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Skin problems - causes, applications and therapy
contents
- The skin from a holistic view
- Anatomy and physiology of the skin
- Efflorescences - skin problems
- skin lesions
- General skin symptoms
- skin diseases
- Causes of skin problems
- Conventional therapy for skin problems
- Naturopathy with skin problems
The skin from a holistic view
Even Hippocrates and Paracelsus associated skin problems with pathological internal processes. At that time already prescribed remedies, such as sulfur, belong again - or still - in the portfolio of a naturopathic therapist.
Skin care for skin diseases. Image: Valua Vitaly - fotolia The skin represents the envelope of the human being and is, from a holistic point of view, the physical limit of the ego, the border to the outside world. It is a protective coat and serves the defense. Tenderness and warmth, but also pain and cold are felt through the skin. Everybody knows phrases like "that gets under my skin", "having a thick coat" or "I can not get out of my skin", which illustrates the connection between the organ and the psyche.
Skin problems or skin diseases are from naturopathic point of view signs of disorders that affect the whole organism. As if the body has to seek a kind of valve to relieve it. Accordingly, the skin is used in natural medicine for excretory purposes, as done for example by cupping or Baunscheidtieren. This is harmful to be brought to the outside.
For skin problems that are treated with the help of naturopathy, the entire organism is involved. Frequently used therapy methods are for example homeopathy, phytotherapy, nutritional therapy, TCM and orthomolecular therapy.
Anatomy and physiology of the skin
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and consists of three layers: epidermis, dermis, subcutis. Its surface is about 1.5 to 2 square meters, it is between 1.5 and 4 millimeters thick and weighs 3.5 to 10 kilograms. The skin separates the inside from the outside, thus protecting the body from the effects of the environment, pathogens, foreign substances, heat and cold. With her tactile corpuscles and sensory cells, she is a sensory organ that can perceive pain sensations, temperature changes, but also emotional feelings. To prevent the body from overheating, the skin can give off sweat to create cooling. It also ensures a constant body temperature by narrowing or widening its vessels. The skin is a kind of communication organ. Especially in naturopathy it is called the "mirror of the soul". Sometimes the look in a strange face reveals how this person might feel (see also facial diagnosis).
Efflorescences - skin problems
Efflorescences are understood as pathological skin changes that are ultimately an expression of skin problems and skin diseases. Primary efflorescences are distinguished from the secondary ones. The former are skin symptoms that are directly caused by a skin disorder. The secondary skin manifestations occur as a kind of further development of the primary efflorescences, for example as inflammations as a result of the skin injuries caused by scratching.
The diagnosis distinguishes the size, shape, arrangement, limitation and extent of the skin flowers. Thus, these may be sharp or blurred, grouped or confluent, localized or generalized. Furthermore, the skin appearance, depending on the appearance, still provided with names. A stain, for example, is a color change that is in the skin level. Sublime, palpable cell proliferations of the skin are, depending on their size, referred to as papules, nodules or nodules. There are also vesicles or blisters, these are fluid-filled cavities, or pustules whose contents are pus. In addition, there are wheals, cysts, scales, crusts, scars, rhagades (slit-like skin tears) and ulcers (plural ulcer, ulcer) , All of these skin features differed by shape, size, texture, arrangement and extent.
skin lesions
The skin problems include the inflammatory redness, also called erythema. Here no efflorescences occur, but the skin is more perfused due to an existing inflammation, usually limited to small areas of the body. A collective term for all inflammatory changes of the skin is rash. This may, for example, be associated with childhood illnesses such as rubella or measles, and may be associated with skin conditions such as hives, blisters or spots. There is talk of eczema when the skin "blooms" through an inflammatory component. This is almost always associated with an extremely unpleasant itchy rash. Just the pruritus (itching) is one of the known skin diseases. Often this occurs as the only symptom of various skin, but also general conditions on. Itching can be very stressful and must be clarified by a doctor. This can sometimes point to diseases of the liver or a metabolic disease.
General skin symptoms
Common skin problems include oily, dry and combination skin. Hormone changes, which occur especially during puberty and menopause, can make the skin into turmoil.
Dry skin is the most common. Dullness and a feeling of tension, especially after washing, characterize these. The skin may be cracked and scaly, which is often associated with itching. Wrinkles develop earlier than normal or oily skin. With dry skin, the regulation of fat content and moisture is disturbed. At the base of this always dry skin eczema can develop. However, with age, the skin generally becomes drier, and not just on the face. This is because the skin gets thinner as you age, and the ability to retain moisture gradually decreases. Especially menopausal women more often suffer from dry, scaly and itchy skin all over the body.
Another skin problem is the oily skin. The cause is excessive sebum production, the skin shines and tends to blemishes, such as pimples and blackheads. Especially teenagers in puberty suffer from it. Combination skin is the combination of both skin types. For example, the forehead, nose and chin are usually greasy, the rest being rather dry.
Regular cleansing of the facial skin, with products tailored to the skin, is essential. It should be ensured that the care products used contain no chemical additives and preservatives and are best natural basis. Also the further care of the skin should depend on the skin type. Here a beautician can help and advise.
skin diseases
Skin problems are not necessarily associated with skin diseases. Likewise, general conditions can cause a variety of skin symptoms. At this point, only a few explicit skin diseases should be mentioned, as a total of a very large number of diseases can cause skin irritation.
Eczema, also called atopic eczema, endogenous eczema or atopic dermatitis, is a common skin disease with an inflammatory component that presents with skin problems such as redness, oozing, scaling, crusting and itching. The cause is still not fully secured. Discussed is an interaction of various factors, whereby there is always a genetic predisposition. The disease can begin as early as infancy, but a later onset in childhood - youth, or in adulthood is possible.
