What Are Eczema, Psoriasis & Dermatitis?

Eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis are chronic, inflammatory autoimmune skin conditions that have a deeper root cause than many dry skin and dehydrated skin problems.

However, there can also be more elaborate reasons why we develop non-autoimmune dry and dehydrated skin. Even so, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis are usually more complex, and they tend to be a lot more long-term.

Autoimmune Skin Conditions & Stress

Most people, who have an autoimmune skin condition, have already figured out that stress can prompt a breakout of their condition. But, what they might not have pieced together is that our body views many things as stressful, that we wouldn’t automatically view as stressful.

This means that it’s not just emotional and physical stress that contribute towards a greater likelihood of a flare up.

Our body also classifies a sub-optimal diet as stressful, just as much as it does with environmental pollution. Insufficient sleep is a key stressor, as is an unhealthy home or work environment. There are actually many precursors to stress within our bodies that we might not have considered.

If we can add the word stressor to a precursor, then it’s stressful for our bodies!

To illustrate what I mean by this I will elaborate on two of the most common stressors: unhealthy home and work environments.

Many would assume that when I mention unhealthy home or work environments I am referring to the following:

• Relationship issues: Problems with a partner / children, or a difficult situation with a colleague or your boss etc.
• Money worries: Being behind with payments because you aren’t earning enough to cover rising costs.
• Not enough time off: Your work to life balance is out of whack and your home life is suffering.
• Structural issues: Your house has sprung a leak, or your workplace is overcrowded etc.

But other stressors in these environments can include:

• Toxic mould
• Toxic chemicals (including cleaning products and scented products – incense sticks, air fresheners, scented candles and reed diffusers etc.)
• Heavy metal exposures at home and work – when toxic elements like lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium enter the body through dust, food, water, or air.
• Wireless technologies – non-native electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure is thought to undermine key processes within our bodies, including immune function: An National Institute of Health scientific review of various scientific papers outlines the detrimental effects: Disturbance of the immune system by electromagnetic fields-A potentially underlying cause for cellular damage and tissue repair reduction which could lead to disease and impairment: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19398310/
• Badly ventilated and poorly regulated environments that get too hot or too cold.
• Buildings that are too close to chemical crop spraying, or too close to major highways, elevating pollution exposure.
• Noisy, uncomfortable environments.
• Home and workplace are too far apart, requiring a major commute.
• Insufficient time to stay active…

All of the above are stressors of one type or another, but our bodies simply recognise them as stressors. This means that our body simply lumps all stressors into one pile. It also means that it’s very easy to exceed a safe level of stress without even knowing it.

We all have an individual tolerance to stress, some of us can cope with more, and some of us with less… but, understanding what our body considers to be a stressor will allow us to calibrate our stress exposures to ensure that we never tip over into the danger zone again.

Are Eczema & Psoriasis & Dermatitis Dry Skin Conditions?

All chronic inflammatory skin conditions commonly cause severe dryness, scaling, and irritation. But, whilst eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis all feature dry skin as a primary symptom, these autoimmune skin conditions are distinct medical disorders with different underlying causes.

Nevertheless, even though chronic inflammatory skin conditions are much more complex than dry and dehydrated skin conditions, all of the carrier oils and essential oils that are beneficial for dry and dehydrated skin, that are listed in Is It Dry Skin? Dehydrated Skin? Or An Autoimmune Skin Condition Like Eczema?, are also the best oils for calming and improving autoimmune skin conditions.

Please refer to this list to decide which carrier oils and essential oils would best help you deal with your specific issues.

Autoimmune Skin Conditions & Dry Skin

Those who suffer from autoimmune skin conditions can develop severe skin dryness, especially when exposed to substances that promote allergic reactions.

Dry skin is a major feature of eczema, psoriasis and contact dermatitis, but the underlying cause of these conditions are a complex mix of epigenetic factors, digestive health challenges, an overactive immune system, and compromised skin barrier function, etc…

Eczema & Psoriasis & Digestive Health

One of the key stressors in life is what we feed ourselves three times a day. Plus, the way we feed ourselves is also key. If we are rushing, eating on the go, or simply eating when upset, it is deeply stressful for our bodies.

Not only that… but a large proportion of our immune cells live in our gut. When the balance of bacteria in our intestines is disrupted this results in dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis can trigger widespread inflammation and immune dysregulation, two of the key precursors to autoimmune skin conditions.

Studies show that people with eczema often have less diverse gut microbiomes and lower levels of helpful bacteria compared to people with healthy skin. The same is true of those suffering from psoriasis and contact dermatitis.

Intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut, characterised by a compromised gut lining, has been shown to cause immune system flare-ups, systemic inflammation and cause skin sensitivity.

When we are digestively compromised we are fundamentally systemically compromised, which means that we are more easily overwhelmed by external factors, such as: dietary inputs, allergens and toxicity.

