How Salicylates cause 50% of All Eczema AND How to Reverse It

By the end of this article you should be able to guess if your eczema is caused by salicylates sensitivity and you’ll know what to eat and what not to eat so you can reverse the damage.

I suggest you watch until the end of the video so you have ALL the necessary information to begin your healing journey.

Australian researchers from RPA Hospital Allergy Unit in Sydney, tested 936 people with eczema and found the following:

• Salicylates trigger eczema in 52% of people with eczema.
• Salicylates trigger hives in 62-75% of people prone to hives.
• Salicylates trigger or worsen irritable bowel in 69% of people prone to IBS.

While some cases of eczema are relatively easy to treat with a healthy diet and skin creams, I have seen hundreds of eczema patients with eczema, who have tried everything, and their eczema persisted until they discovered they were sensitive to salicylates and other chemicals including amines, MSG and food additives. For this group of people, temporarily avoiding salicylate-rich foods changed their lives – they could wear short sleeves again, swim in pools and socialize without embarrassment. And most of them were able to gradually expand their eczema diet to include a wider range of foods.

What are Salicylates?

Salicylates are a natural pesticide chemical produced by plants for self-protection.

Salicylate Sensitivity Symptoms include:

Topical reactions via the skin:

• sudden eczema/dermatitis/hives/rashes
• worsening of existing eczema
• facial flushing/red skin
• rosacea
• psoriasis

Respiratory/Nasal reactions:

• runny nose (nasal drip)
• nasal obstruction
• sneezing
• asthma
• flu-like symptoms
• perfume intolerance

*anaphylactic reactions – a true salicylate allergy can cause immediate reactions and anaphylaxis. In these cases it’s best to seek emergency medical treatment.

Systemic reactions:

• brain fog
• headaches
• migraine
• fatigue
• anxiety
• depression
• panic attacks

Gastrointestinal reactions:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• diarrhea
• stomach ache
• colic/reflux
• flatulence
• leaky gut

Behavioral reactions:

• ADHD/ADD
• aggressive behaviour
• poor attention span

In severe cases, salicylate sensitivity can trigger strong feelings of anger, aggression, suicidal thoughts and physical pain (these symptoms can be caused by other factors as well so speak to your doctor if you are concerned).

Foods with salicylates in large amounts

A normal healthy diet usually contains 100mg of salicylates and up to 200 mg if you are vegan. That’s a lot! People with eczema often don’t realize they are sensitive to salicylates, so they continue eating foods high in salicylates and they can suffer for years as a result.

It’s best to reduce your intake of foods with salicylates in large amounts. Please speak with a physician or nutritionist before modifying your or your child’s diet.

Here is a list of foods high in salicylates:

• Spices
• Tomato
• Avocado
• Coconut
• Honey
• Most nuts
• Most fruits

List of low salicylate foods

Here are a few surprising foods that are good for an eczema diet because they are low in salicylates – eat them in abundance for their healing properties as noted below.

Papaya (and pawpaw)

Papaya is low in salicylates and contains the digestive enzyme papain, which is used in some digestive supplements to aid protein digestion. Papain kills parasites in the gut and after antibiotic use or a bout of illness you can eat a serving of papaya daily to promote recolonization of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

Saffron

Saffron is a low salicylate spice which has been used for centuries as a natural antiseptic, digestive aid and antidepressant. For people with digestive issues, adding saffron to your dishes may reduce your symptoms.

Spring onions (scallions)

Spring onions, also referred to as scallions and shallots, are part of the onion family and, like the onion, spring onions contain histamine-lowering, anti-inflammatory quercetin. But don’t get them confused with their onion cousins: the low salicylate varieties have the straight green stem, with no bulb.

Flax seeds

Flax seeds, also known as linseeds, are small brown seeds best known for their rich content of anti-inflammatory omega-3 oils. The seeds are a source of phytochemicals, plus silica, mucilage, oleic acid, protein, vitamin E and dietary fibre for gastrointestinal and liver health.

After changing my daughter’s diet and giving her supplements for salicylate sensitivity (when she was aged two), Amy’s eczema cleared up. Amy’s name has been changed for privacy Friends and family suggested Amy had simply grown out of her eczema. As I am a skeptic, I thought they might be right so I stopped the regime and Amy’s eczema returned. I put her back on the program and once again her eczema cleared up.

It has been a long journey developing and refining this diet, but I am so grateful for the lessons that having chemical sensitivities has taught me. Amy is now 16 years old and has beautiful skin.

You can purchase our “5 Cores to Clear Skin” in the links provided in the description of this video.

As well you also might like to see the post on our website that is the very first step to healing any type of inflammation, whether arthritis, eczema or any other autoimmune disorder.

Have a lovely day, and please put your own experiences in comments so we can learn from each other.