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+--- Thread: Research Why do 1 in 10 Americans get eczema? Is it too much salt? (/thread-15987.html)
Why do 1 in 10 Americans get eczema? Is it too much salt? - C C - Jun 5, 2024
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1047123
INTRO: A high sodium diet may increase the risk of eczema, according to researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF), who found that eating just one extra gram of sodium per day – the amount in a Big Mac – increases the likelihood of flares by 22%.
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic disease that causes dry, itchy skin. It’s one of the most common skin conditions, affecting more than 31 million people in the U.S., and one in 10 people will develop it at some point. It has become increasingly common in recent years, especially in industrialized countries, implicating environmental and lifestyle factors like diet.
Sodium, which most people consume in the form of salt, increases the risk of hypertension and heart disease. And scientists recently discovered that sodium is stored in the skin, where it may play a role in the inflammation in eczema. Limiting dietary sodium could be an easy way for eczema patients to manage their disease.
“Most Americans eat too much salt and can safely reduce their intake to recommended levels,” said Katrina Abuabara, MD, associate professor of dermatology at UCSF and corresponding author of the study, which appears June 5, 2024, in JAMA Dermatology... (MORE - details, no ads)
RE: Why do 1 in 10 Americans get eczema? Is it too much salt? - Leigha - Jun 6, 2024
One of my good friends struggles with eczema, and because her mom and sister cope with it as well, I think genetics plays a role, too. (Is it possible to “inherit” a poor immune system response?) Wouldn’t have considered salt a culprit, but in terms of inflammation, it makes sense. I think up until the past few years, the main “treatment” was often topical but sounds like there are prescriptions that treat symptoms from the inside. Our skin “health” is a manifestation of what’s going on inside our bodies.