate?

From personal results, 80% of patients with knee replacements are happy with the outcome. Our research has confirmed an overall patient satisfaction score of 8.5/10 on over 1000 patients. This is in line with other outcome studies.

You can find out more about knee realignment surgery, including risks and side effects in BMI Healthcare’s consultant Q&A with Professor Adrian Wilson. Alternatively you can find out more about joint pain and download their free guide here.

talkhealth Blog