Another Reason to Skip Salt: Eczema
Sodium triggers skin problems, new research shows
Family physicians constantly warn us to cut back on salt, which can cause or aggravate high blood pressure, kidney stones and headaches. New research suggests sodium isn’t great for skin either, potentially contributing to eczema, an inflammatory rash that results in dry, itchy skin with scaly patches.
The new study, published in the journal JAMA Dermatology, found that increasing salt consumption by a gram a day — the equivalent of less than a quarter teaspoon — was associated with a 22% higher odds of having an active case of eczema.
Given there are 31.6 million cases of eczema in the US alone, you probably know someone who has it and might be covering it up, literally. Eczema is one of the oldest skin disorders, first mentioned more than 3,000 years ago in the Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian text describing various ailments and their treatments. It rivals diabetes and acne in the category of inflammatory disease, and experts say one in 10 will eventually develop it.
Self-conscious and distressed
The psychological impact of eczema is tremendous. When 31,000 adults with and without atopic dermatitis (the most common form of eczema) were surveyed, those with the rash were more…
