Although the body’s immune system is most often associated with its role in preventing systemic illnesses, the skin contains a vast network of immune cells that aid its restoration and repair.

Certain nutrients that support whole-body immunity may also help ease the itching, soreness, and inflammation associated with painful skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and cold sores.

Nutrients for Skin Health and Immunity

• Antioxidant Vitamins & Minerals

  Nutrients with antioxidant properties are the first line of defense against skin ailments.

  By helping control inflammation, antioxidants give the skin a chance to recover from damage caused by infections, UV exposure, and free radicals.

  • Vitamin A

    Beta-carotene is a plant pigment—found in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables—that is converted to vitamin A in the body.

    Vitamin A supports skin cell turnover and wound healing. It may be useful for treating acne and psoriasis, as well as other skin conditions, including warts and sun damage.

    Topical use of vitamin A may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

  • Vitamin E

    The most abundant fat-soluble antioxidant found in the skin, vitamin E helps prevent skin damage caused by free radicals and UV exposure, especially when used in combination with vitamin C.

    Vitamin E also has anti-inflammatory effects that aid wound healing and may help treat chronic inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, and acne.

  • Selenium

    A trace mineral, selenium helps the body make proteins and enzymes which protect against cell damage and inflammation.

    Selenium also supports healthy immune function and boosts hair and nail health.

    Insufficient intake of selenium has been linked to inflammatory skin diseases like dermatitis and psoriasis.

  • Zinc

    Another trace element, zinc has a long history of use for the management of skin diseases.

    Zinc deficiency has been linked to a host of inflammatory skin complaints, including acne, rosacea, and dermatitis.

    Zinc may also be effective in helping treat viral warts, genital herpes, ulcers, and other types of wounds on the skin.

• Amino Acids

  • Lysine

    Lysine is an essential amino acid, which means the body cannot produce it on its own and must get it from food or supplements.

    Like other amino acids, lysine helps the body make protein.

    Lysine may have additional skin health benefits, including antiviral properties that may help prevent and treat cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

    Collagen Formation

    Lysine also supports collagen formation.

    Collagen is a type of protein that occurs naturally in the skin and gives it elasticity, but it decreases with aging, leading to sagging skin and wrinkles.

    Adequate lysine intake may help to slow the signs of aging in the skin.

• Herbs

  Several immunity-boosting botanical remedies may also support skin health.

  • Astragalus

    With a long history of use in protecting against colds and other respiratory infections, astragalus also has important antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may aid wound healing and protect skin cells from damage.

  • Dandelion

    The leaves and roots of the dandelion plant (Taraxacum mongolicum) have anti-allergic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties that offer potential skin care benefits.

    Due to its ability to inhibit tyrosinase, an enzyme that helps bring pigment to the skin’s surface, dandelion may be useful for reducing the appearance of acne scars and age spots.

  • Echinacea

    An immunity superstar, echinacea may help soothe a host of irritating skin conditions, including eczema and acne.

    One recent study found that echinacea, in combination with probiotics and other botanical extracts, significantly improved the number of superficial lesions in a group with mild to moderate inflammatory acne.

  • Ligustrum

    A member of the olive family, ligustrum (Ligustrum lucidum) has traditionally been used to nourish skin and ease skin ailments.

    Emerging research suggests it may be particularly beneficial for inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis.

Precautions

Although medicinal herbs and dietary supplements are generally considered safe, they may interact with each other and/or other medications.

Always consult with your healthcare practitioner before adding any new herbs or supplements to your regimen.

Postherpetic Neuralgia follows a rash called “herpes zoster.” Often called “shingles,” it is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox.

What are Shingles?

The first time you get chickenpox, the virus remains in your nerve endings even after the chickenpox is gone. This usually causes no problems.

If the virus re-activates in one of the nerve endings, however, it causes a rash (small blisters) all along the distribution of that nerve.

The rash of herpes zoster is characterized by being painful and being in a line totally on one side of the body. If it extends past the midline of your body, the rash is probably coming from something else.

What is Postherpetic Neuralgia?

If the pain persists after the rash is gone, continuing for weeks to years (over one year in half of elderly patients), it is called "Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)." The pain tends to be burning, electric, or deep and aching. PHN affects between 500,000 and 1 million Americans — most of which are elderly. It can severely disrupt one’s life, but fortunately can now be effectively treated in most cases.

