Natural helpers for neurodermatitis

Veröffentlicht am: October 04, 2024

General practitioner

Do you know when your skin is very itchy, red and flaky in certain areas? Atopic dermatitis is becoming increasingly common. Although it is not life-threatening, it can cause a great deal of psychosocial stress. The quality of life sometimes suffers greatly, which is why many patients are looking for a sustainable and effective treatment option.

➤ In Germany, around 10-15% of all children regularly suffer from atopic dermatitis, and 2-3% in adulthood.

What is atopic dermatitis?

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that occurs in episodes. The recurring disease is accompanied by agonizing itching, extremely dry skin and sometimes weeping eczema. The itchy, reddened and scaly areas often appear on the elbows, backs of the knees or wrists. However, the face, neck, décolleté and scalp can also be affected.

Mostly children are affected by the skin disease, but some of them suffer from it well into adulthood. The problem is that the disease is often more severe in adults than in children. Scratching increases the risk of infection from bacteria, viruses or fungi. Over time, the skin on the affected areas becomes thicker and leathery.

➤ Particularly at night and especially in summer, those affected suffer even more due to heat build-up, perspiration and their own low cortisone levels!

Cause? Unknown. But triggered by triggers!

The exact cause of atopic dermatitis has not yet been fully clarified. However, it can be assumed that the skin barrier of those affected and their genes play a role. Due to the increasing numbers, scientists also suspect that excessive hygiene can trigger atopic dermatitis, as the immune system no longer comes into contact with potential allergy-triggering substances and thus overreacts.

However, atopic dermatitis does not just happen. There are certain triggers that make an attack possible.

These include, for example, climatic conditions such as dry air or heat/humidity.
But skin-irritating cleaning agents, cosmetics or textiles can also cause a flare-up.
Other triggers are infections, psychological stress, grief and stress as well as hormonal fluctuations.

➤ 40% of children with atopic dermatitis also develop the inflammatory skin disease in their lifetime.

What helps with neurodermatitis?

Traditionally, atopic dermatitis is often prescribed medication and cortisone, which can, however, lead to severe side effects. Cortisone in particular should not be taken on a long-term basis.

This raises concerns for many patients, which is why more and more are looking for natural alternatives that can support the treatment and alleviate the symptoms.

➤ People with neurodermatitis often suffer from other illnesses at the same time, such as hay fever or other allergies!

Need a natural helper?

Vitamin D

According to studies, vitamin D is said to lead to significant improvements in the treatment of the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. For example, in a study involving 60 patients, a clear alleviation of skin symptoms was achieved. Researchers therefore recommend supplementation with vitamin D for atopic dermatitis.

If additionally combined with vitamin E, the results show that an even better effect can sometimes be achieved.

Omega 3

Omega 3 contains the omega 3s EPA, DHA and ALA, all of which have a positive effect on the skin thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties. In a 12-week study, the effects of omega 3 supplementation were investigated in patients with atopic dermatitis. At the end of the study, patients reported less itching and overall less severe symptoms.

Gamma linolenic acid

The omega-6 fatty acid GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) is considered to be very important in naturopathy for neurodermatitis. This is because it has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and is therefore often recommended as support. Black cumin seed oil and evening primrose oil both contain a lot of it and thus support the skin from the inside. Although the studies on this are not always consistent, they do allow positive conclusions to be drawn about their effectiveness.

Further tips:

Daily skin care is particularly important for atopic dermatitis. For example, certain ointments and moisturizing creams are often used to nourish dry, damaged skin. A visit to the seaside can also greatly improve the symptoms.
An alkaline diet is well suited to preventing inflammation and hyperacidity in the body and thus reducing secondary diseases such as neurodermatitis, allergies and excessive susceptibility to inflammation

Conclusion:

Do you or someone you know suffer from atopic dermatitis? Especially now in summer, when it gets hot and humid, people with this inflammatory skin disease often suffer from itching and other symptoms. This is because itching is intensified by heat and sweat and high humidity do the rest.

So if you are looking for a natural alternative to combat the symptoms of neurodermatitis, why not try the high-quality oils from evening primrose or black cumin as well as vitamins D and E?

Sources (in English):

An JG, Liu YT, Xiao SX, Wang JM, Geng SM, Dong YY. Quality of life of patients with neurodermatitis. International Journal of Medical Sciences. 2013;10(5):593-598. doi:10.7150/ijms.5624

Amestejani, M., Salehi, B. S., Vasigh, M., Sobhkhiz, A., Karami, M., Alinia, H., Kamrava, S. K., Shamspour, N., Ghalehbaghi, B., & Behzadi, A. H. (2012). Vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a clinical trial study. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 11(3), 327-330.

Bjørneboe, A., Søyland, E., Bjørneboe, G. E., Rajka, G., & Drevon, C. A. (1987). Effect of dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. The British journal of dermatology, 117(4), 463-469. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1987.tb04926.x

Reynolds, K., Juhasz, M., Mesinkovska, N. (2019). The role of oral vitamins and supplements in the management of atopic dermatitis: a systematic review. International Journal of Dermatology, 58(12), 1371-1376. doi: 10.1111/ijd.14404.

Senapati, S., Banerjee, S., & Gangopadhyay, D. N. (2008). Evening primrose oil is effective in atopic dermatitis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Indian journal of dermatology, venereology and leprology, 74(5), 447-452. doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.42645

Udompataikul, M., Huajai, S., Chalermchai, T., Taweechotipatr, M., & Kamanamool, N. (2015). The Effects of Oral Vitamin D Supplement on Atopic Dermatitis: A Clinical Trial with Staphylococcus aureus Colonization Determination. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet, 98 Suppl 9, S23-S30.