Home Remedy for Macular Amyloidosis
Macular amyloidosis affects the skin and is characterized by the discoloration of your skin, the appearance of singular skin patches, merged discolored skin patches that are grayish or brown in color, and severe to extreme itchiness 1.
It is caused by abnormal amyloidal deposits in your skin cells.
The deposits are caused when your bone marrow creates too many antibody proteins.
The proteins accumulate in your blood and are then deposited in your cells and tissues. The cause of the condition is unknown, but some natural remedies deal with the symptoms.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Macular amyloidosis will often begin in early adulthood 12. Visit a doctor to be diagnosed with the condition: see a general practitioner or a dermatologist. Get a full physical examination, and blood and urine tests. A certain, small section will be removed with a small needle to be viewed in a laboratory to see if proteins accumulated in your skin cells. If the doctor suspects that your condition is hereditary, you might be referred to a genetic counselor to have a DNA test performed.
There is no cure for macular amyloidosis 12. Medications are often prescribed to relieve your itchiness.
Prescription antihistamines, dimethyl sulfoxide, and intrelesional steroid creams can be applied topically. Surgery may be required to remove amyloidal deposits on the skin; your doctor may remove deposits via laser surgery, dermabrasion, or excision. Lesions will often reoccur after removal.
- Macular amyloidosis will often begin in early adulthood 1.
- Surgery may be required to remove amyloidal deposits on the skin; your doctor may remove deposits via laser surgery, dermabrasion, or excision.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
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Take Omega-3 fatty acids to help diminish the inflammation from the irritated, itchy lesions associated with amyloidosis. Omega-3 fatty acids may also hinder the formation of new lesions. Consume foods like tuna, halibut, salmon, krill, algae, purslane, and nut oils. Eat these at least two times weekly. Take 1,000-mg capsules of Omega-3 fatty acids one to two times daily.
Do not consume more than 3 g of the supplement, because it can increase your chances of bleeding. Take two to three weeks before you note the benefits of supplement consumption.
Use caution when taking Omega-3 supplements, especially if you bruise easily, have a bleeding disorder, and are using anticoagulants; consuming high doses can lead to bleeding. Taking Omega-3 supplements may cause bloating, belching, flatulence, and diarrhea.
If you have diabetes, consult with a physician before taking Omega-3 fatty acids; it may affect your glucose levels. Omega-3 fatty acids may interfere or interact with aspirin, warfarin, clopedigrel, glipizide, glyburide, glucophage, insulin, cyclosporine, etretinate, topical steroids, atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen.
- Take Omega-3 fatty acids to help diminish the inflammation from the irritated, itchy lesions associated with amyloidosis.
- Use caution when taking Omega-3 supplements, especially if you bruise easily, have a bleeding disorder, and are using anticoagulants; consuming high doses can lead to bleeding.
Vitamin C
Your body may require high doses of vitamin C to help your body break down amyloidal deposits and hinder the formation of amyloidal lesions. Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and it can destroy free radicals that threaten the integrity of cell structures. Obtain vitamin C from a variety of food sources including blueberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, citrus juices, cranberries, grapefruit, green peppers, juices fortified with vitamin C, kiwi, mangos, oranges, papaya, pineapple, potatoes, raspberries, red and green peppers, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, turnip greens, watermelon, and winter squash. Men over 18 require 90 mg of vitamin C daily, and females over 18 need 75 mg of vitamin C a day. Breastfeeding females need as much as 120 mg daily for optimal health. Consume 2,000 mg of vitamin C in supplement form to deal with macular amyloidosis 1.
Drink water with vitamin C supplements; this vitamin acts as a diuretic and consuming water will prevent dehydration. Do not use vitamin C if you have hemochromatosis; vitamin C increases iron levels in your blood. Taking more than 2 mg of vitamin C a day can lead to gastrointestinal upset.
Vitamin C levels in your body can be diminished by smoking, and through the use of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Vitamin C consumption may also interact or interfere with acetaminophen, aluminium-containing antacids, barbiturates, chemotherapy drugs, nitrate medications, oral contraceptives, protease inhibitors, tetracycline, and warfarin.
- Your body may require high doses of vitamin C to help your body break down amyloidal deposits and hinder the formation of amyloidal lesions.
Related Articles
References
- WrongDiagnosis on Macular Amyloidosis.
- DermNet NZ for details on Macular Amyloidosis.
- Milani P, Merlini G, Palladini G. Light chain amyloidosis. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2018;10(1):e2018022. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2018.022
- Cleveland Clinic. Amyloidosis: AA. Updated May 23, 2018.
- Genetics Home Reference. Familial Mediterranean fever. Updated August 17, 2020.
- Cleveland Clinic. Amyloidosis: ATTR (transthyretin). Updated June 2, 2020.
- Sanford Health Care. Wild-type (senile) ATTR amyloidosis.
- Scarpioni R, Ricardi M, Albertazzi V, et al. Dialysis-related amyloidosis: challenges and solutions. Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis. 2016;9:319-328. doi:10.2147/IJNRD.S84784
- Medline Plus. Cardiac amyloidosis. Updated May 16, 2018.
- Baker KR, Rice L. The amyloidoses: Clinical features, diagnosis and treatment. Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J. 2012;8(3):3-7. doi:10.14797/mdcj-8-3-3
- National Organization for Rare Diseases. Amyloidosis. Updated 2018.
- Schönland SO, Hegenbart U, Bochtler T, et al. Immunohistochemistry in the classification of systemic forms of amyloidosis: a systematic investigation of 117 patients. Blood. 2012;119(2):488-93. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-06-358507
- American Board of Clinical Chemistry. Protein electrophoresis, immunofixation electrophoresis. Updated 2019.
Writer Bio
Robin Reichert is a certified nutrition consultant, certified personal trainer and professional writer. She has been studying health and fitness issues for more than 10 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Science in natural health from Clayton College.