NEW DELHI: High levels of sodium, commonly consumed through salt, could increase the risk of eczema, an inflammatory condition of skin marked by dry and itchy patches, a new study has found.
Previous studies have found the sodium present in skin to be linked with autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions, including eczema. They have also showed that consuming fast food, known to contain excessive dietary sodium, is associated with increasing chances of eczema, including its severity, among teenagers.
The new study found that eating even one extra gram of sodium than the daily recommendation could increase the chances of eczema flares by 22 per cent. One gram of sodium is roughly the amount present in half a teaspoon of table salt or in a Big Mac, a hamburger sold by McDonald’s, the international fast food chain.
