
Eczema
A functional medicine approach to eczema.
Seeking a natural treatment for exzema (atopic dermatitis). This page covers:
At BionwoRx, we’ll collaborate with you to uncover the root cause of your eczema. Then, we can address the real issue naturally and effectively.
Understanding your skin condition
What is eczema?
The terms eczema and dermatitis are interchangeable, as they both describe the same common but non-contagious inflammatory skin condition. Eczema causes patches of dry, red, raised or scaly skin that can blister, crack, and even ooze fluid. Due to these symptoms, people with eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) are more prone to skin infections and more susceptible to colonization by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
Eczema
Natural treatment for eczema.
Struggling with stubborn eczema? Emerging research reveals a surprising link between gut health and skin health. In fact, diet can actually trigger or worsen dermatitis. This means food and nutrition could be both a problem and a potential solution for managing eczema
That’s why our practitioner takes a holistic, whole-body approach to treating eczema. By addressing the underlying causes, we can provide a more permanent solution to your skin condition. Our friendly, personalized care aims to get to the root of your eczema for lasting relief.

What causes eczema?
Eczema doesn’t have a single, universal cause. Instead, a variety of potential factors can contribute to it, and these factors tend to be unique to each individual. Some common contributing factors include:
Genetics.
Research has found that people with the ‘atopic triad’ have a defective barrier in their skin, upper respiratory tract, and lower respiratory tract. This is due to genetic alterations that cause a loss of function in filaggrin, a protein in the skin that normally breaks down to create natural moisturization and protect the skin from pathogens and allergens.
Approximately 30 percent of people with atopic dermatitis have filaggrin mutations, which also predispose them to other conditions like asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), keratosis pilaris (dry, rough skin patches), and ichthyosis vulgaris (a chronic, scaly skin condition).
If one parent carries this genetic alteration, there is a 50% chance their child will develop atopic symptoms. This risk increases to 80% if both parents are affected.
Food allergy and sensitivity.
Food allergies can trigger or worsen atopic dermatitis in 10-30% of cases. The most common culprits are eggs, milk, peanuts, soy, and wheat, which account for about 90% of these food-related skin issue
Compromised gut health.
The connection between gut microbiome and skin health is complex, but research shows the microbiota plays an important role in the development, persistence, and severity of atopic dermatitis. This happens through various pathways, including immunological, metabolic, and neuroendocrine processes.
Nutritional deficiencies.
Not getting enough omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs) has been connected to a higher risk of developing atopic dermatitis. The body also struggles to effectively convert these EFAs into gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and arachidonic acid (AA)
Pregnancies.
Stress during pregnancy can raise your child’s risk of developing atopic dermatitis, studies show. But don’t worry – our friendly practitioners can work closely with you to create a personalized healthy lifestyle plan. We’ll also provide key nutrients and herbs to help support your hormones throughout your pregnancy.
Weather and environment.
Fluctuating weather can definitely worsen eczema flare-ups, but the specific triggers vary from person to person
Hormones.
Hormones, such as the stress hormone cortisol, play a key role in the progression of atopic dermatitis. Cortisol triggers an inflammatory immune response that affects the entire body, including the skin.
Mold exposure.
Mold exposure and susceptibility to mold can cause Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), of which dermatitis is a manifestation.
Natural vs conventional eczema treatments?
Conventional medicine may only offer a temporary fix that doesn’t address the root cause of your skin issue. Plus, it can come with unwanted side effects.
Topical steroids.
Topical steroids can have some concerning side effects. They may cause your skin to thin and become more prone to bruising, ulcers, rosacea, acne, discoloration, and infections. Long-term use can also lead to a condition called topical steroid withdrawal syndrome. This can make your skin appear red, feel burning and itchy, and even start peeling. It’s important to be aware of these potential issues when using topical steroids.
Topical calcineurin inhibitors
.
More recently, doctors have been using topical calcineurin inhibitors to treat atopic dermatitis as an alternative to steroids. These medications work by suppressing the immune system’s responses. While they can provide short-term or intermittent relief, they also carry potential risks. In fact, the FDA has issued a Boxed Warning about a possible, albeit debated, link between the use of these topical calcineurin inhibitors and an increased risk of lymphoma.
Eczema baths.
