Anyone with Eczema?

[RowanC]

Anyone here with eczema that healed using raw foods?
I have a girlfriend who over the past 5 years has gotten horrible eczema all over her body. It's so sad. I wish I knew how to help her... :confused:

[Rawkinlocs]

Not me personally, but my 7-year old daughter. Hers was very severe...it was on just about every part of her body and it even affected her scalp and made her hair fall out in patches.

Prior to raw, we had tried everything under the sun...prescription creams, over the counter creams, Aveeno, Eucerin, something I found on the internet, essential oils mixed in carrier oils.

It wasn't until we started eating raw that I noticed her clearing up and even foods that would cause flair-ups that she had to avoid (citrus and nuts), she was later able to eat with no problems.

So yes, there IS hope for friend if she is willing to do it!

[RowanC]

Rawkinlocs, is it gone now?

My friend is so beautiful, but she's so ashamed of this problem that she's taken to wearing long sleeves everywhere she goes. It began in her crotch about 5 years ago and now pretty much covers all of her body except her face. She's tried EVERYTHING. It really seems to be eating her alive.

Did your daughter's eczema clear up completely on raw?

[Rawkinlocs]

Totally and completely! The only time she gets a flair up is if she eats junk food (which at home, I can control, but when she's away...another story).

But yes, the rashes, the scaly patches all cleared up and the areas where she had lost her pigment and the areas were very light, that darkened up after a while too.

I am searching my hard drive as we speak for the photo collage I had put together of progression photos...when I locate them, I'll post them.

The most important thing I can recommend in addition to just going totally raw is for her to cease consumption of sugar, dairy and (cooked) grains. Also, if there are any trigger foods that she's noticed causes her body to react, she needs to eliminate those too for a while as well (I'm talking raw plant foods).

[Shmoopie]

Eczema has to do with a few things. It can be a food allergy - usually glutens or dairy. It can also have to do with liver function. Cleansing and supporting the liver will help at least a little bit. Amino acids play a role...she is likely not getting enough of them. Candida is a huge culprit as well as parasites. Some would say that where there is a systemic skin problem (like eczema and psoriasis), there is definitely a parasite. Those same people would also say that where there is a parasite, there is candida, and vice versa. So basically, all of that can be cleared up with a raw diet.

If your friend isn't on a raw diet or willing to get onto a raw diet, but is willing to try a product, there's a product on merryclinic.com that is supposed to be pretty good. Creams and topical treatments can only treat the surface, but eczema isn't a surface problem. It's not a skin problem. It's internal like everything else. I had one friend who had psoriasis covering 70% of her body. She used the psoriasis formula from this website about 7-8 years ago and hasn't had a single spot of psoriasis since. She had to take the pills for about 3 months. I had another friend use one of the other products. It may have been the acne formula - I don't recall. Anyway, it helped her skin tremendously as well. They are just different herb combinations - no drugs. They will cause detox, by the way.

[RowanC]

She has traveled extensively.. do you think this could be a parasite problem, really? I'll go check out the website, but I wonder if just a parasite cleanse might help?

[Tirza]

I have a friend who has really suffered for years with this too. She went off all dairy and grains that contain gluten. She is very strict about it and it is all gone. She uses oats that she gets from England where there is a field that is carefully guarded against any possible cross-pollination with wheat. So our Raw Diet is ideal in cases like this.

[Little Mango]

Hi Rowan C. How is your girlfriend doing? I myself am battling with eczema which is why my lovely doctor told me to go onto raw!

[Naturallynice]

My 9 month old baby started having eczema in her chin, corners of her mouth and a bit under her eyes, when I stopped nursing her. It has been a week now that I feed her only smoothies and green smoothies, and the eczema persists. I am persisting too, though... Orange juice seemed to make it worse, so I have stopped that. What else could be a trigger?

Most times she has a combination of the following: avocado, pears, coconut cream/butter, mango, bananas, pineapple, papaya, rasberries, blueberies, olive oil, spinach, romaine, kale. She also munches on apple, cucumber, sweet bell peppers, celery. That's what I can think of so far.

Could any of them be a trigger? I must say, that if she finds a crust of bread she will eat it, her brother and sister are feeding her their crusts. But she doesn't have any teeth yet, so the amount she actually eats is very little. Still, I should be more diligent?

Or could it be because of teething?

[jaurequi]

Try chia seeds internally, and chia oil, externally (especially good).

Best,

[juliebove]

My daughter and I both have it and I also have psoriasis. I still have a bit of trouble with the psoriasis from time to time, but the other problem seems to have cleared for both of us except for those times we accidentally use something externally that we are alleric to. I have an almond allergy and sweet almond oil is in a lot of cosmetics, particularly of the "healthy food store" type. Daughter can't have wheat or soy.

