Now that we've discussed what eczema is and some of it's causes, as well as how to achieve some relief, it's time to start thinking about long term and underlying causes. I think one of the first things to do in really dealing with eczema is to start ruling out possibilities of cause, to try to narrow it down to the most pressing issue(s).
Here are some of the top issues that I would consider when addressing eczema:
1) Avoid All Processed Foods
Any preservatives, chemicals (like MSG), food dyes and artificial flavorings and/or sweeteners (Aspartame or Splenda) are likely candidates for causing irritation and reaction from the body, which often expresses itself outwardly through eczema. The truth of the matter is that these are not "foods" but rather chemical and often toxic substances, which our body's are not meant to consume.
When we eat foods containing these things, it's not uncommon for the body to have a bit of a "fight or flight" reaction, and to treat the unwanted substance as a foreign invader. This can result in skin outbreaks and irritations, upset stomachs, digestive issues (gas, bloating, cramping), aches and pains, headaches, fatigue, weakened immunity, etc.
Most packaged and processed foods contain at least one or two types of chemicals, usually for preserving purposes, but also for enhanced taste, color, texture, etc. One of the best things that you can ever do for your health, nutritionally speaking, is to move away from foods that come off of store shelves, and towards whole foods- meats, whole grains, eggs, vegetables, fruits, good fats and oils, nut and seeds, etc. A really good rule of thumb is to read the ingredients on foods, and if you can't pronounce it or have no clue what it is, don't buy it!
2) Look At Hydration
Are you drinking enough water? Getting enough good fats? These are common reasons for dry, itchy or flaky skin, and can even cause or exacerbate other skin conditions.
Image by blmurch
Good hydration begins on the inside and works its way out. Read this excellent post to learn more on proper hydration. A good thing to keep in mind is that if you're feeling thirsty, you are already somewhat dehydrated. The time to consume more water is before you really feel like you need it!
Another important angle of this issue is that our cells are not only hydrated and nourished by taking in enough H20, but also by sufficient intake of good fats, especially the Essential Fatty Acids. EFAs are necessary for a huge number of bodily functions and systems (too many to mention, but read the above link), but also for maintaining healthy hair, nails and skin. When our body is lacking in sufficient EFAs, it will begin to show outwardly through dry and easily irritated skin.
In my own experience, I have seen the effects of this enormously. As soon as I began to supplement with flax oil several years ago, I saw improvement in my dry skin and eczema. When I switched over to cod liver oil, I noticed even more improvement. I can honestly tell whether I have been faithful to take my supplements by looking at my skin. It tells me loud and clear that I have forgotten a day or two!
Have you tried an EFA supplement, such as cod liver oil (my top recommendation), another type of fish oil, an Omega-3-6-9 blend, or flax oil? I would highly recommend that you do!
3) Consider What's Going On the Skin
It is a very worthwhile activity to examine the ingredients in your soaps, shampoos and conditioners, lotions and creams,
anything you can think of. Unfortunately, since many toiletry and beauty products do not actually list their ingredients on the packaging, we are often unaware of just how many unnatural things are in the stuff that we use! Chances are, if the ingredients aren't listed, it's probably not the best product to be using.
More importantly, our skin is not just a pretty covering for our body, but rather a major organ. It absorbs what we put on it, and many of these substances actually enter our bloodstream!
For those needing a good starting place, I would suggest the Skin Deep Database. You can use it to look up the brands and products that you are currently using and find out whether they contain concerning ingredients or not. If so, then you can also do searches for alternatives that rank lower (meaning that they have less potentially dangerous ingredients).
Image by soapylove
Move towards the most simple, natural alternatives that you can find. Here are some ideas:
- This is the approach that we take in our home. The post that I've linked to was written over a year ago and since then I have simplified what I use even more and love it. See my post on going no 'poo (no shampoo), as well as the oil cleansing method that I use for my face. Coconut oil helps to round out my skin routine as a moisturizer (face and hands and sometimes legs). I've also since switched over to using this mineral makeup, which is fantastic (and make sure to order some free samples)!
- Instead of regular soaps, try finding a castille (sold at many health food stores and coops), natural olive oil or goat's milk soap. You won't want to switch back, I promise!
- Try making some of your own simple recipes! Here's one for shampoo, and another for deodorant.
- Keep baby products very minimal and natural. I only use a couple drops of castille soap in the bathtub, the occasional bit of olive oil or coconut oil for dry or itchy skin, and diaper creams like Weleda or Burt's Bees for rash.
I'm not quite finished with this topic yet. There is one more post coming, as I continue to discuss how we can solve some of the underlying causes. Next time I'll write about food sensitivities and allergies, as well as detoxification.
Do any of these causes strike a chord with you? Have you found any of these to be factors in your own (or your family's) eczema? What changes did you make to see improvements?
If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:
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Read your ingredients.
