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.