Eczema, Psoriasis and Dermatitis
These days we are seeing an unusual increase in skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, which are all forms of inflammatory responses where the skin barrier has been over-stressed and is struggling to recover from loss of lipids, hydration and the structure provided by collagen. The result is a thin, dry and lack-lustre skin prone to inflammatory rashes, welts or itchiness.
The thinning collagen makes skin feel more sensitive. It also becomes more dehydrated with the dryer matrix having more gaps, which allow breaches in the skin defence system. If we are provoked by the wrong kinds of micro-organisms because our skin barrier defences are down, our immune system kicks in with swelling, redness, or itchy sensations where the skin feels like something is crawling on it.
However, if the body has enough nutrients available the immune system can do its job of eliminating pathogens and waste products, and damaged cells will be replaced by new ones to heal and seal the skin barrier again.
If there is not enough nutritional support AND we are exposed to too many environmental toxins and pollutants, or too many detergents, alcohols and sulphates (which change the lipid configuration of the skin barrier and cause them to be lost from the skin) our barrier protection will be compromised, opening the way for pathogens, which stimulate inflammation.
Lipid Disordering
Researchers have observed that in essential fatty acid deficient and dry skin there is a reduced skin barrier. If you didn’t have the right structure of lipids in your skin for protection you would evaporate like a bowl of water.
An excessive presence of a fluid phase in the lipid lamenae may also lead to the reduction of the barrier function. The effect of heat such as in body metabolism from strenuous exercise, or from a hot bath, can increase the fluid phase which can lead to loss of oils – especially when detergent is also present. The skin can usually recover from this if healthy. Be mindful however of not using cosmetics with toxic chemical ingredients when you are exercising because your skin can open up more to allow them access. This also applies to the ingredients you put in your hot bath water!
A nice hot bath is of course very relaxing, but done the right way it can also be very rejuvenating for skin – even for sensitive or diseased conditions. The secret is in the plant oils and the kind of magnesium salts used. Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) will tend to cause a drying effect with repeated bathing because sulphates are a surfactant that fluidises solid lipid domains, increasing loss of lipids from skin and enhancing barrier penetration.
“Cholesterol sulphate was found to promote the formation of a fluid phase… An increase in cholesterol sulphate content, as observed in recessive x-linked ichthyosis skin, may further lead to reduction of the lattice density and consequently to an increase in the stratum corneum permeability.” (Bouwstra & Ponec, 2006)
Magnesium chloride however is much kinder to skin and promotes a skin hydrating and softening effect. Use only a mild natural baby soap and avoid strong detergents. Add a few drops of your favourite plant oils plus essential oil fragrance for a blissful pampering bath ritual.
Magnesium bathing or footsoaking is a great way to help the body detox via skin, as well as to relax and promote a sound sleep. After your bath you can restore the lipid skin barrier protection using Elektra Magnesium Cream all over. The unique combination of natural fats and magnesium chloride feed the skin cells what they need for recovery, hydration and protection.
The Dangers of Penetration Enhancers
We all know how much excessive exposure to detergents can deplete the oils in our skin, but the use of alcohols such as ethanol in toiletries can also rob the skin of oils and cause lipid disordering and penetration enhancement.
Alcohols used in topical applications in excess of 30% (as in hand sanitisers which can exceed 60%!) can not only cause fluidification of the solid lipid domains, but also cause lipid extraction. (Kwak et al., 2012). Percutaneous absorption of alcohols can occur through intact skin in small amounts, but is absorbed relatively rapidly through areas of diseased or wounded skin.
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