Yes, according to a German University study published recently in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.  Three researchers, Assistant Professor Jochen Schmitt of Dresden University Hospital, Dr. Christian Apfelbacher (Heidelberg University Hospital) and Dr. Joachim Heinrich of the Institute of Epidemiology of Helmholtz Zentrum München, studied 5,991 children born between 1995-1998, and have concluded that children who suffered from eczema during the first two years of life is more likely to suffer from emotional and psychological problems.

Here is how the study was conducted according to ScienceDaily.com:

“Within the framework of the GINIplus study, scientists tracked the family history of the children, collected data on their physical health and emotional condition at age 10 years and gathered information on their daily lives. Questions were asked about the course of disease — also in early childhood — with special focus on diseases such as eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, stress tolerance and behavioral abnormalities.”

Later in the article, doctor Joachim Heinrich affirms:

“We suspect that it is mainly the secondary symptoms that have a long-term effect on the emotions of the affected children,” Joachim Heinrich said. The authors of the study therefore recommend documenting the occurrence of eczema as potential risk factor for later psychological problems in the children’s medical records, even if the actual primary disease abates and disappears during the course of childhood.”

Linking childhood eczema and mental/behavorial problems is an interesting connection.  Parents, have you noticed any behavioral or emotional issues with your eczematous little ones?  Tell us your thoughts below!

You can read the article in its entirety here.

**Source: Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health (2010, February 10). Eczema in early childhood

“Infants who have eczema, or at least what has been diagnosed as eczema, and have it treated with all sorts of creams, ointments and potions are actually looking at some more serious problems down the road.

For example, asthma as a side effect of the poor management of childhood eczema…”

He also has an opinion on “natural products”:

“Even so-called natural products can give us a false sense of security when we use them.

Because they are natural really means that they are a better alternative than some of the products out there, but they can be suppressive as well.

A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself this question: Is the product you are using allowing the natural elimination of toxins from the body or does it keep things inside?

Pills may deal with the pain, deal with the discomfort. But do they deal with the root cause of that pain or discomfort?”

He hits the nail right on the head.  This blog has stated (and will continue to state) that eczema must be treated from the inside out.  This article isn’t just about eczema, but any condition and it’s worth reading.  Check out the entire article here.

Acupuncture may ease the itch of eczema via Reuters.com (Dec. 2009)

Eczema is a general term for conditions marked by inflammation and dry, red, itchy patches on the skin. The most common form, atopic eczema, is seen in people with a predisposition to allergies, like hay fever or asthma.

In the new study, German researchers looked at the short-term effects of acupuncture on skin inflammation and itching in 30 people with atopic eczema.

They found that the therapy, when done minutes after patients’ skin was exposed to an allergen (either pollen or dust mites), appeared to soothe subjective feelings of itchiness.

In addition, when patients were exposed to the allergen for a second time shortly after the acupuncture session, they tended to have a less-severe skin reaction, the researchers report in the journal Allergy.

The findings show that in this “experimental setting,” acupuncture seems to ease the itch of atopic eczema, lead researcher Dr. Florian Pfab, of the Technical University of Munich, told Reuters Health in an email.

The study does not, however, answer the question of whether acupuncture as practiced in the real world would have similar benefits.

For the study, Pfab and his colleagues looked at all 30 patients under three different test conditions.

In one, patients had their skin exposed to either pollen or dust-mite allergens, then received true, or “point-specific,” acupuncture — in which needles were placed in traditional acupuncture points that, according to Chinese medicine, are related to itchy skin.

In another condition, the allergen exposure was followed by “placebo-point” acupuncture, where the needles were inserted into skin areas not used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the third condition, patients received no treatment.

Overall, Pfab’s team found, patients’ itchiness ratings were lower after they received true acupuncture, compared with both no treatment and placebo acupuncture. [Read the Rest]

Using acupuncture for eczema is obviously not a new phenomenon, so it’s great to see science finally catching up to the power of alternative healing methods.  So, what do you think?  Would you consider giving  an eczema acupuncture session a go?

In an inspiring article, MasterChef judge John Torode, gives his account on how he cured his eczema.  The cause- -an allergic reaction to the nightshade food family:

John says: ‘I cut out all the deadly nightshade family – potatoes, aubergines, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers – I took out ginger, garlic and stopped drinking caffeine and ate a lot more green vegetables and herbs.’

Experts believe that touching these foods can trigger an allergy that exacerbates eczema when they are then eaten.

Incredibly, the eczema eased after a month and, even more incredibly, has never returned, even though he no longer follows a restricted diet or needs regular acupuncture sessions. He believes that this is because of the way the treatment helped him not just physically but emotionally, as well.”[source]

The article also explains why his diet works for him.  Nickel, the most common allergen that causes eczema, is found in the trace minerals in nightshades.  Now that is something to consider before you reach for your next baked potato.

This is a must-read for anyone who suffers from this condition.   Click here to read the rest of the article.

An article in Science Daily suggests that fragrance ingredients in shampoos and conditioners can be the problem.  Studies conducted at Shalgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden indicated that “over 5% of those who underwent patch testing were allergic to the air oxidized form of the frangrance ingredient linalool”. The article then suggests that 60-80% of perfumed hygiene products and cleaning agents contain linalool.

Linalool is a naturally occuring compound found in a variety of plants, flowers and spices such as lavendar, rosewood and bergamot.  It is a colorless, fragrant substance that oxidizes when exposed to air.

Linalool may not be the only toxic chemical in your shampoo or conditioner: ingredients such as methylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, and other additives may be doing more harm than good.  All of these ingredients are skin irritants and could very well trigger an allergic reaction. Fortunately, there are some possible alternatives: products on the market such as Aubrey Organics and Giovanni Cosmetics are free of these harsh chemicals and use more natural ingredients.

If you don’t want to go the “natural” products route, you can research the safety of your current products, and the ingredients in them that can cause irritability.  A wonderful site you can do this with is Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database, a nonprofit organization that rates the safety of over 42,000 products. It not only limited to haircare, you can find information on other skin-irritating products in makeup, skin care, nail care, and baby care.

Check your bathroom cabinets; your favorite products may be a contributing factor to your condition.

Click here to read more about how linalool may be a cause of eczema.

The product sounds interesting, but I’m concerned with how this product will affect the body in the long term, or if it has any adverse side effects. Only time will tell, so this product is worth watching!

Read the more about Neosalus here.

* Cream approved in April 2009