Eczema’s Link To Diet
August 27, 2018
Eczema is super common, especially in children. The typical treatment, as detailed by the National Eczema Association, includes implementing "a regular bathing and moisturizing routine" and using "OTC and/or prescription medication consistently and as prescribed." While these strategies may help in the short term, they tend to only address the symptoms, rather than the cause, of eczema. And, these remedies may actually do more harm than good.
In order to get rid of eczema once and for all, it is essential to determine what is causing it in the first place. One of the most common triggers of eczema is a food allergy or sensitivity. Research shows that up to 88% of children with eczema also have a food allergy. And, "the likelihood of a food allergy is correlated with the severity and duration of the eczema," meaning that the worse your eczema is, the more likely you are to have a food allergy. One of the most common triggers of eczema is a sensitivity to dairy. If you or someone you know suffers from eczema, have them try giving up dairy for a month and see if they notice a difference (of course, I am happy to help them find dairy-free alternatives to their favorite things so they won't be miserable!). There are tons of other things that can be done as well, that will help cure eczema from the inside out.
As far as the conventional treatments of eczema go, while I'm certainly not against regular bathing, it is important to understand that our body produces natural oils to keep it from getting too dry. When we bathe, those oils are stripped away temporarily. If eczema causes us to have even DRIER skin, then it doesn't make sense that MORE bathing is the answer. Especially when that bathing is followed by the application of a chemical-laden moisturizer.
And corticosteroids will absolutely reduce the rash and itching that eczema causes, which is great -- we have to find relief somehow. But it is important to remember that the rash and itching are your body's way of telling you that something is awry. And it is essential to find out exactly what that "something" is, so that we can stop a new patch of eczema from starting.
Too many parents have had to watch their children suffer with eczema -- and are never told about the possibility that it could be related to the child's diet. You can read a ton more about the functional approach to eczema from Chris Kresser and Paul Jaminet if you're interested!