目錄
Skin itching: The more you scratch, the worse it gets
Skin Problems Reveal Immune Imbalance
The Connection Between Immunity and Mineral Trace Elements
The Link Between Trace Mineral Deficiency and Chronic Diseases
Chronic Diseases and Skin Symptoms
Simple Trace Mineral Deficiency Can Also Cause Itchy Skin
How to Supplement Trace Minerals?
Topical Application for Direct Absorption of Trace Minerals
Skin itching: The more you scratch, the worse it gets.
Most people have experienced itchy skin at some point, and while the sensation varies, it significantly impacts our daily lives.
What causes skin itching? It could result from skin friction, which irritates nerve endings and causes minor tissue damage. Dry skin can also lead to a compromised skin barrier, making the skin more sensitive. Insect bites, allergic reactions, or chemical irritants can trigger nerve endings, sending signals to the brain that we perceive as itching. A lesser-known cause is the skin's role as an immune organ. During an immune response, chemicals released by immune cells, like histamines, can cause inflammation and lead to itching.
When affected areas are visible, it can hurt your social confidence, creating anxiety about how others perceive you. Persistent itching can disrupt sleep, impacting work, learning, and even a child’s development, ultimately reducing overall quality of life.
Scratching the affected area can stimulate the immune response through the nervous system, worsening the skin condition with symptoms like redness, swelling, broken skin, and bleeding. What may start as acute dermatitis or a mild allergic reaction can escalate into chronic infections or systemic immune disorders, which would then require medication to manage.
Skin Problems Reveal Immune Imbalance
The skin is the largest organ in the human body and is also a part of the immune system. It plays a crucial role in immune defense, serving as the body's first line of defense.
The function and condition of the immune system directly impact skin health. When the immune system is overactive or abnormal, it can lead to various skin problems. At the same time, some skin conditions may trigger an immune response, or the damage to the skin barrier might make it more susceptible to external irritants, further activating the immune system.
Therefore, itchy skin is often a sign of an underlying immune issue. While applying ointments may temporarily relieve the itch, the body’s immune response may still be active, leading to the development of chronic conditions. Moisturizing skincare products can help strengthen the skin's protective barrier, but they don't stop the itching. Since skin problems are not just skin-deep—and because the skin is the body’s largest immune organ—controlling itching is crucial to supporting the overall immune response. This helps prevent the skin from becoming a weak point that could lead to immune-related diseases.
What is immunity related to? How do chronic diseases begin? These are closely tied to the body's physiological functions, lifestyle, and diet. So, how can the body’s physiological functions be kept in proper working order?
The Connection Between Immunity and Mineral Trace Elements
Minerals are vital components of cells and are classified into macrominerals and trace minerals based on their concentration in the body.
Major Minerals：
These include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chloride, and magnesium, which the body requires in amounts greater than 100 milligrams per day.
Trace Minerals：
Required in smaller amounts (less than 100 milligrams per day), trace minerals include iron, zinc, copper, iodine, selenium, fluoride, chromium, molybdenum, and sulfur.
Each trace mineral has unique physiological functions, such as combining with proteins to form enzymes, hormones, and vitamins. Research (Silvia Maggini, 2007) highlights the essential role of trace minerals in immune function, for example
"Selenium": Selenium helps strengthen the immune system and protect the body from harmful substances. Without adequate selenium, the immune system may weaken, making the body more vulnerable to infections. Ensuring sufficient selenium intake is part of protecting the immune system.
Other trace elements, like zinc, copper, and iron, also support immune health.
"Zinc": supports the immune system and helps maintain the health of skin and mucous membranes.
"Copper": is involved in processes that combat harmful substances, helping to keep the body healthy.
"Iron": plays a crucial role in oxygen transport and cell growth.
These trace minerals contribute to different immune functions, and ensuring adequate intake helps the body better resist diseases.
Since the human body cannot synthesize trace minerals, they must be obtained through diet or other external sources. However, due to modern dietary habits, soil quality, food processing, and lifestyle, many people today lack these essential minerals.
The Link Between Trace Mineral Deficiency and Chronic Diseases
A deficiency in trace minerals has long been associated with the development of chronic diseases, such as:
1. Cardiovascular Disease:
Magnesium：Involved in the normal functioning of heart muscles, it helps maintain heart rhythm and blood pressure.
