Start treatment for eczema on the inside

Where to Start

If you’ve ever used an atopic eczema treatment, it’s most likely been in the form of an ointment or a cream, applied directly to the affected areas.

A new study from Germany shows how treatment that begins on the inside might be a better starting point.

Alpha, meet omega

I can tell you from first hand experience, the effects of eczema’s rashes and itching range from annoying to miserable. But my eczema is stress related. The more common type is atopic eczema, which comes and goes in cycles, and usually occurs among patients who tend to have allergies.

In the April 2008 issue of the British Journal of Dermatology, researchers from the Philipps University Marburg in Germany note that the increasing occurrence of atopic eczema has been linked to the reduced intake of omega-3 fatty acids in the Western diet. They tested that link with an eight-week intervention study.

STUDY PROFILE

• More than 50 patients with atopic eczema were recruited
• About half the group received a daily supplement that contained 5.4 grams of the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
• The other subjects received a daily pill containing saturated fatty acids
• Assessments at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks, showed that subjects in the DHA group experienced “significant clinical improvement of atopic eczema” compared to subjects in the control group

Back to the outside

The key to the success of the German trial is almost certainly inflammation control. Blood tests revealed that immune response was boosted in the DHA group, along with a reduction in inflammation.

Some topical vitamin B12 might also help reduce the root cause of inflammation.

Cytokines are inflammatory agents that prompt the body to produce nitric oxide – the primary culprit behind eczema’s itching and rashes. In the e-Alert “Red Flag, Black Box” (3/22/05), I told you about another German study that tested a topical treatment containing vitamin B12 – a natural scavenger of nitric oxide.

In that test, the vitamin cream produced very favorable responses, while a placebo cream produced poor-to-moderate responses. The cream was also well tolerated, which is more than you can say for the widely used commercial topical treatments Elidel and Protopic. Three years ago, the FDA issued a public health advisory to inform consumers that the use of these two popular treatments may pose a cancer risk.

If you can’t find B12 cream at your local vitamin shop, there are several sources on the Internet that carry different brands. But talk to your doctor before trying B12 cream or high doses of omega-3 DHA.

Source:
“Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Supplementation in Atopic Eczema: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial” British Journal of Dermatology, Vol, 158, No. 4, April 2008, blackwell-synergy.com