Treatment

If I see a new painful rash (not itchy) that fits the description of shingles, in addition to natural therapies I recommend immediate treatment with prescription antivirals for ten days.

These are fairly benign (although expensive) and can prevent years of grief. They need to be started early on in the rash to be effective.

The pain often precedes the rash, so with new shooting pains, I begin treatment when the first blisters pop up. The effects of treating this early are remarkable.

• Medications

  Beginning treatment early on in a shingles attack (within 48-72 hours) is critical.

  Though our focus is on natural therapies, this is a very good time to also add in the antiviral medication Valtrex (Valcyclovir).

  The recommended dose is 1,000 mg three times a day for a week for shingles, though I usually give 1,000 mg four times a day for 10 days, which often totally nips the attack in the bud.

  Although long-term use in AIDS patients can be toxic, it is generally very safe for short-term use otherwise.

• Recommended Supplements

  Acute shingles can be helped with the following supplements:

  • Vitamin B12

    Take vitamin B12 injections daily for 10 days and then as needed. Alternatively, B12 sublingual tablets (5,000 mcg a day dissolved under the tongue) can be helpful.

  • Lysine

    Lysine 2,000-2,500 mg/day may help starve the virus, though this has not been tested for shingles.

  • B complex

    Take a good B complex vitamin to help support nerve healing.

  Medication reminder

  In addition to these supplements, it is most important that you take the prescription antiviral noted above.

• Other Therapies & Advice

  For Postherpetic Neuralgia

  For postherpetic neuralgia (persistent nerve pain after shingles), see the general treatments and links under Neuropathy.  These can be very helpful.

If there was a magic bean for the prevention of high-risk HPV— also known as human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted infection responsible for 9 out of 10 cases of cervical cancer — I would grow one for every sexually active adult in the world. As of today, that bean does not exist. Even more disappointingly, neither does a cure.

The good news is that researchers are working on it, and they are making progress with a Japanese medicinal mushroom extract. It’s not a magic bean, but it is both real and effective. Let’s back up to better understand high-risk HPV infections, and why it’s so important to find an effective treatment.

Millions of Women are Infected with HPV and Most Don’t Even Know It

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, affecting more than 79 million people. This includes the more than 80-percent of sexually active women who will become infected with the virus at least once in their lives.

Low-risk HPV— the kind of HPV that doesn’t cause cancer— is commonly associated with physical symptoms that send women to the gynecologist. High-risk HPV— the kind that causes vulval, vaginal, anal, and cervical cancer— has no physical symptoms. The only way to detect it is with a tissue swab. What’s more, high-risk HPV can remain latent in the body for long periods of time, reactivating long after the original infection, meaning that even those in monogamous relationships can become actively infected.

This is why routine visits to the gynecologist and Co-Tests (a Pap smear and HPV test in one) which provide early detection for HPV and other conditions— are so important. Yet, nearly 25 percent of American women are overdue for routine gynecological exams, and there’s overwhelming evidence that women are turning to the internet before medical doctors. This could have potentially dire consequences for those infected with “invisible” high-risk HPV.

The Internet is Full of “Magic Beans” for Clearing HPV Naturally and That’s Problematic

A health behaviors survey from the Pew Research Center found that more than 70 percent of Americans have searched online for health information, and 35 percent have used the internet to self-diagnose a condition.

When it comes to HPV treatments, a significant amount of what’s published on the internet is about magic beans; they’re not real. A quick search returns hundreds of articles claiming myriad vitamins and minerals— like garlic, green tea, vitamin C, and vitamin D— have the power to prevent HPV infections altogether. These articles are based on limited evidence taken out of context, and in some cases, folklore. What’s more is that many popular articles suggest unsafe serving sizes and applications, which can cause gastrointestinal or mental distress, mask low blood sugar in diabetics, and even cause acid burns to highly sensitive body parts.

The simple truth is that there are only three things that can prevent an HPV infection: abstinence, safe sex, and the HPV vaccine. And even those may not guarantee you’ll remain HPV-free for life.

Most healthy adults can naturally clear active HPV infections within two years because their immune systems are already getting the job done. For those who can’t clear the virus, medical researchers are doing something about it using proven science.

