Skin Disorders Eczema and Rashes
Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Eczema and Acne Treatment - Healthy Skin - It’s an inside job.
Mandy was so concerned about her two children. Both had open, oozing sores produced by eczema. Her daughter Alexis was breaking out with unsightly skin rashes after eating, no matter how much Mandy adjusted her diet. What caused these skin disorders? Her son Austin had continuous breakouts on his back. After trying a few topical ointments with minimal results, Mandy was desperate. She had to dress Austin in a one piece day and night to prevent him from scratching himself raw. (See photos of “Before and After Treatment for Alexis and Austin).
Pam started breaking out unexpectedly. She shared with a friend that her skin was breaking out more now than when she was a teenager! A visit to her dermatologist, who prescribed steroids and anti-acne meds only helped temporarily. Her Skin Symptoms were obvious and she still needed help!
Jack got bumps that itched like crazy on his arms, chest and legs. He could not figure out why. Nothing that he could think of in his work or home routine had changed. His wife suggested a hydrocortisone crème but it only helped briefly before the annoying itch and bumps returned.
What do these people have in common?
All three received only temporary relief from their skin problems. Why?
Because what they tried did not get to the cause of the problem. Topical crèmes and medications mask the real issue and do not approach the problem from its source. In truth, you may have to look deeper for lasting solutions because healthy skin comes from the inside out.
What Causes Skin Problems?
If getting to the cause is the solution to healthy skin, then what are the causes of unhealthy skin? The causes of skin conditions usually have to do with either what we put into our bodies, via our digestive tract, or what our skin is exposed to either topically or environmentally.
Here is a partial list of conditions inside the body that can create skin conditions on the outside.
Potential Causes of Unhealthy Skin
6. Allergies
7. Medication side effects
8. Chemical/Environmental exposure
Notice how poor digestion is at the very top of the list of potential causes of unhealthy skin because healthy digestion is essential to healthy skin. If you look at the conditions in the list above, 7 out of 8 of the causes have to do with a compromised digestive system. The last cause - chemical and environmentally exposure - has more to do with what your skin is exposed to from your outside environment.
Regardless of the reason, these causes are all signs that your body’s pathways for detoxification are overloaded. When the liver, lungs, kidney, and colon are not working properly, the burden of removing toxins falls on the skin to continue the job. In fact the skin is the body’s largest of detoxification. (See the illustration ‘How the Body Cleanses Itself’).
Undigested food is another way skin problems result in congestion from the domino effect of eliminating toxins. Undigested food produces bowel toxicity stressing both the liver and kidneys. Once again this places the burden on the skin to eliminate the toxins, which generates rashes, blemishes and other skin irritations.
What We Do to Help - Skin Treatment
So how did Alexis and Austin find relief and have clear skin again? We first tested them for common food and environmental allergens. Next, we tested and improved their ability to digest the three major food groups. In the final step, we desensitized them to corn, the hidden cause of their eczema.
The approach we use at the Digestion Relief Center is different from the more traditional approach to skin disorders. We restore the body’s ability to assimilate and eliminate properly (i.e. digest your food). Next, we identify and desensitize your body to food and chemical sensitivities.
If you have unresolved skin issues and have not yet tried our inside out approach, we invite you to give us a call at 530-899-8741 to our office in Chico, because …we believe health goes beyond skin deep.
Many of us have been conditioned to believe that it’s the products we use on our hair that will give us beautiful hair … right?
Not quite true because the root of beautiful hair starts inside. Think about what you eat that can affect the beauty of your hair. If you are not sure about this theory, consider the following ‘Hair Facts’:
Your hair is primarily comprised of the protein Keratin. This protein is also found in our teeth, fingernails, toenails and our skin.
Although it may seem like hair itself contains oil, oils originate from the sebaceous glands in the scalp. These glands produce Sebum that can give your hair a shiny, healthy look. Hair also contains melanin, to give hair its color as well as small amounts of vitamins, zinc and some trace metals.
In short, hair is basically made of protein, oil, vitamins and minerals.
Where do these components of hair come from?
Our food.
Because if your body can’t break down the food it needs to manufacture the raw materials for growing and nourishing your hair, your hair will suffer.
The Need to Feed
If you are not able to digest and absorb your protein, fat and other nutrients that ‘feed your hair’ properly, your hair may become dry, brittle and dull. Poor digestion means you are not able to absorb the very nutrients that can give you the hair you desire.
Let’s look at these essential ingredients one at a time.
Protein - Keratin
Keratin has no nutritional value to humans and cannot be taken as a supplement. Thus keratin must be manufactured by your cells from amino acids that come from digesting protein properly. Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, also play a role in the health and color of your hair.
Fats - Sebum
Sebum, the component that gives your hair its shine, is a fatty substance. But if you are not absorbing fat from the foods you eat, sebum will not be created to nourish your hair and give it shine.
Vitamins and Minerals
Finally, the vitamins and minerals in a hair shaft also come from proper absorption of your food. If you have poor digestion you may not be able to absorb your minerals, especially if you have inadequate stomach acid or are using antacids, or acid blocking medications.
The Need to Feed Your Thyroid, too!
Dry brittle hair, or loss of hair is wildly recognized as a sign of low thyroid hormone, or hypothyroidism. Low thyroid hormone may result from poor digestion of either fat or protein sources. Now that you have the recipe for beautiful hair, you probably now know that the thyroid needs good fat and protein digestion to give you that beautiful shiny head of hair.
Zinc is an essential mineral that our cells require to accept thyroid hormone. Excessive amounts of cooper or iron can compete with receptors for zinc and thyroid hormone. This may interfere with thyroid hormone activity and may create loss of hair.
What’s the solution?
Get a digestion check up.
Here at the Digestion Relief Center we believe that the health of your hair can be an indicator of the health of your body. Our treatment approach is to improve your protein and fat digestion so that your body can extract the nutrients it needs for all the functions it performs.
If you have tried the ‘outside approach’ to healthy hair using shampoos and conditioners without the results you are looking for - perhaps its time to try the ‘inside approach’ - and fix your digestion to support healthy looking hair. The source of the problem is unlikely to be fixed with hair products because they do not address the cause, merely the symptoms.
If this approach sounds like something you would like to do, please call our office at 530-899-8741 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Patrick. The consultation provides you the opportunity to share your concerns and receive an initial test and exam to determine how you can improve your digestion.
Make every day a good hair day!