By Simon Yu MD
Skin care is a big business for cosmetic industries, anti-aging medicine, dermatology and pharmaceutical giants. New psoriasis and eczema treatments called Biologics are leading many TV commercials. The largest outer surface sensory organ in the body, skin is metabolically active with a sophisticated immune complex system to protect the body. Changes in skin over time can represent the spectrum from simple normal aging and simple contact rashes to more advanced disease manifesting as melanoma, or a source of migrating parasite infections causing unsightly disfiguring skin lesions.
What is a “biologic” medication? These medications alter the immune system in a way that disrupts the disease cycle and improves signs and symptoms of disease within weeks. Eczema is considered a milder version of atopic dermatitis with itchy skin, rash, and often skin irritation from scratching and secondary skin infection. Psoriasis is more severe than eczema with scaly plaques and is often associated with arthralgia (pain), psoriatic arthritis.
The majority of skin diseases have their origins in unrecognized infections, toxins, or food allergies or sensitivities. Skin rashes that are exacerbated by sugars, fake sugars, gluten, and/or yeasts can develop due to gut imbalances and overgrowth of fungi and yeasts, and require healing and restoring a healthy “biological terrain” and microbiome, including the oral cavity, gut, and more. The acupuncture point representing the skin is located on the middle toe and may pick up signals when patients have psoriasis, eczema, or surgical scars. A disturbance of the skin meridian is often associated with concurrent disturbance at the allergy points, circulation, and large intestine (LI) and/or small intestine (SI) meridians. When you balance LI and SI meridians with appropriate parasite medications, skin conditions often improve as a side benefit without using costly biologics.
The most well-known biologics for psoriasis include apremilast (Otezla), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), adalimumbab (Humira), secukinumab (Cosentyx) and more. TV commercials are bombarded with new biologics. There are some concerns for side effects of immunosuppression that can trigger pre-existing conditions or a full-blown medical mystery you did not know you had
Before you start a biologic, you might try a parasite cleanse based on acupuncture meridian assessment (AMA), avoiding allergenic foods (e.g. gluten, dairy and GMO), working with a biological dentist to eliminate incompatible dental materials or hidden dental infections, and working to detox your entire body, which is important in preparation and follow-up to dental work and treating systemic infections. These steps will gradually strengthen your whole-body immune system. This multipronged approach may help resolve underlying medical conditions like asthma, chronic fatigue, eczema, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headache, or psoriasis. You may call it an “Accidental Cure.”
Be patient! Is healing within and restoring your immune system better than biologics? You can be the judge – not pharma, FDA, medical journals, or TV commercials. The skin will be the last organ to heal.
Dr. Simon Yu, MD is a Board Certified Internist. He practices Internal Medicine with an emphasis on Integrative Medicine to use the best each has to offer. For more articles and information about integrative medicine, patient success stories, and Dr. Yu’s latest book, AcciDental Blow Up in Medicine: Battle Plan for Your Life, visit his website at www.preventionandhealing.com or call Prevention and Healing, Inc., 314-432-7802. You can also attend a free monthly presentation and discussion on Integrative Medicine at his office on the second Tuesday each month at 6:30 pm. Call to verify the date. Seating is limited, arrive early.