Skin problems are rarely serious enough to be fatal, however a facial skin problem such as acne can be psychologically quite distressing. This web page will discuss natural skin treatment with herbs and supplements. For a discussion of diet and acne, see the link below for acne vulgaris under skin disorder category.

Diet and skin
To have health skin, eat lots of fish and vegetables and reduce your sugar or simple carbohydrate intake. Some people break out if they eat too many nuts. I also recommend you eat more fish or take Fish-Oil supplements. Higher intakes of antioxidant vitamin and fresh fruits and vegetables, and lower intakes of saturated fats and simple carbohydrates are associated with better skin-aging appearance.

Best Skin care product
See DMAE skin cream has been promoted as an anti aging skin care product although there are no studies that prove this. Retinoic acid is a prescription cream that could be a best skin care product. Retinoic acid is available by prescription only and can be used for fine wrinkles.

Skin disorder - Skin Condition - Skin Disease
These include acne vulgaris, Albinism - Alopecia - alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency - Blister - Boils - Cafe-au-Lait Spots - canker sores also known as aphthous ulcers - Cellulitis - Connective Tissue Diseases - Dermatitis - Dermatitis Herpetiformis - Dermatomyositis - Eczema - Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - Epidermolysis Bullosa - Erysipelas - Erythema - Exanthema Subitum - Furunculosis - Granuloma Annulare is difficult to treat or find the cause of - Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a skin disorder in some ways similar to adult acne but oral zinc supplements may help - Hives - Hyperhidrosis -  Ichthyosis - Keloid - Keratosis, Seborrheic - Lentigo - Lichen Planus - Lichen sclerosus - Lipodystrophy - Mastocytosis - Melanosis - Melasma - Mixed Connective Tissue Disease - Panniculitis - Pemphigoid - Photosensitivity Disorders - Pigmentation Disorders - Pityriasis - Port-Wine Stain - Pruritus - Psoriasis - Pyoderma Gangrenosum - Rosacea - Scleroderma - Skin tag - Stevens-Johnson Syndrome - Sweat Gland Diseases - Sweet's Syndrome - Tinea Versicolor - Urticaria - Vitiligo - Xanthomatosis - Xeroderma Pigmentosum -

Skin Cream Caution
Eczema creams sold by Novartis AG and Astellas Pharma Inc. will come with a "black-box" warning about a possible risk of cancer from the prescription treatments. A black-box warning is the strongest type used in the United States for prescription drugs. The new warnings apply to Novartis AG's drug Elidel and Astellas Pharma's Protopic.

Skin rash
A skin rash refers to skin redness or inflammation. A skin rash involves changes in the color or texture of skin. Generally, the cause of a skin rash can be determined from its visible characteristics and other symptoms. A simple rash is called dermatitis, meaning inflammation of the skin.
     Natural herbs or supplements that could cause a skin rash include: Hyaluronic acid, red yeast rice, kava, and St. John's wort. It is quite likely that many more do, but these are the ones we have had feedback on thus far.

Skin infection
A skin infection can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. In the case of a skin fungus, athlete's foot is a classic and common example of a skin infection. Human skin is populated by a veritable menagerie of bacteria -- more than 200 species -- some apparently living there permanently and others just dropping by for a visit. Almost all of these bacteria are harmless. Some bacteria seem to be permanent residents of the skin, with four genera -- Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Propionibacteria and Corynebacteria -- accounting for a bit more than half the population.

Skin Symptom
Itchy skin, dry skin, oily skin.

Skin zinc
Zinc oxide is used as a sunscreen. It is a white cream that can be placed particularly on the nose and back of hands to prevent skin damage from excessive sun exposure.

Skin allergy
An allergic reaction to a medicine, herb, drug, food, cream, gel, lotion or other substance can cause skin allergy. Common presentations of skin allergy include atopic dermatitis, eczema, and urticaria. Skin irritation is not the same as skin allergy.
     Adverse skin reactions to drugs are frequent, affecting 2% to 3% of all hospitalized patients. Fortunately, only about 2% of adverse skin reactions are severe and very few are fatal. Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are severe life-threatening diseases with a mortality rate reaching 30%, and only prompt recognition and diagnosis, withdrawal of the offensive drug, and referral to an intensive care unit or burn care unit might improve the prognosis and save the patient's life. Drug eruption with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome, formerly termed drug hypersensitivity syndrome, is a rather distinct severe adverse drug reaction characterized by skin eruption, fever, lymph node enlargement, and single or multiple organ involvement, with a high morbidity and a mortality rate of 10%.

