Researchers have reported that "although supplementation with 400 IU of vitamin E per day has been reported in anecdotal accounts to alleviate eczema, research has not supported this effect. Moreover, rare cases of topical vitamin E potentially causing eczema have appeared. People with eczema should not expect vitamin E to be helpful with their condition."
Salicylic acid, aspirin, NSAIDs
This acid is recommended for psoriasis, and some dermatologists do give it to dyshidrosis patients. It can cause a major flare-up, and indeed, if you read up on it, it is contraindicated for inflamed skin. There has been research reported from Sweden where 15% of people with hand dyshidrosis were triggered by aspirin, and 13% by acetaminophen.
Orange oils
Oil from grapefruit, orange, lemon and lime skin is one of the major irritants and can cause dyshidrosis. Also when part of those citrus oil cleaners.
Birth control pills
Medical texts commonly warn that there is a connection between birth control pills intake and dyshidrosis.
Smoking
This is another commonly-mentioned link. I suspect that taking nicotine orally would not be a problem, but I have not seen this explored.
Formaldehyde
This from a sufferer who was found sensitive to formaldehyde from a prick test. Formaldehyde is difficult to avoid. Formaldehyde releasing preservatives are very common in hand soaps (especially liquids), shampoos, cosmetics,and hand lotion. In fact there's an expensive cream marketed to eczema sufferes that has not only lanolin, but also DMDM Hydantoin (a formaldehyde releaser). Other such preservatives are Quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea (Germall II) and several others. Formaldehyde itself is found in fabric finishes (no more permanent press for me!), some paper, smoke, rubber and plastic products, fiberboard, plywood, carpets, it goes on and on.
Triclosan Nasty stuff, and it's everywhere. Read this; it has info about products that contain it.
Written by Vera Bradova © 2004-2006
Updated 10-19-2006
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