Researchers Are Using a Japanese Medicinal Mushroom Extract to Do What Other Supplements Can’t: Fight High-Risk HPV Infections

A team of researchers from UTHealth Houston have been working to determine what it takes to support the immune system in clearing active, persistent high-risk HPV infections, and whether AHCC supplementation can make a difference. AHCC is a unique cultured extract derived from the roots of lentinula edodes, or shiitake, mushrooms. A double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II study supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health confirmed that AHCC is effective in the treatment of active high-risk HPV infections. Results showed that daily use of AHCC supported the immune system in clearing active HPV infections in two-thirds of study participants within six months.

While there’s no formal medical treatment for active high-risk HPV infections, there is now reliable scientific evidence supporting the use of AHCC to aid the immune system in clearing them. For gynecological practitioners like me, this is encouraging news. When a patient tests positive for HPV or develops dysplasia, we can recommend AHCC supplementation in addition to frequent monitoring and procedural intervention. Talk to your doctor, not a search engine, about your HPV status and discuss whether you could benefit from AHCC supplementation.

Finding yourself with insomnia despite being exhausted? Have cognitive dysfunction (which has been termed “brain fog”)? Widespread achiness?

These are symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (CFS/FMS), which can be caused by dozens of infections. Unfortunately, the research is suggesting that, in a large percentage of cases, COVID-19 is triggering persistent symptoms and debilitation. This has been termed Long Hauler Syndrome.

In the majority of cases, COVID symptoms should mostly be gone after six weeks. If you continue to feel poorly beyond two months, the COVID-19 virus may have tripped a circuit breaker in your brain called the hypothalamus. This circuit breaker controls sleep, hormones, and numerous other systems.

The classic symptoms? Severe exhaustion and insomnia, especially if combined with brain fog and even widespread pain. This combination is fairly diagnostic for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Dozens of other symptoms may also be present, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations.

People generally feel like a train wreck. I know I did when I came down with postviral CFS/FMS while in medical school in 1975. It knocked me out of school and left me homeless for a good part of a year. Fortunately, I learned on my own how to recover. Since then, I have published numerous books, textbook chapters, and studies on how to effectively treat postviral chronic fatigue syndrome. I have also successfully treated thousands of people worldwide with this condition.

Begin with the SHINE Protocol

The key is optimizing energy production and addressing other issues triggered by the COVID-19 infection. Optimizing healthy energy production can be done effectively using what we call the SHINE Protocol. This addresses sleep, hormones, infections, nutritional support, and exercise as able. Our published placebo-controlled study showed that by doing so, 91 percent of people improved with an average 90 percent increase in quality of life. Four other studies I have published also show that numerous other treatments can be helpful.

Begin by taking a good high-potency multivitamin with ribose powder (5 grams, two to three times a day). A free online quiz can assess your symptoms, and even lab tests if available, to tailor a protocol for you using the SHINE Protocol. Bring the printout to your local health food store so they can help you get the supplements you need.

The new fourth edition of my book From Fatigued to Fantastic ($22, Penguin/Avery, 2020) will offer more guidance on how to recover.

Optimizing Heart and Lung Function

Addressing persistent immune, lung, and heart dysfunction is also important. This can be done using a mix of natural and prescription treatments. For example, you can obtain a very low dose of naltrexone—3 to 4.5 milligrams (mg) a night—from a holistic physician to help rebalance immunity.

Support to settle down the immune system can also be helpful. For this, I recommend bioavailable forms of curcumin as well as 20 to 40 mg of zinc a day.

Cardiac involvement is seen in 78 percent of COVID-19 cases. For persistent heart dysfunction, ribose combined with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), magnesium, and high dose B vitamins can markedly improve cardiac function. Antioxidant support is also important.

For those who experienced neurologic symptoms, micro bleeds and clots along with microglial activation in the brain may have occurred. Recovery can be improved with a mix of antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids to thin the blood, and the low dose naltrexone mentioned earlier.

These represent the tip of the treatment iceberg. There is much that can be done. It requires a comprehensive assessment of each individual case, which usually takes at least three hours of the physician’s time. 