Potassium： Helps balance sodium levels, affecting blood pressure control and heart health.
2. Diabetes:：
Chromium：May influence insulin sensitivity and has a role in blood sugar control.
3. Immune System Diseases:
Zinc：Essential for normal immune function and cellular immunity.
Copper： Affects the normal development and function of the nervous system
4. Depression and Anxiety Symptoms:
Zinc and Magnesium：Linked to neurotransmission and mental health, potentially affecting symptoms of depression and anxiety
Initially, symptoms may be mild, such as dizziness, fatigue, and aches, but they often go untreated until a chronic condition is diagnosed, requiring long-term medication.
Chronic Diseases and Skin Symptoms
The immune system's condition directly affects skin health, and the following skin problems can accompany modern chronic diseases:
1. Diabetes：Can cause various skin issues, including dryness, itching, delayed wound healing, increased risk of infection, and conditions like eczema and hidradenitis suppurativa.
2. Cardiovascular Disease：Circulatory problems can affect blood supply to the skin, leading to paleness or cyanosis. Chronic ischemia can also lead to ulcer formation.
3. Autoimmune Diseases：Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can be associated with skin symptoms such as rashes, redness, and hardening of the skin.
Simple Trace Mineral Deficiency Can Also Cause Itchy Skin
Even without chronic diseases, a simple deficiency in trace minerals can lead to itchy skin, such as:
1. Selenium：An antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative damage. A lack of selenium can cause dry, sensitive skin, leading to itchiness.
2. Zinc： Involved in skin tissue repair and protection. Zinc deficiency can cause skin inflammation, dryness, and damage, resulting in itching.
3. Copper： Involved in collagen formation, helping to maintain skin structure and elasticity. A lack of copper can cause dry, sensitive skin, leading to itchiness.
Whether skin itching is caused by immune issues, chronic diseases, or trace mineral deficiency, it is closely related to the body's trace mineral levels.
In summary, itchy skin may be just the tip of the iceberg. The real focus should be on how to maintain essential physiological functions and skin barrier health by supplementing with trace minerals.
How to Supplement Trace Minerals?
In addition to diet, trace minerals are usually consumed through oral supplements, as they are generally believed to be difficult to absorb through the skin.
Achieving effective concentrations of trace minerals in the body and allowing time for these elements to work is essential.
However, the bioavailability (the proportion of a nutrient that is absorbed and used by the body) of trace minerals varies. For example, calcium has a bioavailability of about 30-35%, magnesium 30-40%, and zinc 20-40%. Low bioavailability means limited absorption in the intestines, leading to slower accumulation in the body and making it difficult to see noticeable skin improvements in the short term.
Moreover, the balance of trace minerals like zinc, selenium, and copper in the body is crucial. Excessive intake of certain elements can have toxic effects, so it is essential to be cautious.
Topical Application for Direct Absorption of Trace Minerals
Generally, topical application, or "transdermal absorption," where trace minerals are applied directly to the affected skin, is the most direct way to absorb these minerals. It can improve skin discomfort in the shortest time by directly targeting the affected area.
However, topical skincare products containing trace minerals are relatively rare on the market. Why is this?
Skincare products are divided into two types: hydrophilic (water-based) and lipophilic (oil-based). Our skin has a self-protective layer, making it difficult to absorb both oil and water. Hydrophilic products struggle to penetrate the skin's protective layer, while lipophilic products are also challenging to absorb.
To overcome this challenge, "emulsification technology" is needed, combining the properties of both water and oil-based components. When trace minerals are effectively absorbed through the skin, topical application is safer, faster, more direct, and more effective than oral supplementation.
當礦物質微量元素有效透過肌膚表層吸收進去，用擦的比口服更為安全、快速、直接而有效。
When choosing trace mineral supplements on the market, compare factors such as ingredient concentration (it should be sufficient), ingredient properties (balanced), and absorption efficiency (high and fast). This way, you can find the best method for you. Ultimately, by fundamentally improving immune function and skin health, everyone, young and old, can quickly return to physical and mental comfort and enjoy an ideal quality of life!