Treating eczema - a natural approach
Do you have a child with eczema, or have you suffered from it yourself?
Have you been prescribed a steroid cream, only to find that the eczema returns with a vengeance a short time later?
Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a skin condition that causes dry, inflamed and itchy skin. It usually begins before age 5 and may continue until the teen and adult years, often flaring up during periods of stress.
What causes eczema?
The main factors contributing to eczema are:
Immune dysregulation and family history of eczema
Food allergies
Environmental factors – exposure to environmental allergens, chemicals or pathogens, e.g. dust, animal dander, plants, cosmetics, detergents, latex, plants, cosmetics, wool or synthetic fibres
Intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”)
Stress and emotional influences
What are the symptoms?
The main symptoms of eczema are:
Itching
Dry, cracked, red and inflamed skin
Small, raised bumps
Crusting, oozing and scaling
How is eczema treated?
Conventional eczema treatment usually involves applying a topical corticosteroid medication to the affected areas. Whilst steroid creams may provide some short-term relief, unfortunately they have not been shown to be effective in the long term and are not recommended for long-term use due to side effects such as thinning of skin, stretch marks and discolouration. Another reason for avoiding long-term use of steroid creams, particularly in children, is the fact that some of the steroid passes through the skin and into the bloodstream and this can negatively impact our hormones.
A natural approach to treating eczema
To effectively treat eczema, it is crucial to look beyond the skin and consider what is happening inside the body, particularly in the gut.
When treating clients with eczema in clinic, I use a holistic approach to address the root cause, improve overall health and prevent future flare-ups. As eczema can be very irritating and uncomfortable, it is important to treat the symptoms, however I combine this with working on supporting healthy skin function, identifying and reducing allergens and improving gut health.
Treating the symptoms
Wet dressings
Application of damp cloths to the affected skin, particularly when it is hot and itchy. The wet dressings reduce the itch by cooling the skin and can be especially helpful at night to prevent disturbed sleep and protect the skin from scratching. Wet dressings can be used in conjunction with topical creams or moisturisers.
For more information about wet dressings see https://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/derm/Wet_dressings_A3.pdf
Emollients
Moisturising treatments that soothe and hydrate the skin by forming a protective film that traps moisture. Emollients can be creams, ointments, lotions, gels or sprays and some good natural options include colloidal oatmeal, coconut oil and shea butter (avoid products containing dyes and fragrance)
Topical treatments
Treatments applied directly to affected areas to moisturise the skin and reduce inflammation. Natural eczema topical treatment options include nettle, calendula, aloe vera and diluted apple cider vinegar.
Epsom salt baths
Epsom salts are a form of magnesium that can have a soothing effect on the skin. Epsom salt baths also aid in detoxification and can assist with stress reduction.
Note: it is important to moisturise the skin immediately after the bath to replace lost moisture.
Healing “leaky gut” and identifying and eliminating food allergens
Eczema is usually associated with some form of increased intestinal permeability. In people with a healthy gut, the junctions in the walls of the small intestine are tight, however when a person has intestinal permeability (or “leaky gut”), there are larger gaps in the intestinal lining which allow partially-digested foods, toxins and pathogens to pass through to the bloodstream, triggering inflammation and abnormal immune reactions (including eczema).
The best approach to reduce intestinal permeability (and therefore improve eczema) is to remove food allergens while also supporting the gut with probiotics and healing nutrients such as L-glutamine, zinc, collagen, fibre and curcumin.
The most common food allergens associated with eczema are eggs, milk products, gluten, tomatoes, peanuts, artificial colours and preservatives.
I would also add salicylates to that list. Salicylates are a natural chemical found in many fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus fruits, tomatoes, berries, avocados, mushrooms, grapes, broccoli and dried fruit.
My daughter struggled with eczema when she was younger and we had limited success with topical steroid creams. We were advised to eliminate salicylates from her diet and within 2-3 months, her eczema was completely gone. At the same time, we worked on improving her gut health and she is now able to tolerate all foods without any eczema flare-ups.
If you or your child has eczema, I would recommend keeping a food and symptom diary for a couple of weeks as this can help to determine whether the eczema is triggered by particular foods.
Note: I recommend seeking professional advice when considering doing an elimination diet with your child. They can be challenging and it is important to ensure that your child is getting enough nutrients during the elimination period.
Supporting healthy skin barrier function
- increase omega-3 fatty acid intake (either from small, wild fatty fish or a quality fish oil supplement)
- include vitamin E-rich foods in the diet, e.g. sunflower seeds, almonds, pine nuts, peanuts, avocado, salmon
Minimising exposure to environmental triggers
- wash clothes in mild soaps only and rinse thoroughly
- avoid phthalates (a hormone-disrupting chemical found in most plastics and many personal care products)
- use natural, fragrance-free skin care products, cosmetics and cleaning products
Supporting healthy immunity
- eat a variety of different coloured fruits and vegetables
- supplement with a quality high-strength multivitamin/multi-mineral.
Minimising stress
- relaxation techniques
- gentle exercise, e.g. yoga, walking
- reduce the amount of time spent on technology, particularly competitive gaming and social media
If you or your child are struggling with eczema, I encourage you to book a consultation or a free Discovery Call via the ‘Book a consultation’ button.
References
Berry J, 2021, ‘Top 12 natural remedies for eczema’, Medical News Today, viewed 5 September 2022, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324228
Hechtman L, 2019, Clinical Naturopathic Medicine (2nd ed), Elsevier, Australia.
Mayo Clinic, 2022, Atopic dermatitis (eczema), Mayo Clinic, USA, viewed 5 September 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atopic-dermatitis-eczema/symptoms-causes/syc-20353273
NHS, 2020, ‘Emollients’, Health A-Z, NHS, UK, viewed 5 September 2022, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/emollients/
Pizzorno JE, Murray MT & Joiner-Bey H, 2016, The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine (3rd ed), Elsevier, USA.
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit, 2004, Friendly Food, Murdoch Books, Australia.
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, 2022, Wet dressings for eczema, RCH, Melbourne, viewed 5 September 2022, https://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/derm/Wet_dressings_A3.pdf
Web MD, 2020, Salicylate Allergy, Web MD, USA, viewed 5 September 2022, https://www.webmd.com/allergies/salicylate-allergy