Eczema Treatment | A Functional Medicine Approach

by Dr. Kilcup | May 25, 2018 | Acid Reflux, Articles, Autoimmune Conditions, Digestive Health, Food Sensitivities, Functional Medicine

Eczema Treatment | A Functional Medicine ApproachEczema Treatment

Eczema treatment from a functional medicine perspective is all about finding the cause. I don’t treat my patients’ eczema; I look for the cause of the eczema and fix it. In this article I will go over the common problems I find that cause eczema.

Eczema Treatment | Intestinal problems

The first place I look for the cause of eczema is the intestinal tract. Whenever there is a skin problem (acne, psoriasis, rashes, boils, etc) the most common cause is something wrong with the gut. It is rare to find someone with unhealthy intestines but healthy skin. The skin and the gut have some things in common. They both get rid of toxins. When the gut is damaged and not able to eliminate toxins effectually, or worse is ADDING toxins to the body, the skin becomes the place these toxins end up, resulting in a “skin illness” like eczema. Both the skin and the intestines are affected by bacteria.[1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535073/]  They each can be made sick by a lack of healthy bacteria or the presence of pathogens.

So obviously eczema treatment here is to fix what may be wrong in the gut. Some of the common intestinal conditions that I’ve found result in eczema are:

  1. Dysbiosis, which is a fancy word for the bacteria in the intestines being messed up. Our bodies need lots of healthy bacteria, probiotics, in the right proportions. If the probiotics are lacking or imbalanced, the result will be problems in the gut.
  2. Intestinal pathogens like harmful bacteria, parasites or fungi (yeast or mold). These bad guys damage the intestines and can cause a condition called leaky gut syndrome.
  3. A variety of digestive problems can hurt the gut. Hypochloridia is a condition where the stomach doesn’t make enough acid. When the digestion in the stomach is weak, food is not broken down. Along the same lines, if either the pancreas and gallbladder under-perform, there will be undigested fat, protein and carbohydrates. Poorly digested food irritates the gut and can result in skin problems.

With proper testing all of these issues are easily diagnosed. Eczema treatment from a functional medicine approach will always address any problems in the intestinal tract.

Eczema Treatment | Food Sensitivities

Food Sensitivities can cause many skin conditions including eczema. Sensitivities can be developed to any kind of food or food ingredient including chemicals like food coloring and artificial sweeteners, seasonings, and even things like baker’s yeast. Sensitivities are different from food allergies which cause an immediate reaction. Instead, a delayed onset reaction occurs and can last for up to three weeks once triggered. Because of this delay and long duration it can be very frustrating to figure out by trial and error. Thankfully there is excellent testing that can uncover what these sensitivities are. I’ve seen many health issues resolved in patients, even some unexpected ones, once their food sensitivities were discovered and their diets adjusted.

Eczema Treatment | Imbalanced Fatty acids

Low or imbalanced fatty acids or high levels of pro-inflammatory fatty acids can lead to eczema. Fatty acids are very important in regulating inflammation in the body, and in eczema the skin is very inflamed. Fatty acid levels are affected by diet and absorption. If a person is eating foods high in pro-inflammatory fatty acids (soy, sunflower, corn, cottonseed, safflower, and mixed vegetable oils, fatty meats like burgers, hot dogs, bacon, bologna, ribs, etc) or not eating enough foods high in anti-inflammatory fats (olive oil, nuts like almonds and walnuts, fatty fish like salmon) their biochemistry will become pro-inflammation. Testing fatty acid levels is an important part of treating eczema.

Eczema Treatment | Histamine intolerance

Most people are familiar with antihistamine drugs. Histamine is released in response to allergies and causes the runny nose and sneezing associated with allergies. The allergy component is just one of the jobs histamine is involved in. Histamine is also released in response to injury, inflammation and infection.  In fact histamine has 23 different functions in the body. When a person’s body can’t eliminate histamine and has elevated levels all the time, they develop an intolerance to histamine. Eczema is one of the possible problems histamine intolerance can cause. Histamine intolerance can cause leaky gut, which again can lead to eczema. This is a good example of how a problem like eczema can be complicated and multi-layered. A functional medicine approach looks for these various factors to uncover the root cause(s) of eczema.