If you struggle with eczema, you may have already tried the eczema bath formula – a mixture of bath oil, pool salt, and premium bleach in tepid water. While this protocol is not intended to cure eczema, it aims to reduce Staphylococcus aureus bacteria on the skin, in hopes of lowering the rate of infection.
However, many people find these types of treatments only provide limited or short-term relief. Our functional medicine eczema specialist can work closely with you to uncover the underlying reasons behind your eczema and develop a personalized, natural treatment plan to address the root cause effectively
The BionwoRx functional medicine approach to eczema.
Personalised assessment and treatment of what’s causing your eczema.
Our friendly practitioner takes a highly personalized approach to address any health concerns, including eczema. We start with in-depth assessments, analysis, and functional testing to pinpoint the underlying causes that are unique to you. More often than not, our natural eczema treatments focus on improving gut health, which may include:
Functional testing.
We provide a variety of personalized testing options to help you better understand your health. Our tests can identify food sensitivities and allergies, assess intestinal permeability, and analyze your microbiome and hormone levels.
Improving gastrointestinal integrity and function.
Reducing inflammation.
At BionwoRx, we take a functional medicine approach to help our eczema patients. This means helping them manage their common gastrointestinal issues. This often involves personalized plans that incorporate dietary changes, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies to support healthy digestion.
Restoring the microbiome.
We use prebiotics and probiotics to help restore the natural balance of your gut microbiome.
Rebalancing hormone levels.
We use a comprehensive approach to help restore hormonal balance. This involves making lifestyle adjustments and incorporating bioidenticals, herbs and supplements.
Reducing inflammation.
Dietary changes can be one of the most effective ways to reduce inflammation. This includes reducing or removing inflammatory foods, as well as potential allergy or intolerance triggers like foods containing salicylates, amines, and glutamates, which can cause or worsen eczema.
Supplementing nutrients.
Alongside an anti-inflammatory diet, we can also give our skin an extra boost by supplementing with key nutrients. Vitamin D helps support filaggrin production, which is great for skin health. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, zinc, vitamins A and E, glutamine, curcumin, and bioflavonoids all have powerful anti-inflammatory properties too. Incorporating these skin-loving nutrients can be an effective way to reduce inflammation and nourish your complexion from the inside out.
Modulating the immune system.
A functional medicine approach can also help calm the overactive immune responses that contribute to eczema. Natural immunomodulators like echinacea, astragalus, albizia, baikal skullcap, and certain therapeutic mushrooms can be effective for this purpose. However, it’s important to note that these herbs may not be suitable for everyone. They should only be used under the guidance of a trained healthcare practitioner.
FAQs.
Is eczema more common in children?
Eczema rates fluctuate globally, but the skin condition is more common among children and within family groups.
Could my eczema be allergy or asthma-related?
People with atopic dermatitis often experience other inflammatory conditions as well, a pattern known as the “atopic triad” or “eczema march.” These related conditions include asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
Do pre- and probiotics prevent eczema in children?
Interestingly, eczema often develops within the first year of life, with over 60% of cases occurring during this early stage. This has prompted researchers to explore preventative measures that can be taken during the preconception and prenatal periods, such as probiotic supplements.
Prebiotic oligosaccharide supplements given to infants have been shown to provide protective benefits against atopic dermatitis. Additionally, when mothers consume the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG during pregnancy and breastfeeding, it can help reduce eczema and allergies in their offspring.
How do you treat severe eczema naturally?
To effectively treat severe eczema, our functional medicine eczema specialist starts with a comprehensive assessment of the person’s overall health. This allows her to understand the root causes behind the eczema, which often involve factors like food sensitivities, allergies, gut health, or hormonal imbalances.
Once the underlying issues have been identified through functional testing, she takes a targeted approach to address them. This typically includes recommendations for nutritional support, pre- and probiotics, as well as other dietary and lifestyle adjustments tailored to the individual. The goal is to provide a holistic solution that tackles the eczema from multiple angles for lasting relief.
Do you use topical herbs to treat inflamation?
Topically, we often use anti-inflammatory herbs like hypericum, calendula, chickweed, chamomile, as well as manuka honey, and also comfrey when the skin barrier is sealed. They may be administered in an oil base like jojoba or sunflower oil.
Our practitioner can also dispense plant-based herbal medicines for consumption in liquid form which works to suppress inflammation internally.