In Functional Medicine, we view skin health as a reflection of your gut health. The gut lining is your inner skin and your skin is a reflection of your outer skin.
The microbiome is like your internal ecosystem. It consists of trillions of bacteria and other microbes that live in your body, and it affects everything from your energy levels and mental health to your immune system, hormones, neurological system, and even your risk for cancer and chronic disease. Needless to say, the gut microbiome is the root of many health and disease in humans.
In functional medicine, we view skin issues like eczema as a reflection of an imbalance or dysfunction inside the gastrointestinal tract (GIt).
Your gut lining is similar to your outer skin; if you have food sensitivities or leaky gut syndrome then that can cause inflammation which can result in any number of skin issues like acne, dandruff or hives.
How is eczema linked to gut health?
Eczema is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that can cause redness, itching, and swelling.
Your gut health has much to do with eczema because the digestive system plays a major role in the immune system. Your gut helps regulate your immune system through hormones and other chemicals that it produces.
If the “good” bacteria in your gut are out of balance from poor diet or stress, it can lead to an increase in inflammatory cytokines which are linked to inflammation throughout the body – including on your skin! This includes:
Candida overgrowth – this yeast likes sugar and when there's too much of it you get candida die-off symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and headaches.
There are many other factors that contribute to eczema flare-ups like genetics and environmental factors like heat/cold weather changes but by taking care of yourself from within (specifically focusing on your diet) you'll start seeing results fast!
Skin conditions like eczema could be a sign of a deeper imbalance in the body that needs to be addressed.
Eczema is often a sign of a deeper health issue. It's an inflammatory response, which means it can be linked to any number of things, including gut flora imbalances, immune system imbalance, and more. And addressing these issues by changing your diet or taking supplements might help clear up your eczema for good!
Before you take another pill or apply more lotion, try these:
1. Get sufficient sleep.
It’s difficult to produce enough glutathione in our bodies when we don’t get proper rest. Glutathione is essential to helping the body detoxify itself while sleeping, which helps ensure its optimal function.
2. Get tested for nutritional deficiency and gut microbiome balance.
At the Nutrition Clinic, we facilitate a nutritional deficiency and gut microbiome test that measures nutrient levels and gives an overview of how well your microbiome is functioning. Besides determining if you have any deficiencies (such as zinc), which may be causing your symptoms or inflammation in general, this test also tests for neurotransmitter indicators, as well as how well your liver is able to detox - all critical information for your functional nutritionist to systematically plan for your treatment.
It’s important to note that the results will vary depending on what supplements are already being taken; let your functional nutritionist know what kind of things you take so they can interpret the data correctly! We typically advise clients to stay off supplements for 48 hours prior to testing.
3. Start balancing out your gut microbiome
by eating more probiotics like kimchi, kefir, or sauerkraut every day; these foods help restore balance in our gut microbiota while also helping us absorb nutrients better through their prebiotic effects.
This can help reduce inflammation overall but won't necessarily cure eczema itself unless paired with other treatments such as diet and lifestyle changes.
It may also be time to consider consulting with a functional nutritionist to get to the root of your skin issues and other conditions.
Interested to know about how we can help you personalize your nutrition and improve your health and wellbeing for the long run? Schedule a call with our care manager or viewer Schedule a free 10-minute call with our care manager or learn more here.💡Ready to take your health to the next level? Book your first consultation here