Re: Battle with Seborrheic Dermatitis - ANY advice and help would be appreciated!

Hello Longhorn,

Seborrheic Dermatitis is a type of eczema where the oil glands of the skin are affected. In skin, there are two types of glands: sweat glands and oil glands. The sweat glands release sweat as a temperature regulator for the body, and also releases toxic waste. The oil glands, which open up into the hair follicles, produces an oily substance for moisturization of the skin and to keep the hair smooth and silky. The oil glands are also called sebaceous glands. Another derivative of that word is Seborrhea, which means "flow of oil". Thus, when you hear the term Seborrheic Dermatitis , you know that the oil glands; as opposed to the sweat glands, are directly involved.

The sub-classifications of these different types of eczema are for the purpose of identifying the eczema more specifically. Seborrheic Dermatitis is still eczema. It still represents a toxic release. It still signals an overwhelmed immune system due to the toxic activity. The flareup is still being caused or promoted by the toxins overwhelming the system; and therefore, identification of the toxins promoting the flareup is necessary.

The sub-classifications of the different types of eczema help in the identification process (identification of the allergen/irritant). For example; in contact allergic eczema, you know that an external substance making contact with the skin promoted the flareup. Poison ivy contact is an example of an external substance that would promote this type of dermatitis or eczema. With seborrheic dermatitis, you can begin to pinpoint the culprit of the irritation to that of an internal source, usually brought about by diet. With seborrheic dermatitis sufferers, a diet that favors saturated fats, processed sugars, and junk food is a major contributor to the imbalance. That diet promotes candida growth, which increases histamine activity and causes an eczema flareup. Candida yeast will travel to the most vulnerable areas of a persons body and promote the irritation. The weak points in an individual varies from individual to individual. With sebhorrheic dermatitis, the sebaceous glands or oil glands seem to be the most vulnerable points of attack. The most abundant areas of the oil glands in a human body are the scalp, sides of the nose, behind the ears, and the center of the chest. This is why your flareups are in the areas you've mentioned.

When diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis, your physician should definitely address the need to consume a diet rich in fiber. Fiber helps to eliminate candida overgrowth. In addition, the physician should also mention the need to replenish your essential fatty acids and vitamin E levels through diet; due to the fact that these essential nutrients help the skin/skin cells to retain moisture. In addition, that physician should definitely address the overabundance of saturated fats and processed sugars in the diet of seborrheic dermatitis sufferers; especially since they have established that this is a common denominator amongst sufferers of seborrheic dermatitis.

With seborrheic dermatitis, the oily substance that is normally released for moisture replenishment is consequently being released as a yellowish/pusslike substance. This type of release indicates the overactive immune activity, (as a result of battling germs or toxins), that's taking place. When toxins or germs enter the body, the white blood cells go to battle against them. The pusslike substance is the consequence of such a battle. The fact that the oil glands of seborrheic dermatitis sufferers releases a yellowish or pusslike substance gives the indication that a battle, in that area, has taken place. It can also reveal candida overgrowth. In addition, the seborrheic dermatitis reaction also indicates the deficiencies that are evident; and therefore, are in need of replenishing.

For you, a focus on a diet rich in fiber and in the other essential nutrients, of which you are deficient, is essential. By implementing a diet rich the whole foods needed to replenish your deficient nutrients, you can restore balance to your system and promote the healing you desire. To help you in understanding what those deficiencies are, you can take a look at the following website: http://www.wholehealthmd.com Green vegetables (like brocolli, spinach, collard, & kale) which are rich sources of both the fiber and the beta carotene needed to boost your immune health, will be essential to restoring the balance and improving the health of your skin.

In addition an internal cleanse is definitely in order. Based on what you've mentioned regarding the vast amount of information on cleanses and your being overwhelmed by that information, I think that the Internal Cleanse by Nature's Medicine may be a good system for you to start with as your first attempt at cleansing. I checked out the website and it is still running. Here's the web address again: http://www.allnaturalcleanse.com

Regarding your skin care, you want natural skin care products that will replenish the deficient nutrients to promote the healing. Those things that you will want to look for in your products are essential fatty acid sources like borage oil or safflower oil for moisture replenishment, vitamin E for moisture replenishment & regulation of the exfoliation process, vitamin C for anti-oxidant & natural anti-histamine functions, and beta carotene sources, (like carrots or apricots), for their immune boosting properties. Burt's Bees products have a good line of skin care. Shikai is another brand of skin care that you can choose. With both of these product lines, you should consider the shampoos and conditioners in the process as well. In addition, there is a skin care line called Forever Spring that carries a face cream, (called Ginseng Facial Feed & Vitamin C complex?). I may be a little off on the name, (I'll have to check back with you on that); however, it contains a good combination of the essential nutrients listed above in its ingredients. There are a multitude of natural products available; but because each individual is different, you will need to find your right fit. I provide you with a variety of options; not so that you will go out and purchase everything I've mentioned, but so that you can examine them for yourself and make a decision according to your own peace.

If you've read my postings, you may be familiar with the 3 word phrase I coined to help direct people in healing eczema: internal, external, and foreign. Internal refers to restoration of the immune health through healthy Diet and internal cleansing. External refers to rehydration of the skin through natural skin care. And finally, foreign refers to identification and removal of the allergen irritant. In seborrheic dermatitis sufferers, 1 & 3 (internal & foreign) are addressed simultaneously when the internal is addressed. To explain, since the internal factors (un healthy Diet leaning heavily toward processed sugars and fats that promote candida overgrowth) are promoting the flareups, by addressing your dietary needs, you've also addressed the foreign cause of the discomfort.

Another thing that you will need to address is your household water system. If chlorine or fluoride is a part of your system, you will need to filter out those chemicals; so that they don't further irritate your skin. What often happens with eczema is that a domino effect can occur. An initial cause of the effect of eczema can perpetuate an atmosphere for other causative agents, simply because the first cause has made a person vulnerable to additional flareups due to the weakened state of the immune health in certain areas. For example, and in your case, your first cause of the effect of eczema could be diet (promoting seborrheic dermatitis); which would then promote a second causative agent like chlorine or fluoride (promoting contact allergic dermatitis) to be an additional foreign instigator as a result of those toxins making contact with an already vulnerable weak point. They are both still eczema reactions: one describes more of an internal cause; whereas, the other describes a direct external cause.

The biggest help for me in understanding how to heal the skin of eczema was to understand the skin and how it worked. I found out what was deficient and worked to replenish those deficiencies through whole food sources and plenty of water. Many times the solution has been much more simple to fix than doctors would have you believe. To use an automobile analogy; it may be that the wrong fuel in your gas tank is promoting the frequent breakdowns. Diesel fuel in an unleaded gas tank will cause the car to break down. The solution is to simply add the right fuel to the tank. In other words, replenish what is deficient and watch the car go. A lot of times with the human body, regarding disease, too much of the wrong fuel (food) is being placed in the body, promoting deficiencies in the right nutrients and promoting the body to break down. In those cases, the most important thing that is needed is not a medication to suppress the symptoms; but rather, what is needed is the right food to replenish the deficient nutrients and promote the healing.

aunty







Tweet