Consequently, those with digestive health issues will develop inflammatory symptoms at much lower levels of exposure to these external factors compared to those who have a robust immune system and diverse gut microbiome.

Allergic Reactions

Common substances that promote allergic reactions and flare-ups in those who are predisposed to autoimmune skin conditions, include:

• Contact allergens & toxins
• Airborne allergens & toxins
• Certain foods

Contact Allergens (Skincare and Environment)

Fragrances are considered the most frequent cause of environmental activation of autoimmune skin conditions. There are, as mentioned earlier, quite a few other environmental triggers / stressors:

Artificial scents and perfumes, (many of which are toxic when they bioaccumulate in the body), are often found in lotions, soaps, body washes, shampoos and conditioners, etc. This extends to the fragrances found in laundry detergents, cleaning products, scented candles and reed diffusers, etc. Air fresheners of all kinds are also a problem, including solid and fluid scented products, plug-ins and fabric sprays, etc.

Metals can also be a problem to some. Direct skin contact with Nickel in jewellery, belt buckles, or glasses frames can trigger allergic contact dermatitis. Plus, dusty environments can mean that we inhale heavy metal contaminants.

Preservatives: Chemicals like formaldehyde, parabens, and isothiazolinones used in cosmetics and personal care items can irritate sensitive skin. For more information please read: Top Personal Care Product Ingredients To Avoid

Rubber and latex: Accelerators and chemicals in rubber gloves, balloons, or elastic clothing bands can provoke localised reactions.

Airborne and environmental allergens: like household dust mites, pet dander, and pollen

Airborne and environmental toxins: Mould can indirectly trigger autoimmune skin conditions. This is because mould exposures tax our immune systems. If we have a compromised immune system, as a consequence of contending with an autoimmune skin condition, then a mould exposure, or airborne chemical exposure, potentially from crop spraying, or gardening chemicals, etc, is likely to exacerbate our autoimmune skin conditions.

Common Food Allergens

Cow’s milk and dairy products are primary food triggers for eczema, especially for infants and young children.

Grains, particularly wheat, are considered a key trigger for psoriasis, but can affect all autoimmune skin conditions.

Eggs are frequently linked to immediate or delayed immune responses and flare-ups in young sufferers.

Peanuts and Tree Nuts: Potent allergens that can provoke systemic reactions and skin inflammation.

Legumes – such as soy and other beans and lentils: Legumes are common dietary staples that can contribute to overall inflammatory responses in susceptible people.

Processed food: Many processed foods contain industrial additives and high levels of ‘bad salt’, unhealthy fats and refined sugar, etc…

*Industrial additives are toxic synthetic ingredients like artificial colours, flavourings, and emulsifiers, that make poor quality food ingredients more appetising, and extend the shelf life, etc. However, they do these things at the expense of our gut health.

Refined sugar: Very inflammatory and regular consumption is a leading cause of gut dysbiosis.

How To Handle Your Autoimmune Skin Condition

Familiarising yourself with all of the stressors that can prompt a flare up is vitally important. Once identified, you can avoid as many of them as possible.

You can also adapt your diet, and live a more active and fulfilling life.

Plus, learning which anti-inflammatory, soothing, deeply beneficial oils can help with symptomatic relief, reduce scarring and promote great outcomes is also key. Especially whilst you figure out what lifestyle and environmental factors need your attention.

Please visit Is It Dry Skin? Dehydrated Skin? Or An Autoimmune Skin Condition Like Eczema? for a full list of the most beneficial oils to achieve optimal outcomes.

Further Reading:

Why Is Collagen Important For Our Skin?

Carrier Oils & Essential Oils For Natural Peptide & Collagen Support

Is It Dry Skin? Dehydrated Skin? Or An Autoimmune Skin Condition Like Eczema?

Best Oils For Crepey Skin

Eyelid & Under Eye Skin Care

Find more skincare articles here: Natural Health News Overview

Or go to Skincare Articles

Disclaimer

This disclaimer provides supplemental information to the website disclaimer.

The information provided in this article is not intended to replace the medical directives of your healthcare provider. Nor is it meant for the diagnosis of health issues.

This article provides general insights that may not be applicable to you personally:

• If you are pregnant, have serious or multiple health concerns, consult with your healthcare provider before using carrier oils and essential oils.
• If you have known allergies, for example to nuts etc, this may mean that some of the carrier oils listed in this article should be avoided. Some people also have intollerances and allergies to some essential oils. Please avoid using all oils that you anticipate you will have a reaction to.
• If you do not have any known allergies it is still vital to perform a patch test prior to applying oils, for the first time, over large areas of you body.
• If you experience any complications or adverse reactions to using carrier oils and essential oils, contact your healthcare provider immediately.