• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Vitamin B Complex
• Folic Acid
• Gluten Free diet
• Fats in foods
• Selenium & Vitamin E
• Zinc
• Allergens
• Birch Pollen
• Olive oil
• Salt solutions

Omega-3 fatty acids & Dermatitis
The Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce itching and scaling of dermatitis and eczema in many people. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in flaxseed (otherwise known as linseed) corn, olive and soya oils. (1)

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Lactobacillus acidophilus & Dermatitis
A poorly functioning digestive system causes the proliferation of toxins in the intestines and some of these toxins have been shown to contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis. (2) Lactobacillus Acidophilus is a friendly bacterium which colonises the intestines and can help correct this situation. (see also Colonic Hydrotherapy)

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Vitamin B Complex & Dermatitis
In some people, a deficiency in vitamin B can affect the metabolism of fats and proteins and this is thought to cause or trigger dermatitis in some cases. B vitamins are essential for healthy skin and are also vital for a healthy nervous system. As dermatitis and eczema are both stress related disorders, supplementing the diet with vitamin B complex may help prevent attacks. Foods rich in vitamin B include brewers yeast (available in supplement form) and nutritional yeasts (marmite etc), whole grains, pulses and sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds.

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Folic Acid & Dermatitis
Dermatitis and eczema sufferers have been shown to have low levels of folic acid and it is therefore sensible to ensure that there is plenty of folic acid in the diet. (3) Folic acid is found in green leafy vegetables (although they lose approximately 70% of their folic acid within three days if left in sunlight) and brewers yeast. It is available in supplement form as well.

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Gluten Free diet & Dermatitis
Controlled studies have shown that a gluten free diet can have a "remarkable effect on the skin lesions' of eczema and dermatitis sufferers. Gluten is a sticky protein found in bread and other wheat and rye products. Rice and corn are low gluten foods.(6)

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Fats in foods & Dermatitis
Meat and dairy products contain arachidonic acid, a fatty acid which contributes to the inflammation experienced in dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis as well as rheumatism and arthritis because it is converted into inflammatory prostaglandin and leukotrienes. This means that animal fats can augment itching and irritation. Animal fats also thicken the blood and thus will put more pressure on the veins and aggravate varicosoties. It may be for this reason that many people experience an improvement in their symptoms after adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet. (4)

It has been reported that a low fat diet supplemented with Omega-3 essential fatty acids often produces excellent improvements in dermatitis and eczema patients. Some studies have reported that fish oils are beneficial because it is high in essential fatty acids but the results are contradictory and based upon small numbers of patients. A review of the best sources of essential fatty acids found that cold pressed vegetable oils are far superior to fish oils. Of 145 patients involved in the Norwegian study none of those taking fish oils noticed any improvement yet those using a vegetable oil experienced "significant" improvement.

The conclusions of the mass of related studies agree that dietary advice to increase the daily intake of essential fatty acids is recommended in the treatment of dermatitis/eczema. Vegetable oils may be used in salad dressings and cooking although heat destroys many of the nutrients. It is important to use 'cold-pressed, virgin' oils as these are made from the first pressings of the vegetable and are not heat treated.

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Selenium & Vitamin E & Dermatitis
Selenium and vitamin E are both antioxidants and work together to preserve healthy skin and promote healthy metabolic processes. In effect, they help delay the oxidation of fatty acids which are vital for healthy skin. Vitamin E is found in cold-pressed vegetable oils, soy beans and all raw nuts and seeds. Selenium is found in whole grains, onions, celery, cabbage and brocolli (although there are reports that many soils are depleted of selenium, perhaps through the overuse of fertilisers, and supplementation is often advisable to ensure adequate daily intake.

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Zinc & Dermatitis
Lack of zinc is associated with dry skin and circulatory disorders. Zinc is found in whole grains, pumpkin seeds and brewers yeast. It is also available in supplement form.

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Allergens & Dermatitis
Dermatitis can be an allergic response in many people (see conventional medical treatments above) and many foods are commonly associated with allergy-induced eczema. The common allergens in food types include; dairy products, eggs, fish, peanuts, chicken, citrus fruits, tomato and corn.

