Is eczema linked to gut health?

In this article I look at the impact bacteria in the gut can have on skin inflammation and eczema. Learn why digestion can affect eczema, and read how diet has been shown to be quite the influencer when it comes to adjusting the balance of good and bad bacteria in our intestines.

Is eczema linked to gut health?

Eczema is associated with differences in gut bacteria, with research indicating that an imbalance (dysbiosis) in the gut bacteria plays a role in the development of inflammatory conditions such as eczema. Research also indicates that the Mediterranean diet can positively impact the intestinal microbiome and lead to fewer eczema symptoms.

Eczema and your gut

Holistic medicine considers a strong digestive system as the cornerstone of good health. Decades ago, the famous Naturopath Alfred Vogel wrote that those with eczema should make sure that their digestive system was working properly.
Recent studies have found differences in populations of gut bacteria in babies with eczema when compared to other infants. Bacteria and other gut microbes are thought to interact with human cells as if they were working together: the brain-gut axis. The gut is our 'second brain'. This exciting concept blew my mind when I first read about it (wherever it may be?).

Not all the researchers agree on the same theory but it is generally believed that an imbalance (dysbiosis) in the gut bacteria plays a role in the development of inflammatory conditions such as eczema - a skin-gut axis!(1) Interestingly, a specific bacteria called S. aureus is found in greater numbers on the skin of people with eczema.(2)

Alfred Vogel also used to recommend that people with eczema bathe their skin with whey (a fermented prebiotic – Molkosan – in dilution), so there was an understanding early on that bacterial imbalance on the surface of the skin is part of the problem.

An imbalance of gut bacteria in infancy may cause inflammation in the digestive system that primes the immune system to become over-sensitised. When exposed to stresses such as environmental pollution, trauma or even food, it can then trigger an immune response resulting in a reactive eczema flare-up.

It was assumed that the gut microflora that colonises the gut early on in life remain unchanged as a person ages. This notion has been dispelled by the growing evidence that a low-fibre, high-fat, high-sugar diet can induce negative changes that affect both digestion and inflammatory conditions.(3) The interesting question is whether the reverse is true?

Can positive changes in the diet improve the gut and eczema?

Yes, it can!

Studies have found that diet can change the intestinal microbiome and impact overall health conditions such as eczema.(4) The most interesting clinical trial that I found when I was digging around included about 600 older people and studied the effects on the gut after eating a Mediterranean diet over the course of a year. They found that those who stuck with the diet had changes in their intestinal flora that led to less inflammation. They also had better cognitive function and were less frail.(5)

The Mediterranean diet is high in fibre and low in sugar and saturated fatty foods.

You can eat lots of these:

Lots of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables
More beans and pulses
More fish, particularly the oily fish such as salmon and mackerel
A small amount of good quality omega fats such as olive oil, flaxseed oil and walnuts

And, not so much of these:

Saturated fats that are found in take-aways, fry-ups, crisps, processed meats, too much red meat
Easy on the booze, cakes and sweeties.

Another way of introducing more friendly bacteria into the gut is to include some fermented foods into the diet such as:

Sauerkraut
Natural active yoghurt
Kefir
Kombucha
Molkosan

There has also been some research investigating the use of probiotics (beneficial bacteria in supplement form) to reduce eczema symptom severity.(6) A successful probiotic course of treatment aims to colonise the gut with enough friendly bacteria to crowd out any that are undesirable – rebalancing the 'good' and 'bad' bacteria in the colon.

In conclusion, diet can have a profound impact on overall health and inflammatory conditions such as eczema. It's an important thing to factor in when learning how to control the symptoms of itchy, dry skin alongside liberal applications of moisturiser (I like to recommend Neem Cream and getting enough sleep. It may take a little trial and error when finding small and positive changes, but together they may prove to make a significant difference to eczema symptoms.