1. Triclosan is in toothpaste, too.
2. My son got an allergic reaction to Mr. Bubbles but before finding that out I had changed my clothes washing detergent to White King D and Dreft.
3. In recent years, I have cut down my antibacterial use to my original Dial Antibacterial bar soap, no antibacterial hand soap, no antibacterial dishwashing liquid, flocked, gloves for dishwashing and housecleaning especially dusting (I’m allergic to dust.).
I grew up drinking chlorinated and floridated water out of the tap. I like the taste and the smell.
Stephanie, thanks for this info! I’ve been implementing healthy diet changes in our family of three for about the last year. My husband and I both grew up with fairly healthy eating habits and natural health-oriented parents, but we can still make some improvements!
My question for you is about EFAs and eczema … I had awful eczema as a child and still suffer from it occasionally. My 13 month old daughter has some rough scaly patches on her legs that I suspect is eczema as well. Fortunately, hers doesn’t seem to itch, ooze and burn they way mine does. Have you used flax or cod liver oil with your little ones? How much is a safe dose or is not possible to overdose on a natural oil product? Sorry for this paranoid question, I’m just always a little nervous about introducing a new supplement to my baby! Thanks for your help!
MomOfFour, the best way to print them is to just copy and paste the text of the posts, and put it all into a word document. My blog doesn’t have any printing format features, unfortunately. Hope these help her out!
I saw one someone else’ blog, when clicking on a recipe, it took me to PrintFriendly.com and I could pick what I wanted to leave in the recipe, I was going to print & even change font size plus a few other options.
I am so glad to see these posts on eczema. My ds had a really severe case on his cheeks for a number of months as an infant. I almost went crazy trying to keep it under control and we lost alot of sleep trying to keep him from scratching his little face of at night. Thankfully, he only has occasional flareups behind his elbows and knees now. We have cut out all dairy from his diet.
I have a friend whose baby has it really bad now. She does not have internet access. Is there a way I can print these posts out in a printer friendly format to send to her??
I’m looking forward to this series of posts!
My middle son has eczema on the backs of his knees. If we keep his skin lotioned, that seems to do the trick for him. However, my youngest son is anaphylactic to dairy. When I was nursing his eczema would flair when I ate dairy (once we knew about the allergy I removed all dairy from my diet).
Recently he had a full-body outbreak (http://boysrulemylife.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-allergies_27.html) due to “environmental factors”. I hope that you will touch on that part of eczema as well? I had no idea that just being outside could affect someone the way it did my son.
In crisis mode, we went with the oral and topical steroids prescribed by the doctor to combat the eczema. I would like to be better armed in treating and preventing another outbreak.
I love your blog, btw. I don’t comment a lot, but I find your blog to be one of my favorites!
Heather, I’ve never found it to be a problem. From the start, I just introduced cod liver oil as no big deal. I put it on a spoon, and said (in a bright, cheery voice), “It’s time to take our fishy oil!”. I also buy the flavored ones, as this helps to make it go down easier. Both of my kids (nearly 2 and 4 1/2) have always taken it readily. The 4 year old doesn’t care for one flavor, so I just buy a different one. No big deal. If your kids don’t like taking it off a spoon, you could try getting the small, chewable, flavored capsules (Nordic Naturals makes a good one), though that might not work well for most 2 year olds. If they really reject it and you’re desperate, you could try mixing it up in smoothies, but as long as I keep positive about it, I haven’t found it to be an issue. In fact, mine love it now! :)
How do you get a 2 year old to take cod liver oil? I love taking it, but how do you get it in a toddler?
Nothing about eczema, but in your referencing the “no-poo” issue–I started that myself about 7 months ago. I use conditioner only (and not with any -oxides in it, mainly natural ingredients). However, I have dry scalp and so have begun using a dry-scalp shampoo once a week. I’ve asked around on the web about other solutions, but none seem really practical. Do you know of any natural ideas for dry scalp?
I guess I am one of the lucky ones in the fact my daughters’ exczema is very minor. But one thing that I do is not dry her off after her bath. I rub her lotion on and let her run though the house until it soaks in and her spots are gone. I was talking to my friend and she said she does the same thing with oil. This might be worth a try to some people. Again minor exczema not an extream case. Thanks for this post…my dr does not seem to know much about it only to “put the cream on it” :)
Nancy, some people switch over to a fish oil (like a salmon oil, for instance) in the summer, because of the Vitamin D. Personally, we just lower our dosage a bit when we’re getting lots of sun. It’s hard to say what the dosage would be for your kids, because every brand is a bit different. If they don’t list a kids dosage on the bottle, then I simply adjust according to their weight, compared to an adults.
Nola, the oil supplements issue is a tough one. There’s lots of conflicting info out there, about fish (and what kind of fish) or flax. Personally, I feel a bit better about the cod liver oil, and we’ve all done really well with it. I will add it to my “future posts” list to write up some ideas on brands, etc. that are good.