(1) Donald O Rudin MD Better Nutrition for Today's Living - June 1990.
(2) Donald O Rudin MD. Better Nutrition for Today's Living - June 1990
(3) British Journal of Dermatology 1971, 84:539-44 'The Mechanism of folate Deficiency in Psoriasis'
(4)'A fasting and vegetarian diet treament trial on chronic inflammatory disorders' - Vessby B Acta Derm Venereol [Stockh] 1983, 63

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Birch pollen & Atopic Dermatitis
BACKGROUND: Patients with inhalant allergy caused by birch pollen frequently demonstrate immediate symptoms to cross-reactive fruits, vegetables, or both. The nature of late eczematous reactions to pollen related food antigens has not been investigated in detail.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to find out whether isolated late eczematous reactions to birch pollen-related food antigens can be observed in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) who are highly sensitized to birch pollen antigens. A possible linkage of such reactions with specific T-cell responses to birch pollen antigens in the blood and lesional skin was examined as well.
METHODS: We examined 37 adult patients with AD and hypersensitivity to birch pollen but without any history of immediate responses to food challenges. These patients underwent an elimination diet, including all birch pollen-related food antigens, followed by a double-blind, placebo-controlled, oral provocation. Blood and skin biopsy specimens were taken to examine a birch pollen-specific lymphocyte response.
RESULTS: Seventeen patients reacted with a deterioration of AD symptoms. Food- or birch pollen-specific IgE did not differentiate these patients from nonreactive patients. A significantly higher increase in the proportion of blood lymphocytes expressing the cutaneous lymphocyte antigen on incubation with birch pollen antigens was found in cells from reactive compared with nonreactive patients. The proliferative response of skin-derived T-cell lines from reactive patients to birch pollen extract or Bet v 1 was significantly higher than that of nonreactive patients. An enrichment of more than 25% of T-lymphocyte subpopulations defined by T-cell receptor-Vbeta elements was detected in the majority of such antigen-stimulated T-cell lines from responsive patients. A higher frequency of birch pollen-reactive T cells was calculated from limiting-dilution assays, and a higher rate of birch pollen-specific T-cell clones was generated from cultures with skin-derived T cells from reactive patients.
CONCLUSION: Our results show, for the first time, that a subpopulation of patients with hypersensitivity to birch pollen and AD reacts with worsening of eczema after oral challenge with birch pollen-related foods and that a birch pollen-specific T-cell response can be found in the lesional skin of these patients.

J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999 Aug;104(2 Pt 1):466-72, Reekers R, Busche M, Wittmann M, Kapp A, Werfel T Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Hannover Medical University, Hannover, Germany.

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Olive oil & Dermatitis
Contact allergy to olive oil is considered rare. There are 20 cases of contact allergy to olive oil described, and 3 of these had an occupational hand eczema as a result of olive oil. We describe a masseur who was allergic to olive oil, resulting in an occupational hand eczema. Both patch tests and a use test with olive oil was undertaken. An oral provocation with olive oil was also performed. Both patch tests were positive, as was the use test after 2 days. The oral provocation test was negative. Despite contact allergy to olive oil being rare, sensitization occurs. The external use of olive oil should be discouraged, at least in masseurs, when used under occlusion, and in long-standing dermatoses.

Isaksson M, Bruze, M Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Malmo University Hospital, Sweden, J Am Acad Dermatol 1999 Aug;41(2 Pt 2):312-5

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Dermatitis & salt solutions
The combination of saltwater baths and subsequent ultraviolet irradiation is an effective treatment for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The aim of the present study was to determine the photosensitizing properties of two commercially available bath salts, original salt from the Dead Sea and sodium chloride. To address this issue, test areas on the volar aspects of the forearms were soaked with salt solutions for 15 minutes prior to ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation. The salt concentrations tested were 1%, 3% 5% and 15%. Tap water followed by UVB and UVB alone served as controls. Erythema was determined by visual and photometric measurement, and delayed tanning was assessed by colorimetry. Erythema obtained by wetting the skin prior to UVB irradiation was more pronounced than erythema induced by UVB alone. The most prominent erythema was yielded by tap water + UVB. The salts had a differing photosensitizing capacity and the strongest erythema was produced by the 5% solutions. There was only a moderate influence on delayed tanning by bathing the skin prior to irradiation. The results from the present study indicate that soaking the skin with salt solutions or tap water increases skin sensitivity to subsequent UVB irradiation. This may contribute to the effectiveness of salt water baths followed by UV irradiation and may account for an increased sunburn risk after bathing.

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