Within recent years, observations have been recorded in the literature which suggest a relationship between eczema and disturbed metabolism of carbohydrates.1 In some patients who have both diminished tolerance for sugar and eczema, it has been noted that the latter condition has cleared up rapidly following the institution of diets of low carbohydrate content. That skin conditions may be related to the metabolism of sugar is further suggested by the striking manner in which the pruritus pudendi of diabetes vanishes after the disappearance of sugar from the urine. Whether the underlying disturbance is local (action of sugar on the skin and mucous membrane) or general (metabolic) in this condition, is still problematic. In view of these observations, an attempt was made to determine whether there was a relationship between the percentage of sugar found in sweat and eczema.
Little is known about the sugar content of sweat. As far