Holistic approach douses eczema's fire

Natural Foods Merchandiser, January, 2008 by Bond, Pamela

Treatments that work inside and out

Dry, thick, scaly skin-could your customer be turning into a lizard? More likely, these symptoms and others-like crusty red bumps or sores that always seem to itch-signal an all-too-common chronic skin condition: eczema, which affects up to 31 million Americans, according to new research (Dermatitis, 2007).

Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema can show up anywhere on the body, but usually propagates on cheeks, arms and legs and often behind knees and the crooks of the arms. Eczema shares symptoms with psoriasis-that is, uncomfortable skin inflammation-as well as treatments. The difference? Experts like to say, "You know it when you see it." Psoriasis is usually characterized by silver-scaled red patches of skin that may bleed....