What is Eczema?

Eczema, or Atopic Dermatitis, is a common condition that usually starts in childhood and can persist into adulthood. The condition can range from short term mild discomfort to chronic severe rashes and pain.

Symptoms: Redness, swelling and inflammation of the skin, formation of itchy fluid-filled vesicles that weep when scratched followed by subsequent crusting and scaling. Commonly affected areas are inside the elbow creases, behind the knees, on the face, neck and hands.

(It is important to rule out other conditions such as fungal, bacterial and viral infections, allergic contact with a substance, drug reaction, scabies, psoriasis etc. before concluding that you have eczema.)

What causes Eczema?

Eczema occurs in those with an underlying an atopic or allergic tendency where immune system responds excessively to allergens. Very often those with eczema also have hayfever and asthma or other chemical and food sensitivities and vice versa. At the cellular level, the body produces increased levels of histamine and has a decreased ability to fight off bacteria, so there is an increased risk of developing more serious infections.

What can be done about my Eczema?

In conventional medicine, eczema is usually treated using hydrocortisone cream, antifungal cream and topical antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine drugs. These measures only symptomatically reduce inflammation and itching but the underlying atopic tendency is still there.

The naturopathic approach to treating eczema is much more comprehensive because your skin is a complex organ.

Your skin is the largest organ and performs many important functions such as temperature control, moisture retention, elimination of toxins, and protection from dirt and infections. From a naturopathic perspective, your skin is an outer expression of what is going on inside your body. Skin is affected by nutrition, hydration, pollution, digestion, liver function, hormone levels, metabolism, medications and illness. Therefore the ND will assess all factors that may be contributing to your eczema:

Nutrition: Essential fatty acid deficiency, vitamin & mineral deficiencies, food sensitivities.

Metabolism: Digestive problems such as IBS, IBD (Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis), deficient digestive acid and enzymes, dysbiosis, Candida related complex, chronic consitipation etc.

Emotions: Stress management.

Environment: Mold and mildew in damp and old houses, soaps, fragrances, dust mites, pesticides, industrial pollution, pets, pollens etc