If you haven’t personally experienced eczema, you most likely know someone who has experienced eczema. Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease. The condition occurs in 10 to 30 percent of children and 2 to 10 percent of adults in the United States. (1) Thankfully, eczema is not a lifelong curse that you are stuck with. If you can get to the root cause of the eczema, then you address it successfully. Addressing eczema topically is only half of the problem and often does not address the root cause. Let’s explore some holistic approaches to managing and addressing eczema.
A holistic approach recognizes that eczema is multifaceted and has multiple root causes. Some of those possible root cause categories include food allergies, gut health, skin barrier, histamine overload, toxin exposure, and fungal growth. A true root cause in each of these categories will be environmental/liver-related, inflammation/gut-related, or stress/adrenal-related. For someone struggling with eczema, they may find that they are struggling with more than one root cause, which is leading to a cascade of events. Research indicates that “environmental factors, host immune status, and genetic background can alter the composition and functionality of the skin microbiome, thereby affecting disease susceptibility and overall skin health.” (2) “The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is multifaceted, involving compromised skin barrier function, dysregulated immune responses, and alterations in the skin microbiota.” (4)
Signs & causes of liver/environmental-related eczema:
- Flare-ups seem to occur in certain locations
- Made worse by personal care products and dry air
- Consider the kind of laundry detergents, soaps, or lotions that are used on the skin
- Are there any fragrances, dyes, or synthetic ingredients in personal care products?
Signs and causes of stress/adrenal-related eczema:
- Flare-ups seem to worsen during times of emotional stress, lack of sleep, or major life changes
- Recent illnesses or vaccinations that may have affected the immune balance
- Family history of eczema, asthma, allergies, or autoimmune conditions
- Symptoms that could suggest high cortisol levels or adrenal stress, such as 360 fatigue or irregular sleep patterns, mouth breathing
Signs & causes of inflammation/gut-related eczema:
- A correlation between specific foods and flare-ups
- Worse in warm weather/warm conditions
- Known food allergies or intolerances
- Are there frequent yeast infections, UTIs, cradle cap, or oral thrush? Could be candida
- Are there signs of leaky gut or nutrient deficiencies (iron, zinc, vitamin D)?
One thing in common
“As a fundamental component of the human ecosystem, the skin microbiome is crucial in maintaining cutaneous homeostasis and overall skin health. The dynamic interactions between the microbiota and the host significantly influence the integrity of the skin barrier and contribute to the onset and progression of numerous dermatological conditions. Increasing evidence associates microbiome dysbiosis with a variety of inflammatory and immune-mediated skin disorders, such as acne and atopic dermatitis. For example, the abnormal proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus has been strongly correlated with recurrent exacerbations of atopic dermatitis.” (3)
Whether the eczema’s root cause is liver, gut, adrenal, or skin barrier related, they are all interconnected and, as a result, are impacting each other, for good or for bad. This means addressing eczema often requires a multifaceted approach.
Addressing eczema
Eczema is your body’s way of communicating an imbalance, not a punishment.
Heal the gut.
Support the liver.
Lower inflammation.
Calm the nervous system.
When the body finds balance, the skin will reflect that. (5)
A great illustration of this is: “The healing powers of the Dead Sea in Israel have attracted patients with a wide variety of ailments for centuries. The waters are rich in minerals believed to promote skin healing, particularly in combination with sun exposure. A study of 49 atopic dermatitis patients that involved bathing in the Dead Sea for 20 minutes, twice daily, with subsequent increasing gradation of sun exposure, found significant improvement in eczema severity and quality of life measures.” (6) These results can be linked to all three of the causes of eczema. One —the minerals and salt would treat any fungal issues present on the skin, while supporting the microbiome from the outside in. Two — swimming can reduce inflammation while also improving circulation. Three — the time spent relaxing in the Dead Sea would have been supportive for the nervous system — reducing stress.
Studies have also shown that “glutathione oral supplementation with Glutathione or l-cysteine (LC; a GSH precursor) has been successfully used to improve the Glutathione status in blood and tissues while lowering inflammation and IR in humans and animals.” (7) Glutathione and vitamin D levels play a huge part in supporting those who suffer from eczema due to their roles in supporting overall health and reducing inflammation.
Not everyone can afford to visit the Dead Sea as a treatment for their eczema, and all this information may seem impractical at best, so we are going to share some simple holistic remedies to address eczema at home.
Eczema support:
Address inflammation/ gut health
– Stay hydrated so your body lets go of excess water weight
– Ensure you are getting enough sleep – try our sweet dreams salve for extra support (linked)
– Find a good probiotic
– Assess if you are consuming prebiotics. Example: chicory root which can be found in the herbal coffee we keep in stock at Dandelion Naturals and online
– Consume supplemental bitters to support digestion – you can find bitters in our store in Hayfield, MN
– Record when you have flares to narrow down if you have food allergies
– Do your best to consume organic fruits and vegetables, especially those that are deemed the dirty dozen. For more information on that, visit: https://organicfoodguides.com/dirty-dozen-and-clean-fifteen/
– Avoid foods with added MSG (monosodium glutamate) – some people are very sensitive to this ingredient
Address Liver/environmental health
– Switch your cleaning products to non-toxic – you can find dish soap, plastic-free scrubbers, and so much more at www.dandelionnaturals.com
– Check your cosmetic ingredients for toxins – we now carry natural makeup in our store in Hayfield, MN
– Beware of preservatives – these can be especially irritating for your skin
– Ensure your laundry detergent is not irritating your skin. We have a great scent free/natural option available. (linked)
– Try lymphatic massage – we have a dry brush available in our shop (linked)
– Try our milk soaps to support your skin barrier with lactoferrin (linked)
– Consume foods that support good glutathione levels, such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, strawberries, citrus fruits, pork chops, beef skirt steak, and chicken breasts
– Install a shower/water filter that removes/neutralizes chlorine and other toxins
Address stress/adrenal health
– Limit your time in front of screens
– Take time to journal what is troubling you and bringing you joy
– Go for a walk outside – vitamin D can be an added benefit, helping with inflammation
– Try Dandelion Naturals tallow balm and massage it all over your troubled skin (linked)
– Drink your minerals by trying some of our cold, effervescent beverages at our store in Hayfield, MN
Unfortunately, the root causes of eczema can be different for each person, so a bit of trial and error may be required. However, we are here to help. Stop by our store, ‘The Dande’ at 108 Main St in Hayfield, MN, so we can point you toward the products we have on hand that may be helpful for you to try. Also, browse our website to find natural products that are free of preservatives, artificial dyes, and fake fragrances.
Disclaimer: Regulations set forth by the FDA prohibit bath and body companies from making health-related claims about beauty products. I am not a medical or healthcare professional and do not claim that using these products may positively affect pre-existing physical and/or mental health conditions. The information in these listings pertains to the properties of specific ingredients used in listed products. Please consult a medical professional for treatment of serious skin conditions. As always, it is recommended to speak with your health care provider before using any skin care product while pregnant or nursing.
Resources:
https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/eczema-atopic-dermatitis (1)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12720977/ (2), (3)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41435-021-00133-9?fromPaywallRec=true (4)
Roshelle Zielinski found on Instagram (5)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4518179/ (6)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6208166/ (7)
