Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Terry, “My husband currently has a skin condition called granuloma annulare, specifically on the top of both hands. He has seen a doctor and dermatologist and they have prescribed various creams, which have helped a little, but the condition still persists. He has had this for a couple of years. Do you have any other suggestions or supplements you would recommend he try?” — Mary H., Green Bay, WI

A. Dear Mary, First, please discuss with your doctor whether or not your husband might have any problems with undiagnosed type-2 diabetes or any thyroid issues, as this condition is sometimes associated with these underlying disorders.

Omega 3 fatty acids from fish have a great deal of research in the realm of skin diseases. I don’t like fish oil, because the omega 3s are poorly absorbed (that’s why you have to take so much) and it may have impurities and/or rancidity issues. I prefer a product that contains omega 3 fatty acids extracted from the head of the salmon, not the body fat. This is not a fish oil, so you only need to take one or two tablets for all the benefits. In the head of the salmon, omega 3 fatty acids are naturally bound to phospholipids, which can enhance absorption up to 50 times that of the omega 3s in fish oil. This phospholipid-omega 3 complex never causes “fish burps” and is a highly effective natural medicine.

I would also suggest a B complex, 50 mg of all the B’s, one capsule, three times daily. I especially like the bioactive form of vitamin B-6, which is pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P) and vitamin B-12 as methylcobalamin. Another formula that can play a critical role in reducing/eliminating skin inflammation is a mixture of boswellia and curcumin. Curcumin is notoriously hard to absorb, so make sure you choose one with proven, human absorption studies, with up to 10 times the absorption of plain curcumin. However, don’t choose a product with piperine, because even though it improves absorption, it is hard on the liver and interacts with a lot of prescription drugs. Also, I recommend a special boswellia that has a minimum of 15% AKBA (the most potent anti-inflammation compound in the plant) and is standardized to less than 5% beta boswellic acid. This combination can actually double the strength of the boswellia. Even though it may seem unrelated, avoiding all flours and grains containing gluten, dairy products, sugar, and diet soft drinks/artificial sweeteners may make a tremendous difference. I have seen many people have great improvements in their skin with these changes. Healthy regards! Terry . . . Naturally