Eczema Treatment | Toxins

Air pollutants from cigarette smoke, automobiles, industrial factories, and heating systems in buildings all can cause eczema. Heavy metals like mercury, lead and cadmium can cause eczema. People with poor detoxification ability are at greater risk here. Testing not only for the presence of these toxins in the body, but for how well a person is able get rid of toxins, is important.

Eczema Treatment | Mold

Mold can cause eczema. Testing here is critical because mold can cause so many other health problems. Every patient I’ve had whose eczema was caused by mold had no idea that their home had mold.

Eczema Treatment | Allergies

Allergies to foods, food additives, ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products, environmental chemicals and pollutants, seasonal pollen, dust mites, and pet dander all can cause eczema.

Eczema Treatment | A Functional Medicine Approach

Treating eczema from a functional medicine approach is all about finding the cause and fixing it. I’ve seen my patients’ eczema resolve from every cause, and usually more than one of the causes I’ve written about here. Generally patients with eczema have more going on than just their eczema. Often these patients have one or more of these conditions as well: autoimmune disorder, chronic fatigue, weakness, body pain, joint pain, headaches, sinus problems, brain fog, IBS, depression and anxiety.

The components of the human body are so interwoven that when something is not working right a whole host of problems can occur. Functional medicine is all about recognizing this. Once the root causes are resolved people get healthy and their symptoms go away.

If you or a loved one has eczema, I would love to help. Feel free to reach out with your questions or comments.

Darrell Kilcup, DC, CFMP

Hi there! I’m Dr. Kilcup. You know that health problem you’ve been dealing with – the one that doctors can’t seem to solve, that’s stealing way too much of your time, energy and joy? I can help you get to the bottom that. I am passionate about using the best of science and nutrition to find and fix root causes of health issues. Start your journey towards healing and relief today.

Ways We Can Work Together

location

MY OFFICE

phone

PHONE/SKYPE

cfmp
All Reviews 5.0google logoGoogle 5.0
Overall Rating
5.0 4 reviews
I have been using the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for the last few weeks and It has helped me so much. I struggle quite a bit with work related stress. When I'm in the chamber I feel completely relaxed, so much so that I can bring my laptop inside and work without stressing. The calmness I feel in the chamber lasts for the remainder of the day as well. I have found too, the more consistent I am with sessions throughout the week the better I feel. The office staff seems well trained in running the tanks too, so I feel safe. I see Dr. Kilcup as well for my brain and gut health. Until now, I don't think I've ever known what "normal" or "healthy" feels like. Thank you all, sincerely!
read more
Mike Kutz Avatar
Mike Kutz
11 months ago
Dr. Kilcup is a pleasure to work with. His office is beautiful! I can’t wait to try his hyperbaric chambers!
read more
Sarina Gomez Avatar
Sarina Gomez
1 year ago
Darrell is highly knowledgeable and really gets to the root of the problem. Unlike a lot of doctors, Darrell doesn't just throw prescriptions at issues. He will test and test - digging for the cause and then working on fixing the issue. He and his staff are professional, courteous, and a joy to be around.
read more
Kevin Miller Avatar
Kevin Miller
1 year ago
I am very grateful to have found Dr. Kilcup and be his patient for the last couple of years. He has helped me restore my health back after being exposed to toxic mold for years. He helped identify and treat all of my symptoms I was experiencing and address the root problem. I was looking for the right person who could help me heal with natural therapies and supplements and Dr. Kilcup was the perfect fit. Every appointment and session was necessary and one step towards all the progress I made. Dr. Kilcup is a great functional medicine doctor who was also an advocate for my own health and well-being. I never received any care or attention to detail from other Doctors in past experiences except with Dr. Kilcup. Anyone who is seeking a holistic path towards healing or improving their own health should see him.
read more
Ciara Wakley Avatar
Ciara Wakley
1 year ago