What Is The Root Cause Of Eczema?
If your child is struggling with eczema, you know just how challenging it can be to find relief. Eczema, with its itchy, red, and inflamed patches of skin, is more than just a surface issue—it’s a sign that something deeper is going on in the body. The immune system and the gut both play a large role in the development of eczema and these underlying systems need to be supported in order to heal the skin.
Understanding Eczema
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition that affects millions of children. It’s characterized by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin, often appearing on the face, arms, and legs. While the exact cause of eczema isn’t fully understood, it’s widely accepted that a combination of genetic, environmental, and immune factors are involved. But what triggers these factors?
The Inflammation Bucket Theory
Imagine your body as a bucket and inflammation as the water that fills it. Various factors—like stress, allergens, infections, and toxins—act as faucets, pouring more water (inflammation) into the bucket. When the bucket overflows, the excess water manifests as symptoms such as eczema.
For children with eczema, their inflammation bucket is often easily filled due to genetic predisposition and environmental triggers. When the bucket overflows, their skin reacts with those familiar, uncomfortable symptoms. By addressing what’s filling up the bucket, we can help manage and prevent eczema flare-ups. This might involve reducing exposure to allergens, managing stress, and supporting the immune system to handle inflammation more effectively.
The Role of Leaky Gut
Leaky gut, or increased intestinal permeability, is a condition where the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, allowing undigested food particles, toxins, and microbes to “leak” into the bloodstream. This leakage triggers an immune response, leading to widespread inflammation throughout the body, including the skin.
The gut-skin connection is profound. When the gut barrier is compromised, it can contribute to systemic inflammation and exacerbate skin conditions like eczema. Healing the gut lining can reduce this inflammation and alleviate eczema symptoms. This involves a holistic approach, including dietary changes, probiotics, and other gut-healing strategies.
How to Address Inflammation and Leaky Gut
- Dietary Adjustments:
- Elimination Diet: Identify and remove common allergens and inflammatory foods such as dairy, gluten, and processed sugars from your child’s diet.
- Anti-inflammatory Foods: Incorporate foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, like leafy greens, berries, turmeric, and fatty fish.
- Gut Healing Protocols:
- Probiotics: Support your child’s gut health with probiotics. These beneficial bacteria can help restore balance in the gut microbiome, reducing inflammation and promoting healing.
- Bone Broth: Bone Broth is rich in collagen and amino acids that support gut lining repair.
- Stress Management:
- Mindfulness and Relaxation: Teach your child simple mindfulness techniques and ensure they have plenty of playtime and relaxation to help manage stress, which can contribute to inflammation.
- Adequate Sleep: Ensure your child gets enough sleep, as rest is crucial for healing and reducing stress-induced inflammation.
- Topical Treatments:
- Natural Creams: Try hypoallergenic topicals like coconut oil, aloe vera, and colloidal oatmeal to soothe and protect the skin.
- Herbal Remedies: Consider using herbal remedies with anti-inflammatory properties, such as calendula and chamomile, to reduce skin irritation.
Finding Support
Understanding the root cause of eczema through the lenses of the Inflammation Bucket Theory and issues with Leaky Gut can empower you to manage your child’s skin health. By addressing both systemic inflammation and gut health, you can help reduce flare-ups and improve your child’s overall well-being.
It’s important to remember eczema is a chronic condition that can benefit from the support and experience a provider can offer. If your child’s eczema is severe or not responding to home treatments, working with a doctor familiar with these root causes can be useful.
