Is Effective Eczema Treatment Related to the Hygiene Hypothesis?
10/27/2006
A recent news article noted that the galloping increase in eczema is limited to industrialized countries. The author also states that scientists don’t have an explanation as to why the third world doesn’t have the same problem and offered the hygiene hypothesis as a possibility. However, the article overlooks a major factor - the overburdening of toxic chemicals and pollutants that damage the skin. Eczema sufferers need a safe eczema treatment and an environment that does not cause or exacerbate skin problems.
The hygiene hypothesis certainly has validity in certain circumstances. In 1989 an article in the British Medical Journal revealed that lack of exposure to germs in childhood could cause hay fever, eczema and other allergic disorders later in life. The immune system has to be exposed to germs to develop antibodies. The use of anti-bacterial soaps and cleansers not only prevents that exposure, it also forces the germs to defend themselves by mutating into ‘superbacteria’ for which scientists have not developed an antidote. This is especially true in Japan, a nation obsessed with cleanliness.
However, although doctors say that the true cause of eczema is not known, you would be hard-pressed to find any information source that claims bacteria is the culprit. What you will find is never-ending lists of chemical irritants found in most homes in industrialized countries - household cleaners, pesticides, paint strippers, perfumes, soaps, detergents and, yes, even some of the drugs commonly used as eczema treatment.
As scientists continue to ponder the alleged mysteries of this skin disease, those with eczema continue to suffer.
What is safe and effective eczema treatment? First, do everything you can to rid your home of toxins. Replace your soaps, household cleansers, detergents and cosmetics with natural products that do not contain chemical irritants. Next, stop eating foods laden with pesticides, antibiotics and other harmful chemicals. Instead, choose natural, fresh foods that are chemical free.
That done, the next step is to protect yourself from toxic chemicals and pollutants in the environment. The solution for that is a shielding lotion. A good shielding lotion bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a protective layer that keeps out the chemicals that cause skin disorders. Thousands of doctors now recommend a shielding lotion for dry skin care and eczema treatment. While there’s no doubt that bacteria cause problems, when it comes to eczema, you’ll get more mileage out of a chemical-free environment and lifestyle.
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