Black skin cancer (Photo: ArTo / fotolia) Also known as a possible cause is psoriasis, referred to in the jargon as psoriasis. Again, a genetic disposition is assumed. The cause is not exactly explained, but characterized by a multifactorial event. This skin disease usually runs in spurts. Classic psoriasis lesions are inflammatory red, sharply demarcated and covered by silvery shingles. The predilection sites are elbows, knees, crisscrosses and the scalp. It is possible to spread psoriasis on nails and joints.
One of the most common skin diseases is acne. Especially in adolescents in puberty express skin problems, such as pimples, blackheads, oily skin to papules and pustules. Here, above all, the ups and downs of the hormones responsible for the emergence of acne. But even bacteria, chemical noxae, such as oils and tar products or medicines (for example, glucocorticoids) can lead to the development of acne. This skin disease increasingly affects the male sex and can also be used outside adolescence, in adulthood.
Allergic skin complaints are relatively common. An allergy is the talk, if in the body a so-called antigen-antibody reaction takes place, which then causes a variety of skin problems. Those affected usually already suffer from other allergic diseases, such as a food allergy or hay fever. Especially allergic contact dermatitis is more common. Professional groups, such as hairdressers, painters, masons or nurses are affected. Daily contact with certain substances can lead to massive complaints. In many cases, only the change of occupation helps.
Skin diseases can also be of viral origin. This includes the shingles, triggered by the herpes zoster virus. Once the chickenpox infection has passed, a weakened immune system can again trigger a zoster infection and this in the form of the so-called shingles. The patient suffers from a sometimes extremely painful skin rash, which in the worst cases can cause years of pain.
Causes of skin problems
The causes of skin problems and skin diseases are many and varied. These can be the result of improper cleaning of the skin, for example due to excessive washing or the use of aggressive cleansing substances. But even allergic reactions to a variety of substances, such as disinfectants, latex, paints, dyes, hair dyes or the consumption of certain foods are possible triggers for skin problems. Also in infectious diseases such as measles, chickenpox and rubella redness, blistering, dandruff, itching and other skin complaints are among the main symptoms. Especially the itchy rash is often associated with common diseases. Thus, a longer-existing pruritus should definitely be clarified.
Cirrhosis (chronic liver disease with destruction of the liver architecture), cholestasis (bile congestion within the bile ducts), diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism), renal insufficiency (malfunction of one or both kidneys), neuropathies (peripheral nervous system disorders), all these are examples Diseases that can be associated with severe itching. A lack of vital nutrients such as zinc, vitamin A or biotin can also cause rashes.
But the psyche can also be felt through the skin. The skin is often rated as an indication of mental state. Especially sensitive people, who can not easily "out of themselves", tend to skin problems in connection with stress, anger, worry and anxiety. The red spots on the neck and décolleté, known as "hectic spots", triggered by mental stress, makes this quite clear.
Conventional therapy for skin problems
Especially with problems of the skin a detailed medical history is important, so that the right therapy can lead to the desired success. In allergic component intolerances in the field of food, but also the environment in which the patient lives and works, questioned. So both food, as well as substances from housing and / or workplace can be the culprits for skin problems. For diagnosis, some allergy tests are available. In case of severe itching an antihistamine is used. Ointment therapies are supposed to soothe the skin and have anti-inflammatory effects. In this context, in persistent cases, the treatment with a cortisone preparation is necessary. Furthermore, antimicrobial therapeutics, gamma-linolenic acid preparations and UVA-radiation of the skin are used. More and more often the conventional treatment is supplemented by natural medicine.
Naturopathy with skin problems
Since the skin, according to naturopathic point of view, has a connection to the entire organism, the therapy of skin problems aims at measures that stimulate the change and detoxification of the body. In addition to the skin, the excretory organs kidney, liver, lymph and intestinal tract are included. The psyche also has a high priority in naturopathic treatment. Thus, in the therapy, with the help of a detailed anamnesis, emotional stress and stress situations of the patient are accurately queried and treated if necessary by appropriate methods. Relaxation exercises, autogenic training, yoga or meditation complete the therapy.
A so-called re-adjustment of the body aims to change its responsiveness. Especially with allergic skin reactions this is used more frequently. These include conductive therapies, such as cupping, bloodletting and Baunscheidtieren. The self-blood therapy is also part of the reconciliation process. In the process, a tiny amount of blood is removed and rejuvenated to the body unchanged or processed. The autologous blood treatment can also be performed orally with potentiated autologous blood. Especially with children, this is a painless, gentle, effective method. Important therapeutic components are also diet changes, acupuncture, phytotherapy, homeopathy and physical therapies.
Often a change in diet is necessary as many ailments are associated with certain foods. Especially in eczema there is often a food intolerance, especially on milk, dairy products, egg white, nuts, fish, citrus fruits, seafood and cereals. A diet in which certain foods are shunned and above all natural food without preservatives, emulsifiers or dyes is preferred, is recommended.
Since the skin reactions are closely related to the whole organism, homeopathic constitutional treatment can also serve well. The orthomolecular therapy should not be forgotten during treatment. This therapy method is concerned with giving the body missing vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fatty acids, amino acids and enzymes in the right concentration and dose. Skin problems can be caused by a lack of essential nutrients that are treated by orthomolecular substitution. In addition, phytotherapy, with its many different medicinal plants, has one or two herbs for the healing of the skin and the entire organism. Of course, the therapy from the outside, with the help of suitable plant-based ointments, should not be missing. Naturopathy endeavors to treat both the "outside" and the "inside" at the same time. The selection of suitable treatment approaches should be left to experienced therapists and should always take into account the individual needs of the patients. (Sw)
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