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Psoriasis, Eczema and Allergy Dermatitis – What do they have in common?

Apart from the obvious commonality that psoriasis, eczema, and allergy dermatitis are diseases that affect the human skin, we will discuss what other commonalities, if any, exist between them.

In our ongoing series of My Untold Stories – The Heartbreak of Psoriasis, we shared with you stories about Mr KH Ng a psoriasis sufferer and Michelle Shiew, a mother of a child with chronic eczema. In both stories, we learn how their respective pain, anguish and heartbreak were replaced by joy and relieve when they found a natural solution for their skin ailment.

In this article, we share a new story by Lisa Lee who made an entry in OLIVENOL livin’ Facebook Fan Page on July 12, 2009:

My mom has very bad skin allergy that causes her face to erupt with horrible red swells. It itches and oozes some sort of liquid. She can’t cook because of the smoke and oil. She can’t go under the sun because of the heat and can’t eat countless types of food.

Doctors prescribed anti-histamine to control her condition, but we all know that’s not the cure.

I started my mum on OLIVENOL livin’ since May (two months ago). She’s so much better now”.

Lisa Lee, USJ
(original Facebook entry edited for spelling and punctuation).

Another obvious commonality in Lisa, Michelle and Mr Ng’s stories is their discovery that OLIVENOL livin’ helped sooth their heartache caused by skin allergy, eczema and psoriasis, respectively.

Yale researchers have found that natural killer T cells (NKT), a combination of T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, are involved in the formation of skin allergies such as poison ivy and contact sensitivity to chemicals and metals like nickel in jewelry. (Reference: Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol. 198, No. 12, Dec. 15, 2003)

Allergies are abnormal or hypersensitive responses of the immune system to relatively harmless environmental antigens. Some people are genetically predisposed to hypersensitivity. When they are exposed to skin allergens like poison ivy, the initial exposure leads to a state of hypersensitivity; the body produces an exaggerated reaction the next time skin comes into contact with the allergen.

The resulting skin inflammation and severe itch such as those described by Lisa, are caused by over-reaction of effector T cells, white blood cells that migrate to the skin when re-exposed to an allergen.

Conventional therapy such as steroid cream only controls plaques and lesions that are the results of inflammation but it does not stop the inflammation from triggering.

Anti-histamine on the other hand, only controls itching sensation and discomfort which are the outcome of an underlying inflammation that the immune system fails to regulate.

Clearly, a better solution is required. The three stories in our series so far suggest that perhaps a better solution already exists.

In all three cases of psoriasis, eczema and allergy dermatitis, T cells (which normally help protect the body against infection) become active, migrate to the dermis and trigger the release of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNF-a, in particular) which cause inflammation and the rapid production of skin cells. T cells are put into action by mistake. They become so active that they set off other immune responses.

Recent research on hydroxytyrosol (HT) an olive polyphenol have found it to exhibit biologic response modifying activities that modulates the effect of hyperactivated T cells.

These studies in different parts of the world have shown HT is able to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines, iNOS, and COX-2 expression in human monocytic cells. Scientist believe they have found a non-toxic agent for the control of pro-inflammatory genes.

If these findings are confirmed in further research, it is possible that Ng’s, Michelle’s and Lisa’s experiences are not mere anecdotal coincidence.

Psoriasis, eczema and allergy dermatitis sufferers may also have a scientifically supported common solution to their conditions in OLIVENOL livin’.

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Tags: allergy, cytokines, dermatitis, eczema, facebook, heartbreak of psoriasis, HT, hydroxytyrosol, inflammation, olivenol-livin, psoriasis, untold stories