Atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can affect people at any age, with a higher prevalence in children. It affects approximately 1 in 5 children, and 1 in 10 adults.
Characterised by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin, eczema can have a significantly negative impact on quality of life.
Traditional treatments often focus on symptom management. However, a functional medicine approach seeks to identify and address the root causes, offering a more personalised and holistic strategy for long-term management and relief.
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In this article we’ll look at the causes and triggers of eczema, the symptoms and conventional management strategies, and the benefits of taking a functional medicine and personalised health approach to manage eczema naturally.
Understanding eczema – causes and triggers
Eczema arises from a complex interplay of genetic, immunological, and environmental factors.
Genetic factors
Research indicates that mutations in the filaggrin (FLG) gene, responsible for producing a protein essential for skin barrier function, are associated with eczema. These mutations compromise the skin’s ability to act as a barrier, retaining moisture, and protecting the body from allergens and irritants.
Immune dysregulation
People with eczema can often exhibit an overactive immune response, which leads to inflammation. The immune system’s heightened sensitivity causes it to react aggressively to even minor irritants, resulting in the characteristic symptoms of eczema.
Environmental triggers
Many environmental factors can exacerbate eczema symptoms, including the following:
Recognising the symptoms
Whilst eczema can present differently, common symptoms include:
Conventional management strategies
Traditional eczema treatments aim to alleviate symptoms and prevent flare-ups, and can include the following approaches:
Taking a functional medicine perspective
Functional medicine offers a personalised and holistic approach to managing eczema by looking beyond the surface of the skin to uncover what’s happening inside the body. Instead of just treating the symptoms – such as itching, redness, and inflammation – functional medicine asks why these symptoms are occurring in the first place.
At the heart of this is the belief that eczema isn’t caused by just one factor. It often results from a combination of genetics, lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and imbalances in areas such as the gut or immune system.
For example, compromised gut health can lead to immune system overreactions that show up on the skin. Similarly, chronic stress, exposure to toxins, poor sleep, and a diet high in inflammatory foods can all play a role in triggering or worsening eczema symptoms.
Functional medicine practitioners aim to identify these underlying contributors by taking a full, holistic health history, running detailed lab tests, and understanding your individual needs and lifestyle. From there, a personalised health plan can be created – this might include dietary changes (such as eliminating common triggers like dairy or gluten), healing the gut with probiotics and nutrients, reducing stress through mindfulness or movement, and improving sleep.
This tailored and holistic approach is empowering because it puts you at the centre of your healing process. By addressing the root causes, rather than simply applying creams or taking medications to suppress symptoms, functional medicine can support longer-term relief and better overall wellbeing.
Gut-skin connection
Ongoing research highlights the link between gut health and skin conditions. An imbalance in gut microbiota, known as dysbiosis, can lead to systemic inflammation, potentially triggering or exacerbating eczema.
Personalised nutrition
Identifying food sensitivities and adopting an anti-inflammatory diet can reduce eczema symptoms. Eliminating common allergens like dairy, gluten, and processed foods, while incorporating beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and probiotics supports and improves skin health.
Stress management
Chronic stress can impair immune function and skin barrier integrity. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and ensuring adequate and restorative sleep is crucial in managing eczema and helping to minimise symptoms.
Implementing a personalised health plan
At Amchara, we emphasise taking a personalised and tailored approach to your health which can include the following:
Takeaway
Eczema is a multifaceted condition requiring more than just surface-level treatments. By adopting a functional medicine approach, the root causes of eczema can be uncovered and addressed, leading to more effective, sustainable, and long-term relief. At Amchara, our commitment to personalised, holistic health empowers you to take control of your wellbeing and optimise your skin health.
Our retreats are designed to help you detoxify both physically and mentally, and our Personalised Health practitioners will support you with advice tailored to your individual health circumstances and goals. and empower you to ‘Change for Good’.
On an Amchara health retreat you will be immersed in our supportive and nurturing environment that enables you to switch off, relax and kickstart your health journey.
Or if it is hard to find the time to get away, you may prefer to benefit from our Detox at Home package. Choose from our 3, 4 or 5 day fasting packages. Enjoy optional extras such as a detox supplement pack, coffee enema pack, castor oil packs, and organic juices from Amchara Juicery, tailored to your individual needs.
You will be supported throughout your detox with an introductory consultation with Karen, Amchara’s co-founder, and ongoing 1:1 online daily support. Enquire here
