I am seeing so many patients walk through the door (including my own child) with eczema lately. Although it can be such a pain to deal with and the temptation to reach for those steroidal creams is highly enticing, there is A LOT we can do naturally to help heal your skin and scratch that itch.
So, What is Eczema (apart from super itchy and annoying)?
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a condition affecting the skin, mainly causing redness, itching and the potential of infections. Eczema is a chronic health problem that affects many people of all ages, but is most common in infants.
People with eczema often have other allergies, or develop other allergies, such as hay fever, asthma, food allergy/intolerances or dust mite allergy.
With eczema, the skin does not retain moisture very well, causing it to dry out easily and potentially split open. This makes the skin more open to allergens and irritants. This can trigger the skin to release chemicals (mainly histamine) that make the skin itchy. Scratching itchy skin causes more chemicals to be released, making the skin feel even itchier! This horribly itchy cycle can cause great discomfort, disrupt sleep and affect quality of life.
Common Causes of Eczema
Affecting 5-20% of people world-wide, eczema appears to have a multifactorial aetiology, commonly presenting alongside asthma and hay fever. The most common causes of eczema include;
Mutations/variations in the Filaggrin (FLG) gene. This gene provides instructions for making a large protein called profilaggrin, which is found in cells that make up the outermost layer of our skin. It is heavily responsible for skin hydration, natural moisturisation and skin barrier function/ protection.
Dysbiosis (imbalance of natural organisms) of the skin surface microbiome, with or without infection.
Immunological disturbances/allergic conditions.
Food allergies and sensitivities.
Due to compromised skin barrier function, eczema is commonly aggravated by external allergens and irritants present in personal and household care products. It may also be aggravated by environmental weather factors such as temperature, humidity and by garments made from rough textiles.
Common symptoms of Eczema
Patches of skin become red, scaly and itchy
Dry/cracked skin
Warm to touch
Swelling
Thickened skin
Darker skin around eyes
Sometimes, tiny blisters containing clear fluid can form and the affected areas of skin can weep, a sign of infection.
SO what can we do about Eczema?
First and foremost, MOISTURISE MOISTURISE MOISTURISE. It is important to keep skin that is prone to eczema well hydrated, by moisturising the skin every day with a chemical and/or irritant-free moisturiser. Further easy DIY tips for healing/soothing your eczema include;
To help reduce systemic inflammation, follow a low antigenic diet: this means heavily reducing or cutting out caffeine, alcohol, highly processed + refined foods, whilst perhaps eliminating gluten, dairy, soy and any other identified or suspected allergenic agents.
Avoid overheating your skin - lukewarm baths/showers, light clothing, light bedding etc
Increase consumption of Omega 3 Fatty acids - sardines, mackerel, anchovies, other seafood, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed.
Up your protein! Protein helps to build and repair every single cell in your body and plays a huge role in skin health. Make sure to have a (roughly) palm-sized portion of protein with each meal and snack.
Find ways to effectively manage your stress.
Adopt all natural personal care products, soap free products. Avoid perfumes, fragranced skin lotions, make-up and strongly scented shampoos and conditioners
Increase consumption of all your nourishing wholefoods - fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts/seeds, proteins, and herbs, whilst avoiding heat-promoting foods such as spicy foods, lamb, chocolate and mango.
