Is Your Salty Diet Increasing Your Risk Of Dry And Itchy Skin?

Healthcare professionals have always advised people not to consume a lot of salt as there are many risks associated with salt-heavy diets. Studies show that salt may cause dry and itchy skin, increasing the risk of eczema. While it may seem harmless to add a little bit extra salt to your food, research shows that you must take your skin health into consideration before you do so. The reason why this is an important thing to take into consideration is because a majority of people in US consume a lot of sodium-rich foods without understanding the implications. According to a study published in JAMA Network, after studying 215832 adults higher 24-hour urine sodium excretion was linked with 11% of Atopic Dermatitis diagnosis, 16 % higher odds of active AD as well as 11% increase in the severity AD in people. This study showed that lowering your sodium consumption is the best way to lower your risk of AD and controlling your symptoms.

How Does Sodium Affects The Skin?

Eczema is a common skin problem that makes your skin itchy and irritated. To understand how salt might affect eczema, we need to know how our bodies handle salt. For a long time, doctors thought that our kidneys were the main way our bodies kept salt levels in check. But now, they've discovered that most of the salt in our bodies is actually stored in our skin. The University of California San Francisco explains our skin has its own system for managing salt, and this system can affect skin conditions like eczema. In the research they looked at the salt levels in people's urine and compared it to whether they had eczema. They found that the more salt people had in their urine, the more likely they were to have eczema. This shows that there's a connection between eating salt and having skin problems. ““Most Americans eat too much salt and can safely reduce their intake to recommended levels,” said Katrina Abuabara, MD, who is an associate professor of dermatology at UCSF as well as a corresponding author of the study

Even though the study found a link between eating salt and having eczema, it doesn't mean that cutting back on salt will automatically cure eczema. Scientists still need to do more research to find out if there's a direct cause-and-effect relationship. It's like finding a connection between eating ice cream and getting a sunburn—you need to do more tests to see if the ice cream actually causes sunburn. But even though we don't know for sure if cutting back on salt will help with eczema, there are still lots of good reasons to eat less salt. Eating too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, which can cause heart problems and strokes. So, it's a good idea to watch how much salt you eat, even if you don't have eczema.

Ways You Can Reduce Your Sodium Consumption

It's easy to eat too much salt without realizing it, because many foods have hidden salt. The good news is, there are simple ways to cut back. The government recommends eating less than a certain amount of salt each day, but many people eat much more than that. To eat less salt, try eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, which are naturally low in salt. Avoid eating too many processed foods, like chips and canned soups, which often have lots of added salt. Read the labels on food packages to see how much salt they contain. And try using herbs and spices to flavor your food instead of adding extra salt. Eating a healthy diet with less salt can help you feel better and protect your heart.