Quick answer: Eczema (atopic dermatitis) involves a weakened skin barrier and an overactive immune response, and it is often linked with allergies, gut health and inflammation. Daily skin-barrier care is the foundation: lukewarm showers, fragrance-free products and moisturizing right after bathing. Probiotics, omega-3s, vitamin D, GLA oils and identifying personal triggers can add support.
Key takeaways
Eczema involves a weakened skin barrier and an overactive immune response, and it is often connected with allergies and gut health.
Daily skin care is the foundation: short lukewarm showers, gentle fragrance-free products and moisturizing within minutes of bathing.
Some people notice flares with specific foods, so a guided elimination and reintroduction can help clarify personal triggers.
What drives eczema
Eczema can be driven by a weaker skin barrier, sometimes from genetic differences in proteins such as filaggrin, and by immune overactivity and histamine. Gut and microbiome imbalances, food or environmental triggers in some people, and stress and dry climates also play a role.
Daily skin care
Take lukewarm, short showers, then moisturize within minutes, using fragrance-free, gentle cleansers and ceramide-rich moisturizers. During flares, wet wraps or colloidal oatmeal can help, and soft, breathable fabrics are kinder to the skin.
Nutrients commonly used
Some probiotic strains have been studied for eczema, and vitamin D supports skin and immune function, guided by testing. Omega-3s support a healthy inflammatory response, and evening primrose or black currant oil (GLA) is used for skin barrier support.
Quercetin and vitamin C support a balanced histamine response, zinc supports skin repair, and gut support may include glutamine and collagen (see supporting the gut barrier).
Amounts should be individualized.
Identifying triggers
Some people react to specific foods such as dairy, eggs or wheat. A guided elimination and reintroduction can help identify them, especially for children, who need careful nutrition planning. See managing food sensitivities.
Is testing helpful?
Allergy testing can help when food or environmental allergy is suspected. Stool testing may add insight in complex cases. Functional labs are optional. They can be helpful in more complex cases.
Eczema and healthy aging
Chronic skin inflammation adds to whole-body inflammatory load and oxidative stress. Supporting the skin barrier and calming immune overactivity helps the skin stay resilient over time.
When to see a naturopathic doctor
It may be time to see a naturopathic doctor if your eczema keeps flaring despite good skin care, or if you want to identify food or environmental triggers. The same is true if you want natural support alongside your dermatologist’s plan, or if your child has eczema and you want a gentle, safe approach.
See a medical provider promptly for eczema that is oozing, crusting, very painful or spreading quickly, or with fever. These can be signs of infection.
What the research shows
The gut-skin connection has been tested with probiotics. A 2014 meta-analysis by Kim and colleagues pooled 25 randomized controlled trials with 1,599 people with atopic dermatitis (eczema). Probiotics lowered SCORAD eczema severity scores by about 4.5 points overall, by about 5.7 points in children aged 1 to 18 and by about 8.3 points in adults, compared with placebo. They did not help infants under 1 year old, and mixtures of strains or Lactobacillus species worked better than Bifidobacterium alone. A 4- to 8-point change on a 103-point scale is modest, and the trials used many different products, so results vary from person to person.
Because the evidence is modest, probiotics are best seen as one part of a plan that starts with daily skin barrier care, such as gentle cleansers and regular moisturizing, along with identifying personal triggers. Anyone with infected, weeping or rapidly spreading eczema should see a clinician promptly.
Want calmer, more comfortable skin?
A free 15-minute consultation with Dr. Kneessi. No cost, no obligation. In-office in Odenton, MD or by telehealth.
Questions to bring to your clinician
These questions can help you get the most out of your next visit.
Could food triggers or gut health be playing a part in my eczema flares?
Which everyday triggers might be making my eczema flare?
Could my gut health be connected to my skin barrier?
Which gentle steps would be worth trying first for my skin?
Frequently asked questions
Can diet affect eczema?
For some people, especially children, certain foods can trigger flares. Guided elimination can help identify them.
Do probiotics help eczema?
Some studies suggest certain strains may help, especially in children. Results vary.
What is the best moisturizer for eczema?
Thick, fragrance-free creams or ointments with ceramides are a good choice.
Is eczema related to gut health?
Research links the gut microbiome and skin health, sometimes called the gut-skin axis.
Sources
- Kim SO, Ah YM, Yu YM, et al. Effects of probiotics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2014. PMID: 24954372. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24954372/
- Palmer CN, et al. Common loss-of-function variants of the epidermal barrier protein filaggrin are a major predisposing factor for atopic dermatitis. Nat Genet 2006. PMID: 16550169. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16550169/
- van Zuuren EJ, et al. Emollients and moisturisers for eczema. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017. PMID: 28166390. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6464068/
- Hattangdi-Haridas SR, et al. Vitamin D Deficiency and Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Disease Severity in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Adults and Children. Nutrients 2019. PMID: 31405041. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6722944/
- Salem I, et al. The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis. Front Microbiol 2018. PMID: 30042740. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6048199/
- MedlinePlus: Eczema
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace an individual evaluation. Talk with your healthcare provider before starting supplements or changing medications, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a health condition.
Free: The 28-Day Reset for Energy and Focus
A simple day-by-day email guide to sleep, movement, food, and daily habits that support healthy aging. It’s free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Get the free guide Take the supplement quiz
