Vitamins and Minerals for Eczema

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is essential to maintain intact epithelial tissues as a physical barrier to infection.  It is essential for the correct functioning, development and maintenance of epithelial cells.  These cells form the outer layer of the skin.  Promotes tissue healing, strengthens and protects the skin tissue and fights infection which is implicated in eczema.  When applied topically, it is found to rapidly improve the epithelial barrier function from damage caused by chemical irritation or inflammation. 

Vitamin A and its derivatives (retinol, retinoic acid, retinaldehyde) have an anti-ageing effect when applied to the skin. They accelerate cell renewal and stimulate the production of keratinocytes and fibroblasts as well as collagen. Retinoids suppress impaired elastic fibres and thus encourage a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines as well as improvement in the skin’s biomechanical properties. They increase dermal vascularisation, and by renewing keratinocytes, reduce pigmented spots. The skin looks more delicate, with a better color, less wrinkled, in short – it looks younger and more attractive.

The Vitamin A oil I used at first was Spring Valley, Vitamin A, 8000 I.U. made with soybean and fish oil--Soybean oil is not allergenic to soybean-sensitive individuals.  I just cut open the capsules and put it on my hands.  At first, it seemed like my skin improved.  Within a day or so, though, I broke out with a rash (maybe from the soybean), and the same thing happened to my neighbor (who suffers from eczema).  Later research showed me that topical soybean oil actually delays repair of the barrier function along with olive oil, but sunflower oil helped repair it in that study.

I'm researching and testing on myself and others African Red Palm Oil.  Red palm oil is red due to the high content of beta carotene (15 times higher than carrots).  Since the color can stain, wear darker clothes.  If you're putting it on your hands, wear the food service handles gloves.  Find it in your health foods stores like Wild Oats.  Topical beta-carotene penetrated well into human epidermis and induced a 10-fold increase of epidermal retinyl esters, which demonstrates that topical beta-carotene is converted into retinyl esters by human epidermis and thus appears as a precursor of epidermal vitamin A.  See NIH report.  It helps prevent asthma attacks.  Vitamin A is also found in alfalfa, borage leaves, burdock root, cayenne, chickweed, hops, nettle, parsley, peppermint, raspberry leaf, red clover, rose hips and yellow dock.
 

Vitamin B

See the B Vitamins Web Page
 

Vitamin C

Required for tissue growth and repair.  Aids in production of anti-stress hormones.  Essential in formation of collagen, a principal protein that gives the skin its structural integrity.  Found in alfalfa, burdock root, cayenne, chickweed, fenugreek, hops, peppermint, nettle, parsley, raspberry leaf, red clover, rosehips, skullcap, yellow dock
 

Vitamin E

Helps protect essential fatty acids.  Necessary for tissue repair.  Promotes healthy skin.  Found in alfalfa, dandelion, flaxseed, nettle, raspberry leaf and rose hips
 

Lecithin

Needed for better absorption of the essential fatty acids.  It is a component of all living cells and an integral part of all organs and glands. The brain itself contains 25% phospholipids on a dry weight basis.  Phospholipids are also among the primary building blocks of all cellular membranes.  Membrane functions include cellular transport of nutrients and wastes, internal cellular pressure regulation, and ion exchange.
 

Magnesium

See the Magnesium Web Page
Found in alfalfa, catnip, cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, dandelion, fenugreek, hops, licorice, nettle, parsley, peppermint, raspberry leaf, red clover, yellow dock
 

Potassium 

See the Potassium Web Page
Found in catnip, hops, nettle, red clover and skullcap.
 

Sulfur
Disinfects the blood.  Helps the body resist bacteria.  Stimulates bile secretion and protects against toxic substances.  Needed for the synthesis of collagen.  Found in brussel sprouts, dried beans, cabbage, fish, garlic, kale, onions, soybeans turnips. 

Zinc

Zinc helps convert essential fatty acids to prostaglandins and helps in the formation of HCL in the stomach.  Necessary for proper functioning of the oil-producing glands.  Zinc seems necessary for at least two stages in EFA metabolism, the conversion of linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid, and the mobilisation of dihomogammalinolenic acid (DGLA) for the synthesis of 1 series PGs.  Promotes a healthy immune system and healing of wounds.  Not surprisingly, zinc deficits are known to affect hyaluronic acid levels. In a study on rats, among other symptoms, a deficiency in zinc resulted in impaired collagen synthesis.)  Protects liver from chemical damage.  Needed to maintain proper concentration of vitamin E in the blood.  Found in alfalfa, burdock root, cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, dandelion, hops,  nettle, parsley, rosehips, sarsaparilla, skullcap and wild yam.  Do not  take on an empty stomach & not take more than 100mg per day for adults.
 

Coenzyme Q10

A vitamin like substances.  Has the ability to counter histamine and is therefore beneficial for people with allergies.  Also beneficial in fighting candidiasis.