You are what your skin absorbs....

Whilst I test and treat for a wide range of health conditions, skin problems are close to my heart having suffered for most of my life with eczema, caused predominately by Candida/parasites and resulting allergies.

What do you wash your clothes in?

 The first thing to consider in all eczema/irritant skin conditions are the harsh products you are using on your skin. Changing your washing powder/liquid and fabric conditioner can have a huge positive change of skin conditions. Many of you will be thinking, "well I use a sensitive branded washing powder".... unfortunately all washing powders and liquids you can buy from your local supermarket can cause horrific skin irritations. This is because they contain bleach, enzymes, optical brighteners, perfumes and many many other chemicals. In my opinion and having treated myself and many clients, the only washing powder/fabric conditioners you should use are the Bio-D range. You can purchase these from ethicalonestopshop.com shop House & Home category.

Ensure that when you first start using these products that you wash your bedding, pyjamas and clothes and couple of times (do two cycles, straight after each other)as the other washing powders can take a few washes to get rid of the chemicals. The same applies to the fabric conditioners, only use Bio-D.

Think of it this way, if you use normal washing powders you are basically spending 24 hours a day, 7 days a week sitting in bleaches and chemicals, is it any wonder your skin is reacting?

You should also be careful with general cleaning disinfectants and polishes, these all emit powerful chemicals. Again, click on the above link to purchase items which are chemical free but work effectively.

What are you adding to your bath water?

Stop using bubble baths, these are horrific and full of chemicals. Either use just plain water or if you really want to put something in your bath try unperfumed dead sea salts (great for drawing out toxins and they soften the water as well!) or a natural oil, I recommend Burts Bees........ Shampoos, hair conditioners, soaps and moisturisers again are full of chemicals, again use a natural range, such as Burts Bees.

Your tap water? Heaven or hell?

And finally, tap water, drinking and bathing in. When you run a hot bath, you should be able to smell the chlorine.... horrible. Chlorine is basically a bleach so when you bathe you are sitting in a bath full of bleach and if you shower not only is the chlorine touching you skin but in the shower it vaporises, so you inhale it as well!!! There are solutions, you can purchase salts which get rid of the chlorine and you simply add them to your bath (add website) or you can purchase a whole house filter (add website, which take the chlorine out at source. For showers you can buy shower heads which remove the chlorine, try (enter website). However if you are drinking tap water, you are drinking chlorine, limescale, nickel and a whole range of chemicals. this can cause problems for skin and IBS suffers. Consider installing an water filter or use a table top water distiller.

Candida and Allergies

Candida For more information on Candida, its symptoms and causes look under the Candida Test section of this website. However, I have treated many people (including myself) where Candida has been a significant contributory factor to skin problems, this includes acne and eczema. Candida also causes a condition known as 'leaky gut syndrome' (add an attachment explaining), which then allows partially digested food into your blood stream causing your body to react to these particles as invaders, thereby causing allergies.

Essential tests for all skin suffers are Candida Antibody Test and a Food Intolerance Test - all available from my Online Shop or if you prefer through an appointment at my clinic in Lincoln.