Based on symptoms and severity, skin disorders vary vastly. There are certain skin disorders which can be temporary and also few permanent disorders that can be managed in an efficient way by regulating lifestyle. While some of them are caused by external environment and the way we treat our skins, few could be hereditary.
Few most common skin disorders are:
Rosacea – It is a chronic disorder which includes inflammation of skin, redness and prominent acne. It acts in cycles which involves flare and relapse.
Acne – It is the most common disorder which is usually caused because of improper skin care or hormonal changes. These appear in different forms like cysts, blackheads, white heads, nodules etc. Acne as a skin condition sometimes can lead to mental health issues like low self-esteem and anxiety.
Keratosis pilaris – It is usually seen as dry rough patches associated with tiny bumps on skin. This is considered as a normal skin and it can neither be cured nor prevented.
Psoriasis – It is an auto-immune disorder which presents itself as silver/ red prominent patches, typically seen near elbows, knees, lower back etc., Stress is one of the major factors which triggers a flare.
Eczema – It typically looks like a scaly, white patch which also involves hair loss in the affected region.
Dermatitis - It is a common skin irritation and it usually involves itchy dry skin or a rash. In some cases, it also involves a blister, crusting or flaking.
Vitiligo – It causes loss of pigmentation on skin and it can cause loss of hair colour/ early whitening. On the skin it is usually seen in the parts exposed to sun.
Other than these, there are also some serious skin conditions which can be considered as a medical emergency like cellulitis, carcinomas, melanomas etc.
Reasons for skin disorders:
Bacteria trapped in the skin pores
Fungal/ parasitic infections
Viral infections
Compromised immune system
Allergen reactions
Genetics
Thyroid/ immune system related illnesses
Medications – certain medicines used for treating inflammatory bowel syndrome can cause vitiligo, allergic eczema
Diabetes – this can cause fungal infections like ring worm etc., and other bacterial infections, acanthosis nigricans, blisters etc.
Lupus – a chronic inflammatory disease which can affect skin, organs and joints
Stress
Sun damage
Pregnancy and other hormone-related disorders.
While treating a skin disease, you need to address the root cause of it. In most cases, these can be treated by small lifestyle and dietary changes as well.
How do you prevent skin disorders?
Besides the common preventive measures like- avoiding direct skin contact, not sharing personal items etc., These healthy eating habits and lifestyle can help in improving skin health and other health concerns which can trigger skin disorders.
Get adequate sleep – 7-8 hours of sleep every night. While working on a night shift these hours can be adjusted according to your work timings.
Drink plenty of water – have at least 3 litres of water.
Quit smoking and alcohol intake which can increase body’s inflammation and compromise the immune system.
Include adequate anti-oxidants in your diet like Vitamin A, C and E in the diet. Sources include – carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, capsicum, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, mangoes, citrus fruits like orange, lemons, vegetable oil, nuts and seeds.
Include “healthy fats” - Including healthy omega-3's and mono unsaturated fatty acids can help in guarding skin from sun damage and maintains PH balance of the skin. Sources include fish, flax seeds, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, avocadoes etc.
Include whole foods, instead of processed versions, as these help in providing essential nutrients like phyto-chemicals, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds etc., The sources are legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, curd etc.,
It is important to prevent the flares of any skin disease to prevent further progression of the disorder.
If you have a gluten allergy, you may need to limit gluten containing foods, as it often causes allergies and increases the inflammation in the body leading to reduce in the absorption of vitamins and minerals. However, not everyone needs to avoid this, consult your doctor and a dietitian regarding any dietary restrictions.
Increase your omega-3 fatty acid intake, they help in reducing the inflammation and balancing the omega-6 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are present in fish, nuts and seeds like walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds and flax seeds; plant oils like soy bean oil, flax seed oil; eggs
Eliminate dairy, if you are sensitive towards milk. It can aggravate the allergy and also causes leaky gut syndrome worsening keratosis pilaris.
NOTE – consult your doctor/ dietitian before eliminating a food group from the diet. Avoid self-medicating.
Avoid refined sugars and foods with refined carbohydrates, they can increase your symptoms.
Vitamins are healthy for your skin. Especially fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.
Get safe sunlight exposure between 11 am to 2 pm whenever possible, since sunlight is the best source of vitamin D. However, if the skin condition warrants that you stay away from sun, avoid this.
Vitamin A can help correct keratin levels. Food's rich in vitamin A are- eggs, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, dark green vegetables like broccoli, leafy vegetables, cod liver oil etc.
Vitamin E protects the skin. Vitamin E rich foods include, vegetable oils like sunflower oil, soy bean oil, nuts like almonds, peanuts, seeds like sunflower seeds, green leafy vegetables like spinach etc.
Vitamin K helps in healing your skin. Food's rich in vitamin K include spinach, mustard greens, lettuce, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, fish, eggs etc.
While following these dietary changes are important, it is equally important to identify the symptoms and get an early consultation from your dermatologist to prevent further progression of disease. Also, maintain a diet journal to note the food and symptoms that it causes so you can manage them better.
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