I can also relate to the long sleeves but in my case it was the psoriasis. Mine seems not to respond favorably to the sun as is purported to help. Instead the sun makes my skin feel burned and makes the psoriasis worse. Or it used to when I lived in CA and NY. Here in WA I've had less of a problem. Although I still try to avoid the sun as much as possible, I have ventured out on occasion in short sleeves with no problems.

I would advise your friend to try adding coconut oil to her diet. I would also advise her to have a RAST or some other test to check for food allergies. She might still be allergic to something that would be on a raw food diet. Daughter is severely allergic to bananas. Our skin problems do seem to be related a lot to food or what we apply externally.

[Nimmanu]

My 9 month old baby started having eczema in her chin, corners of her mouth and a bit under her eyes, when I stopped nursing her. It has been a week now that I feed her only smoothies and green smoothies, and the eczema persists. I am persisting too, though... Orange juice seemed to make it worse, so I have stopped that. What else could be a trigger?

Most times she has a combination of the following: avocado, pears, coconut cream/butter, mango, bananas, pineapple, papaya, rasberries, blueberies, olive oil, spinach, romaine, kale. She also munches on apple, cucumber, sweet bell peppers, celery. That's what I can think of so far.

Could any of them be a trigger? I must say, that if she finds a crust of bread she will eat it, her brother and sister are feeding her their crusts. But she doesn't have any teeth yet, so the amount she actually eats is very little. Still, I should be more diligent?

Or could it be because of teething?

I probably should keep my mouth shut, but I'm going to ask you anyway, and you can tell me that I should have kept my mouth shut, and I won't be offended...

Why did you stop breastfeeding so early? The WHO recommends a minimum of 2 years, and almost every country in the world besides the US breastfeeds for 2 years.

As for the triggers, YES, just the bit of gluten she's getting from breadcrusts certainly can make a gluten sensitive person break out, and otherwise sick.

I can tell you, as a person sensitive to soy, dairy, and wheat myself... it takes very little make me itch for hours, give me dandruff, and give me (how to be delicate about it?) liquid number 2.

[rawpriestess]

my son had ezcema as a child, when he eats dairy he gets it, when he quits dairy no more, same with his kids.

[Nectarine]

I applaud you for taking such a caring interest in your friend's welfare. I wish I had had friends like that as I was growing up. I was never 'eczematic' myself, but over the last few years, my skin became inordinately dry and scaly, and, as my beard thickened with maturity, my pseudofolliculitis barbae (shaving rash) problem worsened as well. But since switching to an exclusively raw diet only 3 weeks ago, my skin has improved significantly, and looks much much better. Sometimes, I won't even use moisturizer for a couple of days, and my skin remains balanced, well hydrated, and supple-looking. The change in my skin was apparent from very early on in my raw journey (that is not to say the benefits will be that rapid in your friend's case), and still more changes are occurring (finer pores for example). So yes, your friend has evey chance of improving the condition of her skin if she would only commit to a 100% raw diet for a decent period of time, to see for herself.

[Apasaraw]

I used to get patches on my back and hips...when I went gluten free it cleared up in a few weeks. Raw followed...

I do hope she gives a dietary change a try....best to your buddy RowanC.

[Naturallynice]

I probably should keep my mouth shut, but I'm going to ask you anyway, and you can tell me that I should have kept my mouth shut, and I won't be offended...

Why did you stop breastfeeding so early? The WHO recommends a minimum of 2 years, and almost every country in the world besides the US breastfeeds for 2 years.

As for the triggers, YES, just the bit of gluten she's getting from breadcrusts certainly can make a gluten sensitive person break out, and otherwise sick.

I can tell you, as a person sensitive to soy, dairy, and wheat myself... it takes very little make me itch for hours, give me dandruff, and give me (how to be delicate about it?) liquid number 2.

Thanks for asking, I am not offended, :)

Well, it was not my decision, or my baby's decision. It was unfavourable circumstances. When she was 6 months, we had my husband's family visiting over, all 8 of them, 3 different families. We were 13 people under one roof. Althought they were not high-maintenance house guests, they stay took its toll on my and the baby. Our routine went out of the window, together with the routine I had for my other two young children, ages 4 and 3. I had hardly any sleep at night and giving her formula felt a good decision at the time, so I would have more energy to survive the day with so many people around me. In hindside, I wish I had persevered through thick and thin. I persevered when she was a newborn and fed her through cracked, bleeding, very very painful nipples. But when the family desscented upon us for 2 weeks, well, I lost the plot.. :(

Thanks for the advice re gluten, I will be diligent about it, also, I will try to see if bananas are giving her hassle...

