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Eczema/Atopic dermatitis

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Eczema is an inflammatory skin disorder which presents as intensely itchy, dry, inflamed red rashes on the skin.  In severe cases the skin can become broken and weepy. Other characteristics are a tendency for the skin to be heavily colonised by bacteria suggesting immune dysfunction and also a tendency for the skin to lichenify in response to rubbing and scratching suggesting membrane fragility.

White blood cells called leucocytes from eczema sufferers tend to have lower levels of a compound called cAMP.  This results in increased histamine and decreased bactericidal activity.

Atopic eczema is often regarded as a hereditary condition with a positive family history in many eczema sufferers. It is also often associated with asthma, hay fever or urticaria. 

Causes/Contributing factors

A number of factors that may to contribute towards eczema/atopic dermatitis:

• Food sensitivities, intolerances or allergies¹
• Intestinal permeability.  This is associated with food sensitivities. Intestinal permeability can lead to inappropriate food molecules passing through into the bloodstream causing hypersensitivity reactions².
• Disordered fat metabolism.  One of the things that many people with eczema suffer from is disordered fatty acid metabolism which makes the skin drier and less able to hold onto moisture^{3 4}
• Hypothyroidism
• Nutritional deficiencies such as zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E^{5 6}
• Candida overgrowth⁷
• Dust mite exposure - this can worsen symptoms⁸
• Stress⁹
• Genetic¹⁰

Nutritional factors to consider

• Anti-inflammatory diet
• Correction of nutritional deficiencies
• Elimination of problem foods
• If necessary, removal of candida , repair of gut wall and re-innoculation of intestinal microflora
• Modulation of cAMP and decrease of histamine through use of foods and supplements with antihistamine properties eg quercitin and appropriate botanicals
• Immune support

Possible laboratory tests

• Candida antibody
• Food allery or intolerance including lactose
• Intestinal permeability
• Fatty acids profile