My heart goes out to anyone who battles with eczema (atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis vulgaris — these are just names), a relentless condition that causes incessant itching, leaving your skin raw, dry, cracked and painful. Not only that, self-confidence takes a knock any time skin is affected, because it's the part of ourselves that everyone sees. We can't hide it, no matter how much we may want to.
What is the physiologic explanation for eczema?
To answer this we need to look at the structure of skin. The epidermis is surrounded by a lipid layer made up of cholesterol, free fatty acids and ceramide — let's call these the bricks used to build a wall. Holding these bricks together, like cement, is a protein called filaggrin. When there's a problem with lipid metabolism, less ceramide is made, so the moisture-protection layer of your skin is compromised. When there's a problem with the filaggrin gene, the filaggrin proteins can't hold the cells together well and the structure of the wall becomes weak. Moisture can't be kept in the skin, and allergens can't be kept out. When allergens enter through this barrier, the body fights them — the result is inflammation and dry, itchy, flaky skin.
So what triggers eczema?
Why does your skin suddenly flare up for no apparent reason? There are many possible answers — a change in season or weather, an allergen (food, pollen, dust, animal fur), a reaction to skin products you're using, and, of course, stress. A stressful situation is possibly the most common aggravator, even if you have another concomitant trigger. Stress could be anything from an enormous workload, upcoming exams or an emotionally tense time — the inflammation in your body goes into overdrive and your skin takes a knock. This flare-up is known as the "acute/active phase." The chronic/non-active phase is the time in between flare-ups when your condition is more manageable. Lastly, a weakened immune system results in an overactive inflammatory response — once again, stress plays a role. A prolonged stressful period weakens your immune system, which weakens your body's ability to protect itself.
How do you figure out what's triggering your eczema?
There's a blood test you can go for that measures IgE levels — a high level shows that an allergic reaction is taking place. Usually, though, elimination is needed: taking careful note of things like washing powder, skin products and clothing to see whether there are external topical triggers. This includes limiting time with dogs and cats — not easy if you have many animal friends, but worth finding out whether their fur is the trigger.
Now that we understand eczema a little more, how do we treat it?
Firstly, find the origin of the problem — what's the specific trigger for your eczema? Once we know what we're dealing with, we can tailor-make your treatment plan. If the trigger is a food allergy, we'd need to address gut health — a probiotic is only the first step, alongside supplements like L-glutamine (an amino acid that helps heal the gut lining) and Vitamins A and E. If you're under an unusual amount of stress or pressure, we'd look at herbals that support your adrenal glands, like Withania somnifera, ginseng and Rhodiola rosea. To bring inflammation under control we can add Curcuma longa (turmeric). Your immune system can be strengthened with herbals like Echinacea purpurea and Astragalus, and omega oils help maintain the structure of the skin. As for filaggrin — the homeopathic Homeovitality range targets gene therapy and healing; the one specific to eczema and dermatitis works on the filaggrin gene to restore balance to the skin structure. Other supplements to support skin and filaggrin production may be needed too.
As with all health conditions, the treatment plan has to fit your picture uniquely and specifically. The key is to find the origin of the problem and treat it, naturally. It's common — and heart-breaking — to hear someone say "I've tried everything, nothing has helped." I encourage you, dear one, not to lose hope and not to give up yet. There are still avenues you haven't tried. Let's explore them.