Re: help me please......eczema
First and most importantly, Elidel has been linked to skin cancer and lymphoma. This is why it carries a "black box warning".
The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is a porous organ; and therefore, what you place on the skin penetrates beneath skin and into the bloodstream. As a result, this is why that medication can get into the bloodstream and promote lymphoma. The lymphatic system consists of a system of vessels, (like blood vessels, arteries, veins), that run throughout the entire body and serves as one of the body's defenses against infection. You may be more familiar with the terms white blood cells or antibodies. Lymphocytes, a part of the lymphatic system, are white blood cells produced in the lymph nodes that defend the body against infection by the production of antibodies. The lymphatic system returns fluid from body tissues to the bloodstream; hence, the connection between the skin, bloodstream, and lymphatic system. For laymen it seems incredulous that a cream used on the skin could cause a cancer such as lymphoma. However, when you understand the skin as an organ that covers the entire body and begin to understand its working relationship between the other systems (like the lymphatic system or bloodstream) or other organs within the body, then you can begin to understand how a cancer connection could develope.
The reason that I've gone into limited detail regarding the lymphatic system in relation to the skin is to give you an idea of why it is so important to be aware of what you are putting on your skin. It has been widely known that steroids are damaging to the body and skin due to their suppression of the immune system and their wearing away of the epidermis (top skin layer). As a result of the general publics (laymen) awareness of the damaging effects of steroids, the medical community began to promote their non-steroidal medications for the treatment of eczema: protopic and elidel. In the short time that these two medications have been on the market (2 years heavily marketed), skin cancer and lymphoma have developed in patients. As a result, people went from a non-life threatening skin disorder (which could have been healed naturally in a matter of days) to developing terminal cancers from medications used to treat eczema. This infuriates me. In my strong opinion, and representing no political or business affiliation (just from one human being to another), please be aware of the dangers (side effects of the toxic medication) that come with the use of elidel and consider stopping the use of it immediately.
My nieces were healed of severe (total body) eczema without the use of medication. A healthy, practical, and comprehensive approach to healing was how this was achieved. Internal, external, and foreign is the simple three word phrase that I use to relay our approach to healing my nieces eczema.
Internal refers to the restoration of the immune health through proper nutrition. [Eczema is an immuno-disorder, thus the need to address the immune health]. To help you in discerning what deficiencies your eczema represents, you can visit the following website for an easy to read outline:
http://www.wholehealthmd.com Check out the "healing eczema with what you eat" section.
External refers to restoration of the skin health through moisture replenishment or rehydration through the proper skin care. One of the most important skin health regimens is to keep the skin clean; thus, skin care is essential to good skin health. Natural/organic skin care products that work with the skin to promote healing is the route we took. Toxic synthetic products or medications are seen by the body as additional foreign allergens, causing them even more damage. The body feeds off of vitamins, minerals, & proteins as nourishment; therefore, this is what you want to look for in products for the skin. Even with that, you want to look for natural/organic over synthetic. The body knows the difference between natural vitamin E and the synthetic copy.
And finally, foreign refers to the identification and the removal of the allergen or irritant causing/promoting your eczema flareup. You need to determine what instigated your flareup. Chlorine bleach in socks could be the culprit. Synthetic fibers (like polyester or nylons); or, coloring/dyes in socks could promote this type of irritation. Fungus in shoes could be the culprit. Bed mites are a possible culprit. The need for a liver cleanse (the body's toxic waste dump) could also be initiating your eczema flareup. These examples of possible eczema culprits should trigger in your mind some change that could have brought about your eczema flareup.
Dyshidrotic eczema (eczema localized to the hands or feet) is the type of eczema that you are experiencing. My first recommendation would be for you to purchase (or find in your house) a 12"x12" (larger if you want) tub (bowl/container) for soaking your feet. An
Epsom Salt foot soak is my suggestion. You can purchase
Epsom Salt in a milk-like carton for about $1.00 to $2.00. I suggest soaking your feet for about 15 minutes, twice daily. If you are allergic to epsom salt, you can try Burt's Bees bath crystals as an alternative to the epsom salt. In addition to the bath crystals, you can also add the Burt's Bees vitamin E bath oil to the foot soak. You can even purchase vitamin E oil in individual vials at your local health food store. After you complete the foot soak, you can followup with the Burt's Bees baby bee talc free powder to cool and soothe the foot through the healing process. After your feet have gotten through the initial healing process (healing of infection thus the reason for the
Epsom Salt bath), you are then able to begin applying additional foot care options, like coconut oil or beta carotene enriched carrot nutritive ointments/lotion as a regimen. Burt's Bees has a foot care line that you may want to look into. They also have a new product, called Herbal Defense Ointment, that may work well for your specific need.
The reason that I keep referring to this particular line of skin care product is because this is what we used for my nieces. In addition to that, the reason that I keep referring to this particular skin care line is because of the results it brings. Do I expect you to go out and purchase every single item I've mentioned. No. I've given you these options so that you could have the information to direct you in your search for product. I suggest that you visit your local Whole Foods Market, where you can examine the different items I've mentioned for yourself. They provide test samples of the Burt's Bees product and usually have an informed customer service representative to assist you with any questions.
You can heal your body of eczema without promoting terminal cancers or other disease. The side effects that come with medications are listed for a reason. When I read side effects, I make the assumption that I would be the small minority (they claim) that would contract the disease listed. I ask myself is it worth it; and the answer is no. It is for this reason, I've had to become aware of my body, its nutritional needs, and natural alternatives to healing.
The skin is a means by which the body releases toxins. Your body is demonstrating a toxic release through eczema manifestation. You need to identify the toxin that promoted this flareup and remove it from your environment.
Now because your feet have been made vulnerable to even more allergens and infection as a result of the medications you've been prescribed, you will probably need to address your household water as well. If your water is treated with chlorine or fluoride, they will serve to be toxic to the skin. In this very vulnerable state, your feet will not be able to bear this additional toxin. As a result, you may need to invest in a water purification/filtration system. It is important that the water used to clean your skin is free of those toxic chemicals. Keeping in mind that the skin is a porous organ; what is in your water, will penetrate into your bloodstream.
aunty