Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes dry, itchy, and irritated skin. It can deeply impact daily life, disrupting sleep, comfort, and confidence. While traditional treatments like steroid creams and anti-inflammatory medications may offer temporary relief, they rarely address the root causes of eczema. A functional medicine approach goes beyond symptom management, uncovering and tackling the underlying factors contributing to eczema to provide long-term relief and improved overall health.
What is Functional Medicine and How Does It Help with Eczema?
Functional medicine is a holistic, person-centred approach that seeks to identify and address the root causes of chronic conditions. Unlike conventional medicine, which often focuses solely on symptom relief, functional medicine takes a whole-body approach. It views eczema not just as a skin issue, but as a manifestation of deeper systemic imbalances, including gut health, inflammation, environmental factors, and immune system dysfunction.
Eczema is a complex condition with multiple contributing factors. Functional medicine identifies and addresses these, including gut health, food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, histamine intolerance, mould exposure, and environmental toxins.
The Gut-Skin Connection
The health of your gut is directly linked to your skin. Gut dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut bacteria) and increased intestinal permeability, commonly referred to as "leaky gut," can trigger systemic inflammation that worsens eczema.
Functional medicine uses gut-healing strategies such as probiotics, prebiotics, and anti-inflammatory diets to restore gut health, reducing eczema symptoms and improving overall immune function.
Food Sensitivities and Triggers
Certain foods can act as hidden triggers for eczema flare-ups, particularly in individuals with food sensitivities or intolerances. Common culprits include dairy, gluten, eggs, and soy. Functional medicine practitioners often recommend an elimination diet to identify these triggers, followed by carefully guided reintroductions to confirm their impact. This personalised approach helps reduce inflammation and supports long-term skin healing.
The Role of Histamine and Allergies
Histamine plays a significant role in eczema.
Histamine is a compound involved in immune responses, and an overproduction or poor breakdown of histamine can exacerbate eczema symptoms. Individuals with histamine intolerance often experience heightened allergic reactions, itchiness, and inflammation. Functional medicine explores histamine levels, identifies histamine-rich foods to avoid (e.g., fermented foods, aged cheeses, and certain fish), and supports histamine breakdown through diet, supplements, and liver support.
Allergies, whether seasonal or environmental, can also aggravate eczema. Functional medicine identifies these triggers and builds a comprehensive strategy to minimise exposure and calm the immune system.
Mould Exposure and Eczema
Mould exposure is a lesser-known but significant factor in eczema. Mould releases mycotoxins that can overwhelm the immune system, leading to inflammation and skin issues.
Functional medicine practitioners assess the potential for mould exposure in your home or workplace and recommend testing and remediation strategies. Supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes through liver-supportive nutrients and a clean diet can also help mitigate the effects of mould on the skin.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Nutritional imbalances can weaken the skin barrier and exacerbate eczema. Functional medicine focuses on optimising levels of key nutrients, including:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Help reduce systemic inflammation.
Vitamin D: Supports immune balance and skin repair.
Zinc: Essential for skin healing and reducing inflammation.
Antioxidants: Protect against oxidative stress that damages skin cells.
A personalised plan may include dietary changes and supplementation to address these deficiencies and promote healthy skin.
Stress Management
Stress is a common trigger for eczema flare-ups, as it increases cortisol levels and disrupts immune function. Functional medicine incorporates stress management techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or breathwork to calm the mind-body connection and reduce inflammation.
Environmental Toxins
Environmental toxins, including household chemicals, pollutants, and allergens, can trigger eczema. Functional medicine identifies these exposures and offers practical strategies to reduce your toxic load. Supporting detoxification pathways, particularly through liver health, is a cornerstone of the functional medicine approach.
Functional medicine is uniquely equipped to tackle eczema because it addresses the condition’s root causes rather than masking symptoms. This approach offers several advantages:
Comprehensive Testing: Advanced diagnostics identify gut imbalances, histamine intolerance, mould exposure, nutrient deficiencies, and food sensitivities.
Personalised Diet Plans: Anti-inflammatory and low-histamine diets tailored to your needs reduce flare-ups.
Lifestyle Modifications: Stress management, toxin reduction, and optimised sleep routines support healing.
Targeted Interventions: Supplements, probiotics, and liver-supportive nutrients address specific imbalances.
The Long-Term Benefits of Functional Medicine as a Solution for Eczema.
By focusing on the underlying factors contributing to eczema, functional medicine offers sustainable relief and lasting improvements in skin health. People often report additional benefits, such as better digestion, increased energy, fewer allergic reactions, and improved mood.
TAKE CONTROL NOW
If you’re tired of short-term fixes that don’t address the root causes of eczema, a functional medicine approach could be the solution you’ve been searching for. By addressing histamine intolerance, mould exposure, gut health, and other contributing factors, this holistic approach promotes deep, lasting healing.
Get in Touch:
Both Muriel and Kat are experts in skin health and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their work.
If you’re seeking personalised care, you can learn more about the services they offer at the Autoimmune Clinic by visiting www.autoimmunecliniclondon.com or reaching out via email at hello@autoimmunecliniclondon.com.
They’re here to support you on your journey to healthier skin.