Nearly all affections of the skin of constitutional or reflex (gastro-intestinal) origin, especially acne, eczema, psoriasis, seborrhoea capitis, pruritus, urticaria, etc., improve under dietetic measures and often recover under these alone. While no special plan applies to all, the elimination of sugar and sweets of all kinds, and substances rich in fat, as cheese, nuts, fried articles, etc., is essential. Pure fats like butter, cream, salad oil, etc., are, however, well enough in small amounts. Malt liquors and sweet wines disagree, largely because of the sugar therein; but alcohol itself is also prejudicial in many cases.

It is well to take all food in small rations, and masticate it thoroughly; for the prejudicial effect of food in skin diseases is often directly attributable to fermentation, favored by atony of the digestive tract, dilated stomach, constipation, etc. Physical exercise is of great benefit in most of these cases.

The diet and other regimen in skin diseases is much like that for obesity, gout and diabetes. All these metabolic disorders tend to produce skin diseases.