Herbs for Healthy Skin
Chickweed for eczema
Seabuckthorn has been used for dermatological conditions such as rosacea, eczema, and burns.
See nail fungus for a natural treatment for this difficult infection, or see tinea unguium.

Sun Exposure and Aging Skin
Exposure to solar UV radiation is the main environmental factor that causes premature aging of the skin (photoaging). Human skin aging resulting from UV irradiation is a cumulative process that occurs based on the degree of sun exposure and the level of skin pigment. UV irradiation induces matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) responsible for alterations in the collagenous extracellular matrix of connective tissue, resulting in impaired integrity. On a molecular level, UV radiation from the sun attacks keratinocytes and fibroblasts, resulting in the activation of cell surface receptors, which initiate signal transduction cascades. This in turn leads to a variety of molecular changes, which causes a breakdown of collagen in the extracellular matrix and a shutdown of new collagen synthesis

Skin Cancer
For information on skin Cancer or melanoma.

Skin Conditions associated with Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus may be associated with skin lesions affecting the skin and mucous membranes. In some cases they may even provide the physician with a first indication that the patient may be suffering from diabetes. Typical examples of skin conditions include necrobiosis lipoidica, granuloma annulare, acanthosis nigricans and vitiligo.

Sensitive skin
A sensitive skin is a thin that reacts quickly to both heat and cold; therefore, it sunburns and windburns easily. Sensitive skin can be dry, delicate and prone to allergic reactions. Temperature changes, some detergents, cosmetics and alcohol (used on the skin) can all cause irritation, leaving the skin red and blotchy, with visible surface veins.

Skin tag removal
Skin tags are small growths of skin that individuals develop around the eyelids, neck, armpits, and the groin areas. Typically they look like small little balls of skin attached to the body by a thin stalk. The medical name is acrochordon or fibroepithelial polyp. They are largely harmless.. The tendency to develop skin tags is inherited but being overweight also is a contributing factor. The exact cause is unknown but frictional pressure of skin rubbing skin may be an influence. Skin tags may need treatment if they become inflamed or necrotic but generally they are considered a cosmetic problem.

Facial Skin Stimulators
Electrical devices sold as over-the-counter alternatives to a face-lift fall far short of their claims. Ads for the devices, known as facial stimulators, say they offer a sort of non-surgical face-lift. The concept is that electrical stimulation of the facial muscles firms up the face and leads to a more youthful appearance -- similar to what's gained from surgery. But there is no biological basis for that claim.

Signs of Skin Aging
The following are some signs of skin aging:
Lines and wrinkles, clogged pores and bumps under the skin, dark discolorations such as ages spots and sun spots, redness around the nose and cheeks (dilated capillaries), sagging around the jaw line and under the chin, thin, dry skin.

Skin Cosmetic ingredients
There are countless ingredients in cosmetic products. I will add to this list in the future.

Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)
Beta hydroxy acid (BHA)
Carmine
Parabens are often used in skin care products.

Sunscreens and Skin Cancer
Lawsuits filed in March, 2006 accuse sunscreen makers of exposing millions of people to skin cancer and other dangers through false and misleading claims about the effectiveness of their sunscreen skin care products. The nine suits - involving some of the most popular brands, including Coppertone, Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Bullfrog and Neutrogena - charge that manufacturers dangerously inflate claims about the protective qualities of sunscreens, lulling consumers into believing they are safe from the dangers of prolonged skin exposure to sun. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the leading cause of skin cancer. The suits, filed in California, name as defendants Johnson & Johnson Inc., Schering-Plough Corp., Playtex Products Inc., Tanning Research Laboratories Inc. and Chattem Inc. The suits focus on labels that claim the sunscreens protect equally against the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays, and also claims of how long supposed waterproof sunscreen remains effective in water. "In truth and in fact ... as defendants knew or should have known, their skin protection products, at best, only protect the skin against harmful UVA rays with shorter wavelengths, while the skin remains exposed to harmful UVA rays with longer wavelengths that penetrate deep within the skin," according to the suits.

Organic skin care
All natural organic skin care products are produced by several companies who claim to make chemical free skin care products based on organic botanical oils and organic herbal extracts. Organic skin care products may be helpful for those who apply skin care products on a daily basis. For those who use skin care products infrequently, the use of organic skin care products may not provide any noticeable health benefits.

