Accutane has helped many but can have side-effects

Zit.  Even just the sound of the word makes you cringe, doesn’t it?  Well, if you suffer from acne and facial blemishes, you understand why some young people are desperate to try anything that will help to get rid of pimples and acne.

Health Canada has recently issued warnings after concerns about serious side-effects related to Accutane (or isotretinoin).  The reports of serious adverse effects included Stevens-Johnson syndome (with a couple cases resulting in death), erytheme multiforme, and toxic epidermal necrolysis.  Shockingly, there are even links between Accutane and suicide.  These are very rare cases, but alarming nonetheless considering the minor nature of the original problem that the medication is being prescribed for.

From a naturopathic perspective, skin is an emunctory – a route of elimination from the body.  Therefore, skin problems always have an element of toxicity that is associated with it.  Some toxicity could be reated to hormones or even food sensitivity.  Although skin must be treated externally, it will never resolve without treating the body internally.  Just treating the surface of the skin does not solve the cause of the problem.  Even worse, it may create more serious damage.

Are you causing your baby to have eczema?

As a general rule, I recommend that mothers breast-feed their babies.  Human breast milk supplies the complete range of nutrients for your infant to thrive and to optimally develop the young immune system.  Formula can definitely be a

help as a supplement to breast milk, but the health benefits of infant formula definitely come a distant second compared to your breast milk.

One caution for nursing mothers, however, is that allergens can pass from you (the mother), through your breast milk, and into your baby.  Depending on how often you consume these allergens, the symptoms may vary.  If you do not consume these allergens very often, your baby’s symptoms may be short-lived such as gas, stomach pain, or vomiting.  However, if you consume offending foods on a regular basis, your baby’s symptoms may be more delayed and chronic such as diarrhea or eczema.

Pay attention to your baby’s skin and digestion.  If you notice that your breast-fed baby is developing symptoms, it is extremely important for you to restrict your intake of common allergens – particularly cow’s milk, eggs, and peanuts but there may be others.  Otherwise, you may be inadvertently setting your child up for an lifetime of allergies and sensitivities.

Your naturopathic doctor can work with you to systematically eliminate and reintroduce foods to identify potential allergens, without resorting to the tests mentioned in the following video.