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Probiotics are the healthy bacteria in your digestive system that helps you digest food, fight off bad or unhealthy bacteria in your system, and act as a barrier against free radicals and other harmful substances in your body. Food cannot be broken down into the proper parts for absorption and your body can’t protect itself from all the harmful elements in your intestinal tract when there is a lack of probiotic bacteria.

Typically there is anywhere between one trillion and four trillion types of bacteria in the body’s intestinal tract. If the bad bacteria outnumbers the good bacteria many problems can occur, including:

• Digestive problems like constipation and diarrhea, among others
• Chronic fatigue, depression, and low sex drive
• Joint and muscle pain including other unexplained pain
• Irritations and skin rashes like acne and eczema

It only makes sense that probiotics could assist in curing skin conditions like eczema and acne since both occur due to food allergies. Foods like yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, and soy beverages can be consumed for probiotics. Probiotic supplements like acidophilus are also available, however, a doctor should be consulted if there is long-term use.

Probiotic depletion can be avoided by managing your stress, keeping a healthy diet with plenty of fiber, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding prolonged use of antibiotics.

There are five types of eczema all of which can be treated differently based on their severity. But one rule of thumb is applying emollients (smoothes/softens skins), moisturizers, and topical antibiotics to all types of eczema. Second, see an esthetician at a skin spa so that he or she can help create an eczema treatment plan that includes specialized skin products and treatments.

Atopic eczema is the most common and is often seen in babies and young children. Although most children grow out of it, many adults also suffer from eczema. A hereditary and non-contagious condition, the skin will be dry, scaly, red, inflamed, and very itchy. Often times those with eczema also have asthma or other allergies. Normally, atopic eczema is first recognized on the cheeks and then moves to other areas of the face and body.

Seborrhoeic eczema is what is commonly called cradle cap in babies. Adults and children do also suffer from this type of eczema due to an overproduction of yeast that is produced on the scalp, face, chest, and back. This overproduction leads to excess oils on the skin which will first produce dandruff and then become red and irritated.

Gravitational eczema is called stasis and varicose eczema too. Unlike other types of eczema, gravitational eczema mostly affects older women on the lower parts of their legs due to high blood pressure and poor circulation. The skin is similarly dry, but it can become thin and very fragile.

Allergic contact dermatitis is just like it sounds— an allergy. The body will react to a substance such as nickel, fragrances, and chromates by becoming red, cracked, itchy, sore, and fluid filled.

Irritant contact dermatitis is similar to allergic contact dermatitis; however it is a result of contact with irritating substances like soaps, acids, solvents, and cement. Many people in the surgical, catering, cleaning, and construction fields will suffer from irritant contact dermatitis because of repeated exposure.

A readily available mineral, aloe vera can be used both topically and taken internally to achieve surprising results. Aloe vera is anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial making it so versatile that any individual with healthy or unhealthy skin can benefit from it.

Taken directly from the aloe vera plant the mineral is 96 percent water with the remaining four percent made up of minerals, essential oils, enzymes, and amino acids, among other things. Apply aloe directly to your skin to achieve the following results:

Disinfect scrapes and cuts Relieve abrasion pain Alleviate sting from any burn, including a sunburn To hydrate and soften the skin Condition your hair Accelerate cell growth Fungal condition treatment

To keep your skin hydrated longer during the day, apply a layer of aloe before you moisturize. In fact, aloe is so hydrating that psoriasis suffers apply aloe to remedy scaly, dry skin. Although it can sting even the most sensitive skin, some sufferers of eczema find aloe vera gentle enough to use on their skin as well.

The purest form of aloe is most beneficial, but there are many skin products like cosmetics and moisturizers that contain a small percentage of aloe such as Kneipp Bath and Shower Gel Aloe Vera. Bottled aloe vera is available at a reasonable price, but aloe plants themselves can also be inexpensive.

It’s not just your skin that aloe vera is good for. One in 100 people suffer from mouth ulcers and a recent study proved that aloe healed them. Aloe vera, additionally, can be consumed in the form of juice to treat colds, nerves, hypertension, and especially digestive problems like gas, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcers. Consuming aloe for more than two weeks at a time will deplete potassium levels.