★Skin disease

Dietary considerations for skin diseases

In clinical experience a few animal sorts and products like fish, shrimps, crabs, milk, beef oil, butter, eggs and others. are often observed to cause allergic reactions. In the world of edible plants bamboo sprouts, spinach, dried and fresh mushrooms, eggplants, tomatoes, broad (lima) beans, cucumbers, coriander leaves, shallots, pumpkins, dried oranges, plums, strawberries, hard nuts (chestnuts, gingko nuts), peanuts, peanut butter and some spices belong to the so-called allergenic food sorts.

[ Urticaria ]

Acute urticaria lasts sometimes only about two weeks until its full recovery. Chronic urticaria can always reoccur, sometimes for weeks, months, or even years without of a complete recovery.

Since the further progress of the disease is unclear when acute urticaria occurs first, it is better to choose light dishes and strictly avoid a few special things like some fish (scabbard fish, sturgeon, freshwater eel, conger eel, cuttlefish, octopus), shellfish (shrimps, crabs, oysters, sea clams, clams), turtles, some meat sorts (chicken, goose, sheep, beef, pork), fungi (dried and fresh mushrooms), as well as garlic, onions, chives, tomatoes, chili, cucumbers, pickled vegetables (kimchi), Szechwan pepper, fennel, etc.
　

The food restrictions for allergenic food causing chronic urticaria are a little more troublesome, since some of them cause delayed allergic reactions only after 24-26 hours after consumption. Among them are milk, beef oil, some grains (barley, wheat, buckwheat, maize), beef, some vegetables (peanuts, peas, broad or lima beans). The best way to get the reaction under control is to refrain from eating any of potential allergenic food, or at least a few light dishes of which is known that they very seldom cause such reactions. For a definite answer which food causes urticaria in your body you can experiment by eating for continuously 3 weeks the food listed below, which is most probably edible without problems, and then slowly add one after the other potential allergenic substance to it until a reaction occurs:

No problems will most likely caused by pork, round cabbage, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, da tou cai (424), purslane, taro, sweet potato,arrowroot, wild rice stem, turnip, carrot, winter melon, bitter gourd, zucchini, lotus root, water chestnut, yam root, tofu, big string bean, lentil, mung bean, fire bean, black soybean, soybean, grains (polished round shaped rice, glutinous rice) as well as cookies that contain milk and eggs and pastries.

[ Acne, comedones and acne juvenilis- commonly called "pimples" ]

This chronic skin disease can be seen at both sexes in the young age. The following major points in daily life and nutrition are crucial to an improvement:

A. Food that should be avoided:

1.	Eggs and egg products :Eggs and their products contain high fat amounts and proteins, which can cause -if often and in plenty consumed - the above mentioned diseases or worsen them if they are already present.
2.	Pastries and doe products:Fermented,sweet food should better be consumed in only few amounts, like pastries, cookies, cakes, chocolate cookies etc.
3.	Oil-fried, greasy food: Deep fried, roasted, or stir fried things easily produce "fire" (promote inflammation), so that one should avoid to eat too much of them. to this group belong i.e. mutton, fried shrimps, Chinese crullers, barbecued meat, grilled potatoes, fried chestnuts, roasted peanuts etc.

B. Points of attention in the daily life:

1.	Staying up late shouldn't happen often, a good mood and regular digestion are also important. When the sleep is lacking, the mood is unstable, causing often a bad temper and easily constipation, which al worsens the overproduction of comedones in the face.
2.	Use neutral soap to wash the face, keep it fresh and clean and avoid applying too much cosmetic products (make-up) on it.

C. Some points of attention for women:

Irregular menstruation, especially when too early, and accompanied by a dry mouth and burning feeling of the tongue needs to be regulated by medicine, in order to make the acne curing process more effective.

[ Keloids ]

In Chinese medicine, diet plays an important part in keloid formation. The keloid is filled with capillaries and the type of food consumed is quickly reflected on the keloid, triggering sensations of itch, pain and inflammation. Individual sensitivity to certain foods can be translated as temporary swelling, itch and pain.. As a general rule, avoid seafood, beef, mutton, alcohol and chillies during treatment. Fruits and vegetables to avoid include: garlic, grapes, durians, pineapples and pumpkins. These foods can stimulate the keloid and accelerate collagen activity, causing aggravated itch and pain. Keloid prone persons are seriously advised against inflicting wounds to the skin and to reduce inflammatory acne as these can often give rise to keloids. With effective treatment, a keloid can remain small and even unnoticeable, elastic and less irritable. Seek treatment early. Early treatment can make a difference as to the time and expense needed to treat a larger keloid.