Faith, those are great observations! I’d love to hear your success story when it happens! :)
My daughter has exzema as well and has been flaring up again lately. Talking about the root cause is terrific becuase going to the dr/allergist, at this point they are only able to treat the symptoms and haven’t been able to pinpoint anything.
Since this flare-up of exczema has lasted so long (started this past summer), I have really started to think about our daily routines and what has changed and what she is eating differently around the times of a more severe flare-up. I have come up with a few thoughts. 1. This past summer when it started we were frequenting the pool with my MIL. 2. For the first time since Abigail was born, we have “city” water and not well water, with the city water being chlorinated. 3. Since this summer, we also have a dishwasher for the first time and have been using dish detergeant in it (although I thought it was a “good” kind, but after looking at the ingredient list and not just trusting the brand, it’s not, with various ingredients including some type of chlorine) 4. And finally, I’ve noticed when she eats the “baby yogurt” (stonyfield brand) she has more of a flare up.
So, at this point we are wondering if she has a sensitivity to chlorine in particular, as well as something else. What are we doing…1-Letting her water sit out on the counter, which we have read makes the chlorine dissipate, (and which makes it easier to track how much water she is drinking). 2-Changing to a homemade dish detergeant. 3-researching a showerhead that takes the chlorine out of the water and 4-staying committed to drinking raw milk, which I’ve read can be helpful with skin problems
At this point we have just started, so I don’t have a success story yet, but hopefully soon we will. Thanks for posting on this topic Stephanie.
For us it has to do with water and good fats. We already eat whole foods without chemicals like those mentioned and we also don’t use any chemical body things and cleaners etc. We use weleda diaper cream when we need it (its great!)
Lately we have stopped taking flax due to the cost…I will have to find a way to get it again, we mix it in smoothies mainly. Maybe sometime you could do a post on cod liver oil and other fish oils and some good brands or something…I’m still confused about the Vit D and toxins in fish thing, and flax potentially having those other issues…
What would be the difference from castille soap and pure vegetable glyerine soap? That is what we currently use. Do you bathe with castille soap? Does it work for your husband?
My daughter suffered from eczema just a month ago and after taking a probiotic for about a week, she is completely healed! At first we though she had some food sensitivities but it looks like it could have been a medication that a pedi prescribed months ago for another matter.
Is it okay to take Cod liver oil in the spring and summer months? I thought I read somewhere that too much Vitamin D is not good for you. Also, how much can you give a 1 and 3 year old?
I’m thinking along the lines of Jessica. My daughter’s eczema was terrible last summer (dr thought it was dehydration) then fine all winter. As soon as she’s outside playing she had a horrbile outbreak. The dr is now saying to give her zyrtec (which I’m doing…..although I hate it) and after researching more about all the coconut oil that I bake with, I’ve recently started lathering her in coconut oil 3 times daily.
So glad I just found your blog! I’m finding all kinds of helpful tips!
fantastic post. thanks!
Hi: our culprit is dairy. My kids get their fishy vits by a squishy capsule raspberry flavered by Nordic Narurals. My kids swallow it know but they used to suck the juice out and spit out the capsule. I also give asidophillis, daily. Try Udos oil in smoothies and yogurt and porridge.
Good post again.
Jessica, I give my kids EFA’a through flavored cod liver oil. I buy either mint or lemon flavor (and have cherry right now as well), and my kids (almost 2 and 4) are really good about taking them. I’ve tried to make it a fun, happy thing. “Yay, it’s time for us to all take our fishy oil!” (Or whatever you want to call it that works for your little ones). There are also children’s chewables for fish oil, that come in flavors like strawberry and orange. We tried some samples of those this winter, and though they didn’t work as well for my little guy, my 4 year old adored them. I think you just need to play around a bit and find something that works for your kids.
If you truly can’t get fish oils in (and that would definitely be what I would try first), then you could always try mixing flax oil into fruit smoothies. It’s not even noticeable. Some people do it with fish oil as well. It doesn’t work for me personally, but if that’s what you need to do, then go for it!
Any suggestions for getting those extra EFA’s into a 2 year old? I don’t think we’re gonna make a dent with fatty fish. My daughter’s eczema was doing pretty well this summer, but since spring (and all the pollen hit) we’ve been having bad flare ups.
I am so glad that you are doing this series. My daughter suffers from terrible eczema and she has found little to no relief from prescription meds and lotions. We recently eliminated dairy from her diet and have seen a marked improvement, so I’m interested to read your next post on food sensitivities.
Thanks for the cod liver oil recommendation….we will definitely give this a try!
I think you are right about trying to get away from processed foods, and un-natural products. My friend and I are working on both of those. I have used castile soap and really liked it. I have the mineral makeup and like knowing my makeup doesn’t contain chemicals that will hurt me. I do have very dry skin and I do drink a lot of water but I think you are right on with the chemicals we eat and my skin. I am over weight so it is a battle but I have come a long way in being more natural. I make my own laundry soap and household cleaners. Thanks for the post.
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