Neurodermatitis (atopic dermatitis) and proper nutrition
Nutrition plays an important role in chronic diseases, including neurodermatitis. This is because the determining causes of the disease lie here, and if the disease is to be fought, the causes of the disease must naturally be eliminated as well. With proper nutrition, the disease can be both prevented and actively treated.
Neurodermatitis at a glance
- Neurodermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory and allergic skin disease.
- The number of people affected has increased fivefold over the last 100 years.
- The cause of the disease is likely a very thin and hardened layer in the skin caused by a deficiency of antioxidants and essential fatty acids. This in turn triggers infections and inflammation.
The result is chronically inflamed, red, irritated, itchy skin covered with eczema.
Why is nutrition so important in neurodermatitis?
In neurodermatitis, genetic predisposition makes you more susceptible to the disease.
In chronic diseases, lifestyle and nutrition are the determining causes. To truly fight and eliminate chronic diseases, it is important, as always in orthodox medicine, to treat not only the symptoms but also the causes.
Allergy-causing foods worsen the disease. For this reason, allergenic foods must be identified and removed from the diet.
Food allergies and food intolerances
The first important step for nutrition in neurodermatitis should be keeping a food diary. It should record how, when and to what degree neurodermatitis symptoms develop, and which foods might be responsible for the symptoms. Food allergies trigger chronic inflammation in the body, in which the immune system recognizes harmless food substances as enemies and fights them.
The skin is a detoxification organ through which the body eliminates certain toxins. When toxins are stored in the skin, the immune process continues and inflammation develops in the skin. For this reason, food allergies/food intolerances trigger an overactive immune system. In neurodermatitis, it is important to identify and eliminate these allergens.
What role do IgE antibodies play?
In diagnosing neurodermatitis and the food allergies that cause it, measuring IgE antibodies in whole blood is important. The more IgE detected in the blood (usually 10-20 times higher in neurodermatitis), the more food allergies are present.
False allergies and irritating substances
There are foods that do not directly trigger an immune reaction but can cause false allergies and harm the body. These can cause irritation of the intestines and can cause immune cells to "overreact" more quickly. This makes the body and immune system more sensitive.
False allergies involve substances that do not directly cause allergy but are nevertheless unhealthy for the body. The most common culprits are gluten, soy, dairy products, sugar, trans fats, industrial cooking oils, and alcohol.
Irritating substances used in daily life are also very important in neurodermatitis. These are generally cosmetic products and detergents that the body comes into contact with every day (shampoo, shower gel, soap, dish soap, laundry detergent).
You can find more information on this and similar topics in my book "Antienflamatuar Beslenme Rehberi" (Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition Guide).