How Important Is Climate, How Important Is Diet?
Dear Ted, I've been reading with great interest all the Q&A on SD in this web page. I'm a 37 yr old who's been suffering from SD for about 2 years. It's got a lot worse over the last 12 months and mainly affects my scalp, although there are a couple of patches on my face now too. I've been to see a couple of dermatologists who've prescribed the same cream, elidel. It's had a so-so effect, so I'm now starting to look at alternative options. (I've also tried various steroid creams and several specialist shampoos over the last few months.) Having looked at your list of possible causes, what I really wanted to know firstly was whether by testing my skin I could identify my own particular cause, at least in that way I'd know where to begin. For instance I'm keen to try your ACV remedy, but maybe mine's not a fungus issue. Also, how important is climate? I live in Madrid which has a lot of sun (although I'm indoors a lot), but quite dry. The only couple of times recently that my skin got a lot better was at the beach last summer and on holiday a month or so again when I was doing a bit of swimming. I know UV light is supposed to be good, but dryness is perhaps not. Is diet really that important? The dermotologist I saw a few week said that it wasn't. Then I came across a website that said avoid all yeast or yeast-producing products as this only makes the condition worse. In all, I've received and read quite a lot of information about this problem, some of it contradictory, but really want to put myself on the right track. I do hope you're able to answer these questions. Many thanks. Marcus
Dear Marcus: You already have some idea of the causes and know the answer This is what you told me:
my skin got a lot better was at the beach last summer
Your problem is an immune problem and the cells attack healthy cells. The fact that you got a lot better at the beach and the fact that you are indoors is clearly a vitamin D deficiency. When you are out in a sun for a healthy individual of course, it will produce about 10,000 I.U. of vitamin D4. It looks like a lot, but it comes to like a couple of milligrams. So taking 20,000 I.U. of vitamin D4 (best form if you can find it) for about a month should restore the conditions. Or 10,000 I.U. might do it too. However, many supplements are now being controlled in certain parts of Europe (no doubt that UK already controlled), therefore you can try to supplement yourself with about a tablespoon or two of cod liver oil, as it is rich in vitamin D.
While you are at it, just take some fish oil too as it has a reputation for restoring your skin conditions. Evening Primrose taken seems to help clear up the skin.
Yours is NOT a fungus issue. It is an immune problem. Taking zinc, selenium, garlic, and most of all try to stay in the sun more often should help with your skin conditions. Not too long of course in the sun, but just keep it moderate.
Having looked at your list of possible causes, what I really wanted to know firstly was whether by testing my skin I could identify my own particular cause, at least in that way I'd know where to begin.
Yes, you can test it. An easy way is to see what you are doing that makes you get well and find the causes based on that. I have shown you already that you told me being out in the beach improved your conditions, while being indoors is not. To test on your skin is a simple matter. Just take plenty of vitamin D and see how it goes, if it doesn't work, it might appear that the body needs other minerals and vitamins having more to do with immunity conditions. If the above doesn't work at all, I just go for taking 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda before I go to sleep which will allow the body to heal itself. Perhaps you can try to mix a saturated solution of borax and some baking soda and apply on your skin. This should help restore the skin problems. Borax has certain properties that is hard to describe, it is antifungal, it is antibacterial, it restores hormones, it balances out magnesium, it protects the body's sugar from crosslinking with proteins, etc. etc. Perhaps adding a pinch of borax to a glass of water might help too. Borax is like nature's steroids, taken in a moderate amounts and only a couple of days can help, and free of side effects. Ted
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