[tvillemom]

Best of luck to your friend Rowan, also to Naturallynice, breastfeeding is TOUGH. I survived three kids (feeding them for a year) and each time surviving cracked, bleeding, you know. AND I will say, each time I quit, I was SOOOO ready at the time, but then months down the road, sometimes you look back and think, "what was the rush". WE ALL have to make our own decisions....you did what you had to do to SURVIVE! Don't beat yourself up.
Congratulate yourself for being involved in your baby, that you are noticing the mild changes in her skin, so you can keep her from things that cause the flair up.
I would suggest maybe (since she is so young) maybe not so many types of berries right now?? Seems to me, if I remember correctly, that lots of citrus type things can cause allergic reactions. Someone can certainly correct me if I'm wrong. Keep her raw though. You're a good.....NO a GREAT mom! Take care.
Wendi

[vegan1]

I have not gone totally raw yet, but I am vegan (for 20 years). I have had severe eczema for two years. I have been to several dermatologists and taken many drugs to try to control it, including pills that made me sleep because the itching was horrible. And I tried staying away from many foods.

Then I found this book on Coconut (http://www.amazon.com/Coconut-Cures-Preventing-Treating-Problems/dp/0941599604/sr=8-1/qid=1171041915/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-3164280-5600118?ie=UTF8&s=books) (see link on Amazon) and it changed everything.

In that book it said to make a double boiler on the stove and heat the raw coconut oil until it is warm and liquid. Then dip gauze in the oil and wrap it around your skin. Then I used saran wrap over the gauze so it wouldn't get everything greasy. I tried this for an hour or two and my skin seemed better, but not great. But then I tried it overnight for 5 nights in a row and my skin is almost clear with no itching.

The book said to also eat/drink several tablespoons a day. I take 1 tablespoon a day in my smoothie.

When I was desperate I also did a search on google for homeopathic remedies and there are many listed for eczema. You may want to try that if this doesn't work.

[puffysmom]

I am not sure if this pertains to exzema as I have psoriasis but with ps u r not suppose to eat anything that is in the nightshade family. That would be potatos(except sweet), tomatos, eggplant, peppers mmmm seemed there was one other. My mom had exzema, i have ps and my son has exzema. I am the only one of 8 that has it. I did have blood allergy workup done and with the 30 they did(small town and it is all they do at the labs) I had negative to everything on the list.
I do know that bananas can cause gas. If it does that that means it is not good for digestion. There r so many things to try to help clear up ps. I have tried so many. High risk medication. Oils from India and i finally found one that helps but it takes more than a bottle a week to do my whole body and it is over $20 a bottle. I also did a colon cleanse and it really did not make a difference in my psoriasis. In fact i did it twice.
I started raw/juicing 3 days ago and saw some areas get a lighter color. I am positive that in time my psoriasis will clear. I am amazed at the change already. :D :D

I would say she should try it. What has she got to lose? Only thing is to stay away from nightshade and also citrus. I forgot that one. There is such a large variety of things to eat that there is no reason to suffer when one goes raw. I am sure u know that already. This site is full of great recipes.
Hope she gets relief. I know how bad the scaling and itching can be.
There is a book out called You on a Diet by Dr Oz and Roizin. I am not following it but it tells u all about how the body uses food and if u have problems what is causing it. It is a very interesting book to read.

[theresaann]

you guys may have mentioned this already, but this is all about colon toxicity. I have eczema (asthma and allergies are on the same gene as eczema, btw) and I notice a direct correlation with how clear my colon is to how my skin looks. Colon plus liver toxicity. Detox is the way to clear this...

[Little Mango]

I found a lot of inspiration from this website I found last year.

http://eczema-natural-healing.com/eczema-remedies.html

Also this one:

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/eczema.htm

[mershwista]

Nothing in the nightshade family? Oh, wow would that be hard...those are some of my favorite vegetables. But I too have some sort of skin problem, (leratosis pilaris, not eczema,) and I suppose it would be worth a shot. Hopefully just raw will help clear it up.

Unfortunately, though, that doesn't look too hopeful...I have a friend who will swear that raw cleared up his eczema, but even after a year it looks just as bad as ever. I think a lot of times people will want raw to be the cure of everything, so they convince themselves that it is....when it isn't.

[puffysmom]

I read this book a doctor wrote and he suggest a warm (room temp)glass of water with a quarter of lemon squeezed in it first thing before eating or drinking anything else. It clears out the liver of anything that is hanging in there from the night before. I have been doing it but have no clue if it works as there is no way to tell.
The first glass I had was nasty but I got used to it so now i dont mind the taste anymore. U also wait half an hour before eating after u drink this.