Atopic Dermatitis, Peanuts, and Genetics

Allergists and immunologists for years have noted the association of skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and eczema and food allergies, especially allergies to peanuts.  Heredity has also been a suspect in both conditions.  But now there is more than anecdotal evidence.

A large group of researchers working in the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, and Ireland published their findings last year in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.  They were attempting to identify if the genetic coding for filaggrin is a candidate gene in the etiology of peanut allergy.  Filaggrin is a protein in epithelial cells. You can read the entire article here.  The researchers concluded that FLG null mutations represent a highly significant genetic risk factor for atopic dermatitis and also are the single most significant genetic risk for peanut allergy that has been identified to date.

The reason I am writing about this today is because I just read a post two days ago by a respected allergist that indicated that some food allergies may disappear as a child matures.  He specifically mentioned that this did not apply to peanut allergy. Could it be that the epithelial cells that line the digestive tract are the real culprit?

I’m not a doctor and I don’t have the answers. I do know that if you have peanut allergy or atopic dermatitis researchers are hard at work decoding the causes to find the cure.

Just something to think about….until next time!

Allergy Control Products for Beauty?

So Saturday, I was speaking to a friend about allergies.  Are you surprised?  I’m not because it seems no matter where I go, people want to talk to me about allergies.  It’s all right, it goes with the territory I guess.  In this case, the conversation turned to appearance and the use of allergy control products for beauty.

Anyway, Saturday, instead of talking about my recent cross-country trip, the weather, the economy, or the best recipe for hummus, my friend was talking about dust mite allergy.  His daughter had been recently diagnosed and they were going through the process of cleaning out all the dust catchers and getting dust mite covers on the mattress, box spring, and pillows.

The conversation turned from the obvious benefits of protection from dust mite allergen to those that are most important to the heart of a young lady…..puffy eyes.  Yes, Virginia,  there is a Santa Clause, and dust mite covers can help you in your fight against puffy eyes.  Hard to believe that there are allergy control products for beauty enhancement?

Dust mite covers help with those pesky dark circles under the eyes.  In the allergy biz, those are called “allergic shiners” and are caused by increased blood flow to the sinus area.  When you cut off the exposure to the allergy-causing protein (from the mite feces and body parts) the blood flow to the sinus area returns to normal and the dark circles disappear.  Likewise for the puffy eyes.

Using a denaturing agent and anti-allergen spray like ADMS Spray or washing bedding with De-Mite can also work to reduce those shiners and puffy eyes.

If you have problems with overly dry skin or eczema, it can also be caused by allergies.  It might not be extra lotion you need, but some Allergen Wash!  Most eczema has roots in allergy.

No, I don’t think Avon or Estee Lauder has anything to fear from The Allergy Store. But you might find beauty really does come from the inside out; and when you have your allergies under control, shiners, puffy eyes, and eczema can be a thing of the past.

Til Next Time