Lack of stomach hydrochloric acid is prevalent in atopic patients. Supplementation with Hydrozyme is essential with each meal. Chronic urticaria has been elicited in some subjects challenged with aspirin, artificial food colours, and benzoates. There is an increased secretion of sebum into the skin. Psoriasis may be associated with some of the lesions.
Treatment is with B group vitamins and zinc, and the application of anti-inflammatory creams.
The waterproof layer of the skin, is in the lowest part of the stratum corneum, just above the granular layer. The waterproofing effect depends on the sterochemical configuration of this sphingolipid. In deficiency of EFA, linoleic is replaced by oleic acid which gives a different and leaky configuration. This explains the dryness of skin in atopic dermatitis. In chronic eczema the severity of the condition seems to correlate with the extent of stomach hydrochloric acid deficiency.