HIMPower Magazine August 2015 | Page 38

The interventions and modalities used will depend on the root cause of your skin concerns. Nutritional Foods to avoid: • Milk • Meat • Fried foods • Margarine • Foods prepared with coconut or palm oil • White flour products • Coffee, tea, cola, soda pop • Chocolate, candy • Other sugary food If indicated, avoid the following foods in the absence of food allergy testing: • All dairy • Eggs • Poultry • Apples • Fish Be aware of your health status. The conditions below will exaggerate acne: • Kidney or liver damage • Deceased white blood cell count • Overgrowth of Candida and other yeast in the vagina and intestines • Allergic reactions ECZEMA Eczema is a general term that is applied to a wide range of chronic / persistent skin conditions – such as scaling or dryness on the skin which can then lead to red rashes, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, swell- 38  HimPower August 2015 ing or bleeding of the skin, often along with discoloration. Eczema is frequently seen in infants and children, and often clears away by the age of six. In adults, it is generally a long–term or recurring condition. While any region of the body may be affected by eczema, in children and adults, eczema typically occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles. In infants, eczema typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. The most commonly used test for eczema is known as the ELISA test which looks at the Allergy Antibodies IgE and IgG levels. The ELISA test is also called Enzyme–Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Other tests that can be used in conjunction with the ELISA are; Essential and Metabolic Fatty Acid Analysis; Hair (Elemental) Analysis; The Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) and the Intestinal Permeability Assessment. What Causes Eczema? Under stressful situations, the production of a stress hormone called cortisol is increased, leading to an increased amount of inflammation and prostaglandin synthesis. This can exacerbate eczema and cause severe discomforts. Contact eczema can be triggered by substances that come in contact with the skin, such as soaps and detergents, rubber gloves, cleaning products, cosmetics lotions and creams, make–up products, clothing, detergents, jewelry, or sweat. Environmental allergens may also cause