Links Between Food And Skin Problems?

[Siracusa8]

My husband has had problems with dry, itchy and sometimes bleeding skin on his feet and legs. Prescriptions for ointments seem to be less than helpful. Can anyone give me some advice as what to do next? Many thanks

[roopower]

My brother in law has psoriasis and he has some foods which he either doesn't eat or cuts down on. He eats no red meat at all and watches his intake of acidic foods such as tomatoes and oranges. This certainly helps to keep his psoriasis under control but I'm not sure if it would work for everyone, or if there is any medical evidence.

[gingejbee]

My question is....if this problem has a link to food, why is it just affecting those particular areas? Wouldn't the problem be more widespread?
If you search "Winter Itch" and "Xerosis" you may find something useful.
The lower legs and (tops of) feet are common areas for this problem, particularly in men.

[Hypognosis]

Siracusa8

You could start by making a food diary, just to record what is in your current diet and establish whether you have a repeating pattern with certain foods, in case that matches flare-ups or temporary clear-ups in symptoms.

After that you need to eliminate each food on the list you just made, for a week at a time, or however long it takes for symptoms to clear up.

I would be tempted to take a shortcut and exclude, say, 6 foods at a time, until achieving success but, unless you wish to spend another 6 weeks, trying to identify the actual culprit, you'll have to exclude all 6 permanently.

All this on the assumption that the problem goes up the leg further than his socks. If not, what are his socks made of?

[gingejbee]

^^^all this on the assumption that the problem has any link with food at all, of course.

[Gavmacp]

Supported someone that had dry areas on her legs. Saw a dermatologist who advised us to not to use sannex as this caused dryness to the skin. He advised us to use dove.

[ummmm]

Get some sun.

[gingejbee]

Gavmap...a dermatologist friend of mine says that you shouldn't use ANYTHING that lathers on dry, itchy skin...it can only make matters worse.

[Gavmacp]

To be quite frank I hate skin and anything to do with it! You take someone to the GP and get one diagnosis then Consultant Dermatologist gives you another diagnosis. You find a cream that works like a miracle on one person then another person with the same skin condition and it has no effect.

[puzzled54]

If you think it's food related you could try a homeopath

[woofgang]

Why do you think its food related? I have experience of this with one of my dogs (no offence intended) If you want to try an elimination diet once you have done the food diary, you need to choose a diet made up of novel foods and not many (or foods as novel as possible - foods your husband does not eat often or at all) He will need to eat these foods and only these foods for up to about six weeks. If his symptoms improve then its likely that at least one of the triggers is food. At this point he stays on the novel food diet and adds back in one suspect food, eats that for about two weeks and sees what happens, adds in another and so on. Its a dull tedious business but it can work.
I’d be inclined to agree with gingelbee and move to aqueous cream for washing/bathing purposes being very careful as it makes the bath/shower slippery. I’d also be looking at what detergents and softeners you use....stop using fabric conditioner and do an extra rinse on clothes.

[Giggsie]

The best I have ever seen used is cream for cows udders believe it or not excellent stuff. Seen it clear up leg ulcers, eczema,skin irritations cant remember the name of it ours ran out simply by giving out to various people to try before buying.

[woofgang]

was it Bag Balm?

[Giggsie]

woofgang will try and find out what it was called. It was deep pink in colour and had lanolin in it.

[Giggsie]

Not bag balm this ointment can only be bought from a vet We got it
through a local farmer.

[Siracusa8]

thank you for all your interesting answers. Sorry to be so long in replying. Someone recommended using the tanning booth in our town,(mostly used by women!) for a very short time each session and there has been some visible improvement. 1st May 2016