Eczema: More than skin deep

Your skin is itchy, red, and cracking, even bleeding sometimes. You have tried every lotion and cream on the market and nothing works. Your doctor tells you that you have eczema and prescribes a topical corticosteroid ointment. It works for a while, then the itching comes roaring back. Maybe it’s even worse than it was.
In Western medicine, we tend to compartmentalize. If you see something on your skin, you see a dermatologist. If you have a stomach complaint, you see a gastroenterologist. If you’re stressed, you see a therapist. But what if a condition can stem from multiple origins? Eczema is certainly one of those things. Fifty years ago, one in 15 people had eczema; now it’s one in 5. In some ethnicities, it’s 1 in 2. What is happening? The answer is complicated, but navigable.
Eczema can be a simple skin barrier malfunction, and for some people, the right lotion can clear it up. But that is not the norm. Eczema goes way beyond the skin. Think of yourself as a bucket that can only hold a limited amount of inflammation. You can handle a little inflammation from eating processed food, then a little more from stress at work, but then the orange trees bloom, and suddenly, your eczema flares like crazy. You have exceeded the limit of your “inflammation bucket”. If you know the things that fill the bucket, you can start to manage them before your eczema gets out of hand.
A loss of gut microbe biodiversity in adults and children contributes to gut inflammation. Babies born without the bacteria B. infantis are three times more likely to develop eczema. Gut microbiomes become unbalanced and loose diversity for several reasons in adults, too: using antibiotics and anti-reflux medications to name two. Finding the right mixed strain probiotic can reduce the risk of eczema by as much as 83%. So that’s a good place to start. But be patient. There is a 30 day turn over time for skin cells; things are not going to work right away. Stay the course for a month to see if this important addition is helping.
A poorly functioning or overloaded liver can contribute to eczema flare ups. The liver processes environmental toxins and breaks down histamines. If those processes aren’t happening fast enough to keep up with the load, inflammation results and leads to a flare up. The liver processes essential fatty acids crucial for maintaining healthy skin barriers. Poor function can disrupt this, worsening dry skin. And ironically, long-term use of intense treatments for severe eczema, such as topical corticosteroids, can sometimes lead to liver strain. Herbs excel at liver support; many of my clients have seen dramatic changes after a few weeks of “Love Your Liver” formula. So there is another tool for your kit. You can reduce your exposure to environmental toxins by removing artificial fragrances, phthalates from plastic, and molds from your life, too.
And finally, I cannot overstate the role of stress in triggering eczema flares. Stress sends your body into “flight or fight” mode which releases excessive cortisol and causes an inflammation response. If your inflammation bucket is already full to the brim, a bad day at work can tip the scales. Recognizing that you are maxed out and stepping back to breathe helps, but sometimes your body goes galloping down that path before you can reign it in. Herbs can help reduce cortisol and return your body to center. Keep a bottle of “Calm” on hand for those situations that get out of hand quickly, then take those very needed time outs.
Clearly, eczema is not simple, but it is manageable. A personalized plan helps identify the triggers in your life and environment. Let me know if this is something we can work on together.