Did you know that infants are prone to eczema, and that 10% to 20% will have it? It’s true! However, nearly half of all infants diagnosed with eczema outgrow the condition or have significant improvement as they get older.
But that doesn’t mean everyone becomes eczema-free with age. In fact, eczema is fairly common and affects more than 31 million Americans.
But if you’re unfamiliar with eczema, you may be wondering…
Eczema is a skin condition characterized by inflammation, redness, and itchiness. There are different types of the condition, with the most common being atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema. If you develop eczema, your skin will become chronically dry, sore, and maybe even cracked. It occurs most often on the hands, back of knees, inside the elbows, on the face, or on the scalp, but it can appear anywhere on the body.
Eczema occurs when the function of the skin barrier becomes compromised, allowing hydration to escape your skin. Called the “natural moisture factor”, this barrier can be damaged by several things, including:
If you have eczema or are looking to avoid it, be sure to use gentle skincare products, avoid perfumed products, eat a healthy diet, and do your best to avoid stress so you don’t trigger a breakout.
Certain foods are also associated with eczema breakouts. Most are considered common allergens and include:
If you have eczema or are worried you do, an elimination diet of the above – cutting out each food one by one until you see a change in your condition – can help you determine which food(s) to avoid.
But if you’re looking for additional relief, thankfully nature has a few things to offer. Below, I’ll go over six natural ways for you to combat your eczema (or hopefully avoid it altogether).
Not many people know this, but there is a connection between the health of your gut and the health of your skin.
The gut contains a collection of trillions of strains of bacteria and microbes, called the gut microbiome. This microbiome maintains homeostasis throughout the body, but can majorly affect our other organs, especially our skin, if it becomes unbalanced. If we experience any issues with our gut, like inflammation, leaky gut, or digestion problems, our skin is usually the first place we notice problems.
When it comes to skin health, more and more studies are linking good skin to a healthy gut. Scientists have found links between gut health and skin issues, including eczema. [1]
Research has also found that those with skin issues have a higher incidence of gastrointestinal disease – and vice versa. [2, 3]
As such, maintaining the health of your gut can be crucial when it comes to maintaining healthy skin. Taking a reliable probiotic can help you achieve that by sending in more beneficial bacteria and flushing out harmful bacteria.
An important mineral, zinc plays a crucial role in the health of your skin.
Many studies show that zinc intake can be beneficial for those with inflammatory skin conditions like eczema. [4]
For example, one review of 16 studies linked low levels of zinc with a higher risk of developing eczema. [5]
Another study substantiated this finding by showing that children with eczema were more likely to be deficient in zinc than those without eczema. [6]
What’s more is that one study showed that children with eczema saw a significant reduction in their condition following zinc supplementation. [7]
So, if you want to do your best to avoid eczema – and to have optimal skin health all around – consider a zinc supplement.
Flavonoids are compounds found in plants that often give fruits and vegetables their beautiful colors, like the deep reds of berries or the vibrant orange of carrots.
Research is beginning to show that these compounds are able to alleviate the effects of inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema. [8]
This is believed to be due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. [9]
If you’re looking to take in more flavonoids, you’ll want to increase your fruit and veggie intake. Teas are also a great source.
Eczema or no eczema, omega-3 can help minimize skin irritations by reducing inflammation in the body that leads to itching.
Omega-3 is a combination of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The EPA helps “waterproof” skin cells by boosting the cell membrane. This, in turn, moisturizes the skin from the inside out.
A study in mice found that omega-3 fatty acids may help decrease markers of inflammation and reduce skin lesions caused by eczema. [10]
Additionally, a study involving pregnant women showed that consuming omega-3 rich fish oil while pregnant can help reduce the prevalence and severity of eczema in their children. [11]
You may be aware that vitamin E is present in a lot of skin care products, and that’s for good reason.
Not only does it help protect the skin against oxidative damage, research has shown that it may help decrease symptoms of eczema. [12]
One study followed those with eczema for 4 months. Participants were split off into two groups. One group took a placebo while the other received 400 IU of vitamin E daily. The vitamin E group saw significant improvements in eczema severity and symptoms like itching, compared to the placebo group. [13]
Additionally, another study found that taking 600 IU of vitamin E per day led to a 36% reduction in eczema severity after 60 days. When combined with 1,600 IU of vitamin E every day, eczema severity dropped by 64%! [14]
When it comes to proper skin health, collagen is crucial. A reliable, high-quality collagen supplement helps increase the levels of collagen within your skin, allowing it to be as strong and resilient as possible.
Collagen has preventative qualities. It plays a role in strengthening and hydrating the skin, plus glycine – one of the amino acids in collagen – is an anti‑inflammatory.
The protein may also have an antibacterial effect that fights against bacteria that live on the skin (such as staphylococcal), which have been known to cause eczema. A study done at Université Laval in Canada showed that collagen has significant antibacterial properties. [15]
Because collagen is a major component of our skin, it’s crucial to the healing process. It helps with the creation of new skin and enables skin to heal more rapidly. Collagen can decrease the signs of roughness and dryness in the skin, which are some of the most noticeable symptoms of eczema.
This is why people have found relief for their eczema with Complete Collagen Plus – one of the most reliable, highly-absorbable collagen formulas on the market.
Just take it from Jill who wrote to me a while ago and said…
“My name is Jill. I’m a very active 67 year old. I’m a wife, a mother of four healthy professional adults, grandmother of five gorgeous grandchildren, massage therapist of 21 years, pilates and aqua aerobic instructor, and a volunteer for those visually impaired.
Eczema has been an ongoing struggle for years. Dermatologist prescribing various cortisone based topicals etc. My functional medicine doctor recommended collagen powders and pills, bone broth, and various dietary changes with nothing fully halting a trigger.
However, I’m THRILLED to report that after a month of trying your Complete Collagen Plus I have not had a flare up, plus my skin looks great – especially noted facial lines. Let’s hope I continue to experience all the benefits with continued success.”
Our team here at EverBella hears time and time again when people call to order more collagen – they RAVE about how it has helped them better manage their eczema.
If you’re looking to give your skin the best of the best, you can’t go wrong with Complete Collagen Plus. Especially since I give you 6 months to try it out!