Possible Nutrient Deficiencies: Skin

Excesses Attributed to Certain Disorders

Skin

Acne

  • low Essential Fatty Acids (see our Signal369)

  • high Iodine

  • low Potassium

  • low Vitamin A

  • high or low Vitamin B6

  • high Vitamin B12

  • high Vitamin E

  • low Zinc

Atrophy

  • low Riboflavin (localized)

Brown Mottling

  • low Folic acid
    (nape extending to the neck, axillae and lateral abdominal areas)

  • low Protein-Calorie (cheeks)

  • low Vitamin B12
    (nape extending to the neck, axillae and lateral abdominal areas)

Bullae (large vesicles)

  • low Niacin (pellagra)

Casal’s Necklace (a reddish-purple, scaly band or collar of dermatosis running around the neck and down the sternum)

  • low Niacin (pellagra)

Dermatosis

  • high Chromium

  • low Copper

  • low Essential Fatty Acids (see our Signal369)

  • Niacin (pellagra)
    vesicles, blisters, fissures and scales (primarily seen in areas exposed to light or chronically irritated)

  • low Protein (“flaky-paint”)

  • low Riboflavin (scrotal)

  • high Selenium

  • low Sodium

  • high vitamin A (facial)

  • low Zinc (severe)
    bullous and pustular

Eczematoid Lesions

  • low Calcium

  • low Essential Fatty Acids (see our Signal369)

  • low Inositol

  • low Pantothenic Acid

  • low Zinc (severe)
    distal distribution (face, hands, feet, anogenital

Edema (smoothness due to fluid retention)

  • low Magnesium
  • low Niacin (pellagra)
    with scaly desquamation followed by a wizened, glazed skin
  • low Potassium
  • low Protein
    Pitting edema
  • high Sodium
  • low Thiamine (beriberi)
    Pitting edema
  • high Vitamin A
  • low Vitamin B6
  • low Vitamin C (scurvy)
    Firm, painful edema sometimes with pigmentary alterations that resemble scleroderma

Erythema(redness)

  • low Essential Fatty Acids (see our Signal369)
    Glazed erythema around the nose, eyes and ears

  • low Niacin (pellagra)(early)
    with burning and pruritis (especially nose and cheekbones)
    Ears are silvery.  Often better in the winter.

  • low Thiamine (beriberi)(mild)

  • high Vitamin A

Exanthema (eruptions)

  • hihg Iodine

  • high Niacin

  • high Para-aminobenzoic Acid (PABA)

  • high Vitamin A

Flushing

  • high Niacin
  • high Magnesium
  • high Thiamine

Hyperhydrosis (excess sweatiness)

  • high S-Adenosyl-methionine (SAMe)
  • high Choline
  • high Thiamine
  • low Vitamin D (scalp only)
  • high Zinc

Hyperkeratosis (skin thickened, dry and wrinkled)

  • low Protein-Calorie

  • low Vitamin A

Hyperkeratosis, Perifollicular (“gooseflesh”; “sharkskin”)

  • low Essential Fatty Acids (see our Signal369)

  • low Protein-Calorie

  • low Riboflavin

  • low Vitamin A

  • low Vitamin C (scurvy)
    with fragmented corkscrew-like hairs buried in a hyperkeratotic follicle with perifollicular hemorrhages within the hyperkeratotic areas on the posterior side of the thighs, on the anterior side of the forearms, and on the abdomen

Hyperpigmentation

  • low Folic Acid especially palms and soles

  • high Niacin

  • low Niacin (pellagra)(late)
    also hard, rough and cracked with a marginated darker edge (due to fibrous deposition)

  • low Protein-Calorie

  • low Riboflavin (scrotal or vular area)

  • Vitamin B12 especially palms and soles

Icterus

  • high Vitamin A

  • low Vitamin B12

Night Sweats

  • high Vitamin A

Pallor

  • low Biotin (rare)

  • low Copper

  • low Folic Acid (lemon-yellow)

  • low Iron

  • low Vitamin B12 (lemon-yellow)

  • high Vitamin D

Pressure Sores

  • low Protein-Calorie

Pruritis

  • high Niacin

  • high Selenium

  • high Thiamine

  • high Vitamin A

Purpura (bleeding into the skin)

  • high Vitamin A

  • low Vitamin C (scurvy)
    especially at a site of trauma, pressure, or irritation, such as on the buttock or the posterior side of the thighs

  • low Vitamin K

Rash, Brownish-Red

  • low Niacin (pellagra)
    Papules on the dorsum of the hands which may be pruriginous (itchy)

Seborrheic Dermatosis (eczema; a scaly eruption covered with a slightly adherent oily scale)

  • low Biotin (rare)

  • low Essential Fatty Acids (see our Signal369)

  • low Riboflavin
    (around the nose, eyes and ears)

  • low Thiamine

  • low Vitamin B6 (rare)
    (around the nose, eyes and ears)

  • low Zinc
    (around the nose, eyes and ears)

Slate Grey

  • high iron

Thickening

  • low Essential Fatty Acids (see our Signal369)

Ulcerations

  • low Vitamin C (scurvy) (late)

Vitiligo

  • low Copper

  • high Para-aminobenzoic Acid (PABA)

Xerosis (dryness)

  • low Biotin (rare)(greyish) with scaly desquamation

  • low Essential Fatty Acids (see our Signal369)

  • low Iron
    (around the nose, eyes and ears)

  • low Potassium

  • low Protein-Calorie

  • low Riboflavin

  • high Vitamin A (acute) with scaly desquamation

  • low Vitamin A with roughness.
    Changes are prominent on the extensor surface of the limbs, the back, the posterior neck, and the shoulders.

  • low Zinc (moderate) with glazed erythema around the nose, eyes and ears

Yellow-Orange Color especially in palms, soles and nasolabial folds (sclerae remain clear, in contrast to jaundice)

  • high Beta-Carotene

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