Unfortunately, being a complex condition, it may take several years for most physicians to be properly trained in addressing persistent post COVID-19 symptoms. It is best to look for a specialist who specifically works with fibromyalgia, as they may be much more familiar with the area and treatments. Generally, you are much more likely to be able to be helped by a holistic physician.

A large body of helpful information can also be found online at Vitality 101.

Persistent post COVID-19 symptoms can be treated effectively but require a large degree of experience on the part of the physician. Fortunately, much of what is needed to help you recover can be done on your own.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided new masking guidelines to help people protect themselves against COVID and its variants.

“Masking is a critical public health tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” according to a CDC news release, “and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask.” However, some masks provide better protection.

When Should You Wear a Mask?

“Because it’s possible to have coronavirus without showing symptoms, it is best to wear a face covering even if you think you are healthy,” says Lisa Maragakis, MD, MPH, of Johns Hopkins Medicine. “If you have COVID-19 and are not showing symptoms, a face mask reduces your chance of spreading the infection to others” when you talk, cough, or sneeze.

Choosing a Face Covering

What to Look For in a Good Mask

Choosing the right mask can make a difference in how well you protect yourself and others. The CDC’s latest guidelines include the following types (ranked here from lowest level of protection to highest):

• Cloth masks, including gaiters, that are loosely woven. If you hold it up to a light source and can see dots of light through the fabric, that’s a sign that virus particles can leak through.
• Multilayer masks made of finely woven cloth are a better choice if they fit well.
• Disposable surgical masks and KN95s that fit well may offer more protection.
• Respirator masks, including N95s, that are approved by NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) that fit well, with no gaps, offer the highest level of protection. Surgical N95s are a specific type of respirator that should be reserved for healthcare settings.

What to Avoid in a Face Covering

• A loosely fitting mask that allows air leaks around your chin, cheeks, and nose.
• Wet or dirty masks with no nose wires.

Healthcare workers and others who rely on respirator masks to protect themselves from airborne bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19, may sometimes purchase their own supplies of personal protective equipment.

Not all respirators are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Some masks are falsely marketed as being approved by NIOSH. These counterfeit respirators may not protect the wearer from inhaling virus particles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC regularly updates its warning page on counterfeit respirators, which contains examples of counterfeits and a guide to identifying NIOSH-approved respirator masks, as well as links to sites where consumers can verify the approval numbers of certified masks.

Medical experts have expressed concern that consumers may use oleander as a treatment for COVID-19 after reports circulated that oleandrin, an extract from the toxic shrub, has been the subject of research.

Research into Oleandrin for Covid

After a laboratory study reportedly showed that oleandrin prevents replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, Harlan Krumholz, MD, told Medscape Medical News, that there is a “chasm between a single in vitro study and any use in humans outside of a protocol.”

Side Effects and Risks of Oleandrin

After tweeting, “Oleandrin? Yeah that would definitely kill people,” David Juurlink, MD, PhD, told MedPage Today, “Too much can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but the main concern is [cardiac] arrythmias, which can be fatal.”

Another physician, Jennifer Gunter, MD, suggested on Twitter that it would be easier to kill someone with oleandrin than with the virus.

Krumholz said that people should avoid any such remedies that are not part of “a credible research project.”

Long touted for its support of the immune system, wound healing, and the senses of smell and taste, zinc is the mineral of choice for many when it comes to treating the common cold. Its popularity has gotten a boost from COVID-19. A survey shows it to be the biggest seller among supplements since the covid pandemic began.

Taking zinc lozenges at the first sign of any respiratory virus symptoms may be protective because of its activity against replication of the virus in the nasopharynx and throat. James A. Robb, MD, a molecular virologist who did pioneering work on coronaviruses in the 1970s, has suggested stocking up on zinc lozenges, but also urged caution, saying, “Using zinc lozenges as directed by the manufacturer is no guarantee against being infected by the virus, even if it inhibits the viral replication in the nasopharynx.”

Emphasizing the inhibitory effect of zinc on the replication of other coronaviruses, researchers M. T. Rahman and S. Z. Izid suggest that the mineral may be useful as an adjuvant therapy when combined with antiviral drugs.

Women need only 8 milligrams (mg) of zinc per day, and men, 11 mg. It’s readily available in chicken, red meat, and fortified cereals. Taking more than 40 mg per day is not advisable, according to the National Institutes of Health.