Skin is the largest organ, covering the entire
body. It is the ultimate vessel for human body; which receives and transports,
accepts and expels according to the body's needs.
In addition to serving as a protective shield against heat, light, injury,
and infection, the skin also:
ALLERGIC MANIFESTATIONS OF SKIN
Allergic indisposition in an individual can present as widely
prevalent skin diseases which at any point of lifetime may alternate with
other manifestations of Respiratory, Musculoskeletal or Digestive systems.
ECZEMA
The word "Eczema" is a Greek word, which means to "boil out".
Basically, the factors combining to cause Dermatitis and Eczema, are ENDOGENIC
(internal) which render the skin allergic or vulnerable and secondly the
EXOGENIC (external), i.e., the invasion by an allergen through contact,
inhalation or ingestion.
Truly speaking there is no eczematous patient, as the exciting factors have to
be established. Once the skin has been irritated and sensitized, it becomes
prone to further insults. Scratching, chemical trauma, climatic strains and
psychogenic stresses keep the process going, with the result that it becomes
chronic. In such cases there is usually a FAMILY HISTORY of allergy e.g.
Urticaria, Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma etc.
There is a multitude of allergens that cause Eczema. The most common ones
are:
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Irritants: Physical, chemical or electrical.
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Sensitizers: Plants, cosmetics, clothing,
ointments and occupational hazards, alkalis like soap.
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Climate: Temperature and humidity e.g. photodermatitis.
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Drugs: Given for the disease or otherwise.
Systemically administered drugs drugs can produce a number of
morphologically distinct cutaneous eruptions. Macular, maculopapular lesions
and Urticaria are the most undesirable effects caused by drugs along with
itching, fever, eosinophilia etc.
-
Mental and emotional
conflicts.
Eczema is an inflammation of the skin which may cause dryness,
flakiness, heat and most importantly, itching. It is usually said that in
Dermatitis "it is an itch that rashes rather than a rash that itches." It is a pruritic papulovesicular process. First, there is superficial inflammation of
the epidermis then there is vesication, which causes mild to severe itching.
It then goes through the stages of formation of watery discharge, crusting and
finally scaling. Ultimately, it heals without any scars but if the Eczema
becomes chronic there is lichenification of the skin, i.e., the skin becomes
hard and leathery.
URTICARIA OR HIVES
Urticaria or Hives are itchy, burning eruptions that appear on the
skin as an indication of an allergic sensitivity to various allergens.
The most common allergies are:
-
Food: Food allergy due to some item that
has been consumed within a day or two will give rise to generalized itching,
abdominal cramps and loose stools. The common (food) allergens are eggs,
nuts, wheat, chocolate, cocoa, prawn, crabs, nuts and food dyes and
additives etc.
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Sprays and inhalants.
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Dust and Pollutants.
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Drugs: Many Drugs, vaccines and hormone preparations can precipitate Urticaria.
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Physical factors: e.g. cold, heat, pressure, and exertion.
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Worms.
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Insect bites.
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Pollen.
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Cosmetics
The development of Urticaria occurs when the body
releases histamines into the blood stream or tissues as an allergic response
causing widening of the capillaries thereby allowing the plasma to escape
through its walls resulting in raised eruptions on the skin surface.
Symptoms
-
Urticaria appears as red or white blotches on
the skin accompanied by itching and burning. They may disappear as suddenly
as they came or they may last for several days.
-
Severe itching preceeds the attack.
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Eruptions of various sizes usually appear.
-
In a few minutes, eruptions may develop, spread,
and coalesce to form larger hives.
-
Any part of the body may be affected.
Complications
The most serious complication is
the development of giant hives known as Angio-neurotic oedema. This condition
appears on eyelids, lips or tongue accompanied by swelling. When the swelling
is internal especially in the air-passages it can lead to obstruction in
breathing.
ACNE
Acne is a disorder of the skin, which
usually occurs in adolescence especially in people with a strong family
history of allergic disorders.
It is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and
even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest,
back, shoulders and even the upper arms. While not a life threatening
condition, Acne can be upsetting and disfiguring. Severe, acne can lead to
serious and permanent scarring.
The underlying cause of Acne, which affects approximately 80% of all
teenagers, is the increase in quantity of androgens secreted, or increased
sensitivity of the sebaceous glands to androgens. These glands are found in
areas where acne is common (the face, upper back, and chest). Rarely, Acne can
be due to a hormonal imbalance.
Certain foods especially to which the patient is allergic also causes an
increase in the activity of the sebaceous glands. The most common offenders
are chocolates, nuts, cheese and fatty foods.
Types of Acne
A comedo is a sebaceous follicle
plugged with sebum, dead cells from inside the sebaceous follicle, tiny hair,
and sometimes bacteria. When a comedo is open, it is commonly called a
blackhead because the surface of the plug in the follicle has a blackish
appearance. A closed comedo is commonly called a whitehead; its appearance is
that of a skin-colored or slightly inflamed "bump" in the skin.
SEBORRHOEIC DERMATITIS/DANDRUFF
Dandruff, or shedding of dead skin
cells from the scalp at an excessive rate, is the result of normal growing
process of skin cells of the scalp. Dandruff scales appear dry, white or
grayish, small, unsightly patches, especially on top of the head.
It has been observed that dandruff is more common in people with a family
history of allergic manifestations. In this condition there is diffuse scaling
of the scalp. It may be of dry or greasy variety.The condition can spread to
other hairy regions of the body e.g. eyebrows, beard, axilla, genitalia etc.
It is triggered by overactive oil glands, food allergies, stress, excessive
perspiration, too harsh shampoos and further aggravated by endocrine
disorders, unbalanced diet, constipation etc.
ALOPECIA
At any one time, about 10 percent of
the hair on scalp is in resting phase. After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair
falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place. This growing phase lasts
for 2 to 6 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during
this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on scalp is growing at any one time.
It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some
people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss.
Partial or complete loss of hair, most commonly of the scalp occurrs as a
consequence of genetic or hormonal factors. It may be associated with
dandruff. Hair loss may occur without scarring or gross atrophic changes (noncicatricial)
or may follow inflammation, tissue destruction or scar tissue formation (cicatricial).
PIGMENTATION DISORDER
Skin pigmentation disorders are
conditions that cause the skin to appear lighter or darker than normal, or
blotchy and discolored. A condition called vitilgo, creates smooth,
depigmented white spots on the skin. Any part of the body may be affected, but
the most common sites are hands, face, trunk and legs. In hyperpigmentation,
the body produces too much melanin, causing skin to become darker than usual.
PSORIASIS
It is a common, chronic non-infectious skin disease whose course is punctuated
by intermissions and remissions. Attacks are more common in winters. It has
been commonly observed that it is a hereditary familial disease aggravated by
stress, mental trauma, physical injury, digestive upsets etc.
Psoriasis is characterized by well defined slightly raised, dry erythematous
macules with silvery scales and a typically extensor distribution e.g. scalp,
palms, soles, nails etc.
Sometimes parts of the body other than the skin may be affected:
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The joints can be affected by a form of Arthritis.
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One or more of finger or toe nails may develop little pits as on a thimble, or
may become generally more opaque and thickened (nail dystrophy).
-
The eyes may become inflamed.
Bakson's Homoeopathy provides a safe and effective cure for these allergic
manifestations of Skin through it's holistic approach being practiced at all
the Clinics.
Diet & Nutrition
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Take nutritious diet.
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Exercise regularly
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Avoid application of cosmetic cream and lotions.
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Avoid fatty food like chocolates, nuts, dry fruits, spicy food etc. which
might increase the activity of sebaceous glands.
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