DIET IN SKIN DISEASES
An improper diet or a lowered nerve tone are often shown by the condition of the skin.
When the waste of the system is not being properly eliminated through the other excretory organs the skin is required to throw off more than its normal amount.
The muddy complexion in biliousness or the congestion of the facial capillaries in the alcoholic are familiar examples.
Overeating, especially of food too rich or too concentrated, causes fermentation from non-digestion, or imperfect oxidation, due to too large an amount of nutriment for the amount of oxygen furnished to the tissues.
An inactive skin results in an accumulation of fat in the sebaceous glands with clogging of the ducts; germ infection in these clogged glands often results in pimples and boils. An excess of acid in the secretion of the sweat glands irritates the skin and causes eruptions.[15]
Chronic skin troubles are always increased and made more troublesome when there are errors in the diet, and they are often benefited and in some cases cured when the dietetic errors are corrected.
Skin troubles often occur when for any reason the nervous system is run down, because the weakened nerves cause the tissues or organs they supply to become inactive. The skin thus becomes affected with the rest of the body and derangements of its function appear. Increasing nerve tone will result in a disappearance of the skin disorders. This takes time.
All rich food and highly seasoned preparations, veal, pork, tea, coffee, pastry, too much sweets and fats, and any fruits and vegetables that cause flatulence should be avoided.
A diet of fruit, water, and Graham bread for three or four days, every week or two, daily exercise and deep breathing of pure air will usually clear the skin.