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Check nowAlthough a number of skincare products may help to calm the symptoms of eczema, did you know that treating this condition from the inside out may be the key? Here I describe how supporting your digestion could help treat this chronic skin condition.
Eczema is chronic skin condition which is characterised by dry, itchy, inflamed skin. Conventional methods often include a number of lotions and potions from the doctor that may help to temporarily treat the problem from the outside. Steroid creams, for example, work by suppressing the immune response which causes the symptoms in the first place.
However, if the creams stop, the symptoms often return with vengeance – basically the treatment is only superficially masking the problem, rather than treating the underlying issue.
Now, although the underlying cause of eczema isn’t well understood, we know that the symptoms occur as a result of an over-sensitive immune response. We then know that this, in turn, gives rise to an inflammatory response, which presents itself in our skin.
Now, we also know that up to 70% of our immune cells reside in the gut, and we also know that in the case of food intolerance or allergies, activation of the immune system starts in the digestive system. Immune cells present in the gut wall react to a harmless food molecules such as lactose or gluten, and can give rise to local effects such as bloating, pain or diarrhoea. However, in some cases it also seems apparent that these reactions to certain foods are connected to more systemic effects, such as rashes or headaches.
So, it appears that in many cases, food intolerance and allergic reactions are often connected with skin conditions such as eczema too. So, taking all of this into account, could this be the common link, and might the gut be a good place to start in terms of the treatment of skin conditions such as eczema, more generally?
As well as our immune cells helping to protect us from pathogens in the gut, we also rely on our own little army of bacteria called our microbiome. If these fall out of balance, the bad bacteria and pathogens can potentially damage our gut wall. This can progress into a condition called leaky gut which results in a vicious cycle, in terms of the balance of bacteria in the gut and systemic inflammation.
1. Factors that affect your gut bacteria
An imbalance in gut bacteria is thought to have implications for a number of conditions from skin health, to issues with mood and weight management. A number of factors can have adverse effects on the good bacteria in your gut:
Once leaky gut is established certain food triggers may be more likely:
When it comes to chronic skin conditions, often treating the condition from the inside out can be helpful. My top tips are as follows:
If you can identify any food triggers, then this can help to keep inflammation to a minimum whilst you work on healing the gut
Giving the gut time to rest will help support the healing process so avoid food triggers, as well as any inflammatory foods including red meat, alcohol, caffeine and refined sugar. The amino acid L-glutamine may also help to support the healing process
Balancing your bacteria is often a pivotal step in the management of skin conditions such as eczema. Support the gut initially with a prebiotic such as Molkosan, then from children up to adults, adding a suitable probiotic could help to improve symptoms. Head over and browse the Optibac range with our friends Jan de Vries and explore some of the research surrounding this area!
Once you’ve got the main part of your treatment plan underway and your gut is well on the road to recovery, skincare products may then be introduced to help your skin get back to normal. Try Neem Cream to help calm dry, irritated skin.
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Want to improve your digestion? Get involved as our Digestion Advisor Ali Cullen takes you through her 5 step plan to improve your digestion and get problem symptoms, from bloating to acid reflux, under control.
Check the health of your digestive system using our simple test.
Check nowDigestisan Oral Drops: A traditional herbal medicinal product used for indigestion, sensation of fullness and flatulence associated with over-indulgence in food or drink, or both, exclusively based upon long-standing use as a traditional remedy.
Always read the leaflet.
According to naturopathic principles, when two or three meals are being eaten daily, the bowel should move at least once or twice a day.
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