| Question: | | | | the gut can then easily slip through into the |
| This year, my three-year-old daughter has reacted | | | | bloodstream. These molecules are too large to be |
| very badly to the sun and has developed a red, | | | | excreted through the kidneys, so they have to be |
| bumpy, itchy rash on her face and body. Antihistamine | | | | eliminated through the skin. This is more likely to |
| does not prevent it, although calamine lotion minimises | | | | happen when the skin is exposed to sun, because the |
| the itching. What else can I do, as she finds it so | | | | blood vessels dilate and become more permeable, |
| uncomfortable. | | | | making it easier for the toxins to come out. Itchy, red |
| Answer: | | | | patches tend to form where the toxins are released. |
| There are no medical tests to differentiate between | | | | Here are my suggestions for helping your daughter |
| various skin conditions, and doctors generally rely on | | | | Food |
| what they see and their clinical experience. It's difficult | | | | * Give her one cup of freshly juiced apples, carrots |
| to pinpoint your little girl's exact skin condition without | | | | and peeled root ginger daily. |
| seeing it, but it sounds as if it may be a form of | | | | * Include foods such as watermelon, grated raw |
| urticaria, which is commonly known as hives. Urticarias | | | | papaya, spring onions, cucumber, courgettes, |
| are sensitivity reactions, where the skin develops | | | | watercress and squash, which are used in traditional |
| raised, red, itchy patches, usually on the arms, legs and | | | | medicine to protect the body against strong sun. |
| body. | | | | * Avoid foods that make the skin more sensitive, such |
| Human beings depend on sunlight in many ways, both | | | | as citrus fruits, pineapples, mangoes, figs (and juices |
| direct and indirect As well as being vital for growing | | | | containing these fruits), rhubarb and celery, canned |
| the food we eat and maintaining the earth's | | | | foods with preservatives, canned drinks containing |
| temperature, the sun's rays influence our skin, eyes | | | | caffeine, shellfish, smoked fish, sausages, chips and |
| and blood vessels and control our sleep-wake cycle | | | | fried bacon. Avoid yeast-containing foods (eg, bread, |
| through the production of melatonin. Even our moods | | | | pizza, Marmite, gravy granules) because they may |
| are influenced by sunlight as sufferers of seasonal | | | | cause candida overgrowth. Also avoid fungal foods |
| affective disorder know. One much overlooked role of | | | | such as cheese (except for cott4ge and goat's or |
| sunlight is in preventing calcium deficiency: ultraviolet | | | | sheep's milk cheese), Quorn products, mushrooms and |
| rays help the skin to synthesise vitamin D, which is | | | | vinegar, and sugary foods, which feed candida. |
| essential in absorption of calcium in the colon. | | | | * Monitor her reaction to eggs and cow's milk products, |
| Sunlight is also employed - both in a natural state or in | | | | to see if she is intolerant to these; if she is, leave out |
| controlled medical conditions - to treat psoriasis, lichen | | | | eggs and try goat's or sheep's milk (or soya, though |
| planus, vitiligo and jaundice in children. Additionally, lasers, | | | | some people are intolerant of soya too). |
| which are an intense form of light energy, are used in | | | | Supplements |
| many therapeutic procedures. | | | | * Vitasorb multivitamins (Biocare): five drops daily for |
| However, sunlight can also be harmful if you are | | | | two months. |
| exposed to it in excess or are run-down. Additionally, | | | | * Hypericum 30 homoeopathic remedy in tincture: two |
| the chemicals in some foods (eg citrus fruits, figs, | | | | drops three times daily for seven days. (Available from |
| pineapple, parsley, celery, and spices such as turmeric | | | | Ainsworths Homoeopathic Pharmacy, 36 New |
| in excess), pharmaceutical drugs (eg, certain antibiotics, | | | | Cavendish Street, London Wl, tel:020 7935 5330.) If |
| tranquillisers, diuretics, the contraceptive pill and HRT) | | | | possible, consult a qualified homoeopath. |
| and cosmetic products (particularly ones that are | | | | Massage |
| fragranced with bergamot) can make the skin | | | | Massage the neck and back with my Junior Massage |
| oversensitive to ultraviolet rays. | | | | Oil, or Weleda Calendula Baby Oil from health stores |
| Many skin diseases are induced or exacerbated by | | | | nationwide, for five minutes at bedtime to help her |
| the sun, including sunburn, which can lead to skin | | | | relax and sleep well. |
| cancer, cold sores, urticaria and other skin sensitivities. | | | | Sun protection |
| The sun can also fast-forward the ageing process, | | | | Protect her from the sun as much as possible, and use |
| leading to wrinkles, 'liver' spots and dryness. | | | | sun preparations with a physical screen, preferably |
| If there is an overgrowth of candida in the gut, its | | | | zinc oxide, which is the most effective. |
| tentacles can penetrate the intestinal wall, so toxins in | | | | |