Healthy Skin

The health of the skin is dependent on the nutrients it receives from the blood vessels in the underlying tissues. A characteristic of the skin is that it's particularly susceptible to outside influences, such as:

Contact with irritating substances including detergents or chemicals.
Sunlight exposure.

Deficiencies of many vitamins and minerals result in skin changes and a considerable number of skin diseases can be treated using nutritional methods which get to the root of the problem.

Information is presented below on on the following conditions:

acne,
psoriasis,
eczema, and
cold sores.

Acne

Acne is caused largely by the overproduction of sebum, an oily substance that causes the pores of the skin to become blocked, resulting in spots or pimples. They are found on the face, though they may extend to the shoulders, back, arms and chest. The condition is particularly common in the adolescent years due to hormonal changes.

It is thought that acne may be caused by deficiencies of:

vitamin A,
vitamin B6,
essential fatty acids,
zinc and or
vitamin E.

Other factors associated with acne include:

food allergies and intolerances,
a sluggish liver,
a high fat diet,
hormones and
the contraceptive pill.

What you can do to help

Eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible, preferably raw and reduce your intake of wheat and fatty foods.
Take a zinc supplement (30mg every day).
Vitamin B6 supplement is useful for premenstrual acne.
Take a good antioxidant that includes vitamins A, C and E along with selenium.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a non-contagious skin condition that commonly affects the knees, elbow and scalp but it may occur in other areas (although rarely on the face). Bright pink, raised patches covered with white scales appear on the skin. The complaint is caused by an over production of the epidermal cells and may be triggered by stress.

Some cases of psoriasis are made worse by:

the consumption of alcohol;
the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables in the diet;
nutritional deficiencies, including:
- folic acid,
- selenium,
- zinc, and
- calcium;
a sluggish liver.

What you can do to help

Avoid alcohol.
Undertake measures to manage stress levels (see ...).
Eat as much fresh fruit and vegetables as possible.
Avoid eating wheat, oats, barley and rye, to which you may have a sensitivity.
Increase your intake of essential fatty acids, particularly omega 3 (this is well known to help psoriasis).
Increase your intake of fish oils or take a daily supplement of four to six capsules.
Take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement, with extra zinc (30 mg per day) selenium (50 mcg per day) and vitamin E in dry form (400 IU three times daily).

Eczema

Eczema involves inflamed and itchy skin. The skin becomes red, flaky and may develop tiny blisters. There are many types of eczema including:

contact eczema, caused by sensitivity to an allergen, such as a detergent, perfume, plant, metal or even an item of clothing, and
atrophic eczema associated with allergies such as hay fever, asthma and sometimes migraine.

Some of the common causes of eczema are:

stress,
allergies to foods, including wheat and sugars,
allergies to other substances including the body's perspiration, and
deficiencies in essential fatty acids and zinc.

What you can do to help

Alter what you eat to eliminate foods that you may be sensitive to. These can include:

citrus foods,
cow's milk,
eggs,
wheat, and
artificial colorings.

Additionally, it may be very helpful to:

use a non-biological laundry detergent,
wear cotton or other natural fiber clothing,
try to control your stress levels (also see ...)
take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement,
take extra vitamin B complex and zinc (at 30 mg per day).

Remember that fish oils and evening primrose oil have been shown to reduce itching and generally improve the condition in a large percentage of sufferers.

Cold sores

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. These painful blisters appear around the mouth. The virus may lie dormant in the body and only flare up when the immune system is under stress. Cold sores are contagious and care should be taken not to spread them to other parts of the body or to other people.

Cold sores are usually precipitated by:

stress,
fatigue,
a poor diet (even short term),
illness, and
in some women, they occur premenstrually.

What you can do to help

Increase your intake of vitamin C (600 - 1000 mg together with bioflavonoids 600 -1000 mg daily) and garlic. These will encourage the immune system and prevent attacks. (Also see ...)
Take measures to keep stress under control. (also see..)
Use a sunscreen on the lips to prevent them from becoming burnt.
Zinc will promote healing (take 30 mg daily).
Take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement.
Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and eat fresh natural yogurt to get some extra acidophilus to promote the growth of healthy bowel bugs.
The use of an ointment containing 8% lithium and 0.05% zinc sulphate, together with a small quantity of vitamin E may be of assistance.
The amino acid lysine (300 - 1200 mg daily ) together with a diet that is low in peanuts, chocolate, seeds and cereals is effective in treating cold sores.

References

Bland, J. 1996, Contemporary Nutrition. J & B Associates.

Davies, S. and A. Stewart., 1997, Nutritional Medicine. Pan.

Holden, S., Hudson, K., Tilman, J. & D. Wolf, 2003, The Ultimate Guide to Health from Nature. Asrolog Publication.

Pressman, A. and S. Buff, 2000, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. (2nd Ed.) Alpha Books.

Soothill, R. 1996, The Choice Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. A Choice Book Publication.

Sullivan, K. 2002, Vitamins and Minerals: A Practical Approach to a Health Diet and Safe Supplementation. Harper Collins.