Skin Lightening Danger
Complications from the use of skin lightening products are a serious problem for men and women of African descent. In a group of 46 people, Dr. Antoine Petit of the Hopital Saint Louis, Paris and colleagues identified two with insufficient adrenal gland function that was likely due to use of one product called clobetasol, which is illegal in France. Others had hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, skin atrophy (degeneration) and infections that could have been related to use of skin lightening products, while many reported being unable to stop trying to lighten their skin even though they wanted to. "This particular feature of skin lightening is akin to addictive behavior, sometimes associated with real psychological suffering," Petit and colleagues write in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Skin lightening appears to be a common practice among dark skinned individuals in most of the world, and has been linked to side effects ranging from disfiguring scarring to system-wide health problems, the researchers note. However, they add, there have been few reports on complications due to use of these products from industrialized nations such as France and the United States.

Wart on Skin
May products are used to treat a wart on skin including imiquimod.

Skin questions
Q. I took the skin medication Accutane over six months ago and have had the side effects of extremely dry skin and hair, I have noticed a complete lack of skin oil production. Would taking DHEA remedy this problem or is it likely to have no real effect?
   A. It's hard to say, DHEA may produce more oily skin, but it is quite likely to aggravate your acne skin condition.

Q.  what oral supplement is good for skin. I heard about glutathione that after a couple of months taking it , it can make your skin whiteir and healthy. is this true?
   A. We have not come across any research that says glutathione supplements taken orally improve skin. Fish oil supplements may help in some people, but the most important is to eat fish and vegetables.

Q. As a male person over 78, I am in reasonably good health but for one thing. The skin on the back of my hands is very thin, no apparent subcutaneous fat and is easily damaged in general gardening work, especially if pierced when I experience significant under skin bleeding. In my years I have always painted around the house and it recently occurred to me that, apart from any natural tendency to actually have dry skin on my hands, might the fact that I
have always cleaned my hands with spirit, methylated or otherwise. Since that sort of spirit is also used to remove grease from ones hands, could it, over many years, have contributed in some way to the emulsification and dispersal of the fat under the skin on the back of my hands and is there some way to encourage collagen to to build up, hand cream.
   A. I doubt the use of the spirits had anything to do with the thin skin. See below of another question on thin skin.

Q. My father is 73 years old and in general good health taking no meds with the exception of a baby aspirin every day. Heart disease and stroke are in his family and he periodically will have an elevated high blood pressure. He deals severely with what he calls " thin skin ." The slightest bump will tear the skin and leave a horrible bruising or the skin will break. Thin skin has been a family trait. He takes no supplements. Can you tell me what would be good supplements or herbal formulas for thin skin.
   A. This is a good question. Thin skin is very common as we age and many people suffer from it. Thin skin is due to loss of protein and fat in the skin due to the aging process. Excessive sun exposure can be one cause. Steroid use can cause thin skin. At this time I have not studied the causes and treatment of age related thin skin but will mention any new findings I come across in the newsletter.

Q. I have had a problem with very dry skin especially on my legs. I have tried products like Aveeno and over the counter products. I had a girlfriend who suggested taking a tablespoon of olive oil everyday as she felt it would help from within not what you put on the skin.
   A. I have not studied the role of oils in dry skin treatment, but one option is to increase intake of fish oils, flax seed oil, coconut oil and olive oil. There are many over the counter dry skin moiturizers, and I have not looked into this field in any detail.

Q. I am a 48 year old woman. I stopped eating meat a year ago and eat vegies, fruits, beans, nuts, yogurt, cheeses and other such foods. I take B-12, flaxseed capsules, biotin supplement. My questions is that I have noticed the skin on my arms are very creepy and wrinkly. It seems like it happen in the past 5 months. I work out everyday and do weight training 2 to 3 days a week and have since I was 18 years old. I am sick over this. I was always so proud to show off my arms for my muscle tone. Could this problem be a result from not eating meat? I have lost weight all over. I was always very petite never weighing more than 110 and am now at just around 100 to 103. I feel great internally. I feel younger and my workout routine is much easier. If were to start eating meat again would that help my skin or is it to me like this for good. I can't stand to see myself in short sleeves and it is very depressing. I live in the South so I can't avoid it. Yes, I do wear sunscreen.
   A. It's difficult to say whether not eating meat had a role to play in your skin health. One option is to resume eating meat to see if there are any changes in skin health after a few months.

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