SKINDISEASE

There are overran hundred well-defined diseases of the skin. Inspite of the fact that they cause a great amount of discomprort and irritation, most of these are not particularly difficult to cure. Many skin diseases, so called, are merely symptoms of some other disorders, such as infectious diseases or parasitism, although some exist as independent disease. Because it is impossible to hide skin blemishes when they affect the face and other exposed parts, there are few conditions that produce more mental disquiet than skin diseases, However, many of them appear on other parts of the body, and some do not seem to develop in the exposed parts. Skin blemishes such as pimples and blotches are the most common skin ailments. They may be found on any part of the body, though as a rule they appear more prominently, on the face, neck, chest and back. They appear quite common in boys and less common in girls at the time of puberty, because of different factors. There is a pronounced change in the glandular activity at the period, there is more oil formed in the oil-glands of the skin, and at this time there usually is little or no restriction of appetite, and there usually is a keen desire for sweets. Children at this age usually fail to give proper attention to the bowels and for this reason plus the fact that they eat too much and of fermenting, putrefying foods, they usually have a toxemic intestinal tract. The most common skin ailments outside of pimples are eczema and simple dermatitis, resulting from non-specific infections of the skin . Acne is the diagnostic term for pimples. It is a chronic inflammatory disease in which there are few or many skin lesions. These may be minute, or may be large and disfiguring. The usual form is small red, bright or dark red pin-head or pea-size papules. These appear more frequently on the forehead, chin or lower jaw, and black-heads usually are quite numerous in the same area. The skin may appear thick, dirty and greasy, and pus and sebaceous (oily or greasy) matter can be expressed from the lesions. After they have reached a certain point there may be a succession of these eruptions, some forming, some maturing and others healing at the same time. These are disfiguring and annoying, but can practically invariably be completely removed, though not infrequently some of the scars of previous deep blemishes remain. Eczema is another inflammatory condition of the skin, more or loss chronic and appearing on any part of the body. There may be merely redness, or there may be scales, pustules or fissures. There is intense irritation and itching in many of these cases. The surface may be dry or moist. Among the causes of these and practically all other skin conditions, except the parasitic diseases, is a general or systemic toxemia. There usually is constipation, though not infrequently there is alternate constipation and diarrhea, and sometimes there is normal frequency of stools but and extremely foul condition of the intestinal tract. In this latter condition the blood stream absorbs many foul elements, which must find and outlet, and the body selects the skin. Often the diet to acid-forming, with a great deficiency of the alkalinizing elements, in which case eczema is more likely to result than pimples, or case eczema is more likely to result than pimples, or case eczema is more likely to result than pimples, or acne. Those who have an acid odor to the perspiration are likely to develop eczema, particularly, but may develop other skin eruptions. Irregularity of menstruation and certain other uterine troubles, the peculiar condition called greensickness or chlorosis, and general debility may lead to some skin lesions. Lack of sufficient external cleanliness, especially when in a dusty or dirty atmosphere, may so close the pores that eruptions develop to remove wastes that should been eliminated through normal channels. Anything which reduces skin and bowel activity may result in skin blemishes. The most easily demonstrated causes are digestive and constitutional disturbances. The excessive overeating of rich, sweet, fatty and heavy foods often will produce fresh outcropping of blemishes, indicating at once the close connection between the digestive condition and the condition of the blood on the one hand and the condition of the skin on the other. Drugs are potent causes. Numbers of proprietary headache medicines thus may be included, also certain advertised blood purifiers which contain potassium iodide. Irritating soaps may be the cause in some cases. It is not unnatural for the body to protect itself in any way it can, and if skin eruptions are necessary for protection of the internal organism, then it can not be called unnatural for the body to develop any type of necessary skin lesion. The unnatural feature is the mode of living that has made such an action on the part of the blood necessary. As stated above, the body only two normal avenues for the entrance of substances into the body-the mouth and the breathing apparatus, whereas it has four for removing unwanted and harmful waste products-the lungs, the kidneys, the bowels and the skin. If all of these avenues of elimination are capable of eliminating their waste products as formed. there should be no skin eruption. It is when some of these, particularly the skin, kidneys and bowels, are unable to cope with the great excess of toxins formed through over-consumption of toxin-producing foods that it is necessary for the eruptions to appear. In order to correct a condition of this kind, then, it is necessary to reduce the encumbrance and the permit the eliminative organs to catch up with their work. The fast is excellent in any skin condition and may continue for from five to twenty days or even longer, if weight strength and energy will permit. If for any reason this can not be taken, or at least not for a sufficient length of time, one may use fruit juice or the fruit diet. The daily enema may be used for bowel cleansing, but in this case it is permissible to use a very effective dose of one of the herb laxatives or of citrate of magnesia, milk of magnesia, Pluto water, or any other non-mercurial laxative for a thorough bowel cleansing at the onset of the fast, or fruit diet. An abundance of water should be taken to flush the kidneys and to help the skin and bowel functions. The later diet should be large amounts of fruits and vegetables, and for a time nothing else except milk if there is no eczema. Milk tends to aggravate eczema, for this is one of the allergic conditions often susceptible to milk protein. If it is known that the eczematous condition is not aggravated by milk then this is an excellent addition to the diet. Or one may procure a non-allergic milk preparation from an apothecary or dietitian. One should avoid meat in any form, species, all salt and salt-preserved foods, condiments, fat and other rich foods, fried foods, pickled and smoked foods-in short, one should have as strict a diet of natural foods as it is possible to secure. The improvement in the skin function in its normal direction should be encouraged by sweat-baths. Normally the skin throws off some waste products through the sweat or through the only substance secreted on to the skin surface. Sheet packs and hot-blanket and cold-blanket packs are excellent, but one may use an electric cabinet or a steam bath or a hot tub bath, or any other suitable means for securing a vigorous sweat. This will be brought about more quickly and more pronouncedly if one drinks considerable water, especially hot water, during, the sweat-bath. Air and sun-baths and dry-friction baths, also moderately hot and cold shower or other baths are all excellent in improving skin function and one of more of these should be taken daily. In fact, sunbathes should be taken at every possible opportunity. Eczema usually wills not last long if the blood is purified and the bowels kept clean and the skin surface sunbathed regularly. Exercise to the point of perspiration, except during a fast, and is a great benefit in this cases-if there is no contra-indication factor. All other forms of constitutional treatment for building up vitality and increasing the vigor of the vital organs will prove beneficial.