Living without eczema: three new perspectives you didn't know about
Eczema is often dismissed as a chronic skin condition. Something you just have to learn to live with. Yet, in recent years, there's been increasing room for a different perspective.
A few years ago, I developed the "Living Without Eczema" training course, stemming from a long personal quest to discover the underlying causes of eczema. Through targeted lifestyle changes, my symptoms significantly decreased. These experiences formed the basis for an e-book that combines personal findings and insights from coaching clients at Werk Atleet.
That e-book is now several years old. In the years since, I've come across numerous new discoveries about what causes eczema and how to resolve it. This has shifted the perspective: eczema is increasingly seen less as an isolated skin problem and more as a signal of processes occurring deeper within the body.
This blog shares three insights that have emerged in recent years. No quick fixes or symptom management, but perspectives that invite us to take a broader look at eczema and consider what's happening beneath the surface. You probably won't like one of these causes, but I'm going to address it anyway.
1. Parasites
When most people think of parasites, they often conjure up images of far-flung, tropical travels. Yet, parasites also occur in the Netherlands, particularly in the intestinal tract. In theory, they even belong there. But once they grow too large or are present in excess, they can pose a constant stressor to the immune system. And a continuously activated immune system? That's often reflected in the skin. Chronic immune activity can perpetuate eczema, even if your diet and lifestyle seem "in order."
What can you do?
It's important to test before acting. A parasite test from a reliable provider (for example, GetTested.nl – parasite test) can provide insight into the situation. From there, guidance from a therapist or doctor is important to properly interpret the results.
In addition, there are natural support methods, such as herbs (wormwood, black walnut) and substances like allicin from garlic. For mild conditions, a simple approach can sometimes be helpful, for example:
One clove of raw garlic combined with raw honey daily. Swallow this (don't chew) to reduce bad breath.
Important: This isn't a replacement for medical care, but a possible supplement. And perhaps the most important lesson here is that you can't solve eczema by applying something to the skin if the cause is internal.
2. Histamine
Histamine has a bad reputation, but it's not an enemy in itself. It only becomes a problem when your body can't break it down properly. This creates an overreactive system, with symptoms like itching, redness, a burning sensation, and sudden eczema flare-ups. This can sometimes even occur after eating foods considered healthy.
Often, this isn't a classic allergy, but rather a disrupted histamine breakdown. The key usually lies with the DAO enzyme and gut health.
The DAO enzyme (diamine oxidase) is responsible for breaking down histamine from food in the intestines. When this enzyme is insufficiently active, histamine can accumulate in the body and cause symptoms. The production and function of DAO are highly dependent on a healthy intestinal wall and balanced intestinal flora. In the case of intestinal inflammation, increased intestinal permeability, or dysbiosis, this breakdown system becomes overloaded more quickly, which can increase histamine-related skin reactions (1).
What can you do right away?
A short elimination phase is often the quickest way to discover if histamine is playing a role. Temporarily avoid histamine-rich foods such as:
- fermented foods (kimchi, kefir)
- tomatoes
- spinach
- leftovers
- bone broth
Instead, choose simplicity:
- breakfast: meat broth
- lunch: fresh fish
- dinner: meat with well-prepared seasonal vegetables
In addition, it is crucial to avoid DAO inhibitors. These are mainly found in:
- green and black tea
- alcohol
- matcha (Yes, also avoid that “grass in a glass” for three months. If you want to delve deeper into this: it concerns the substance EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate)
As healthy as these foods sound, if you want to reduce eczema, temporarily stopping them (for at least three months) is often essential. Without this step, the underlying cause persists, and symptoms will continue to recur.
Support for the DAO enzyme can be achieved through diet (such as kidneys) or kidney supplementation, but ultimately one basic rule applies:
Better gut health = better histamine breakdown = less skin reactivity.
3. Aloe vera: more than a soothing gel
We mainly know aloe vera as something you rub onto the skin. But its true power lies within.
The active ingredient acemannan, derived from the inner leaf gel, has properties that are particularly interesting for eczema:
- supports immune regulation
- helps reduce inflammatory reactions
- stimulates skin recovery
- contributes to the recovery of the intestinal wall
And it is precisely this intestinal wall that plays a key role in chronic skin complaints.
An important caveat: most aloe vera products on the market contain very little active ingredient. Heat, dilution, or additives like alcohol and perfume can destroy acemannan or even irritate it.
However, high-quality aloe vera is difficult to find. It requires a critical look at its origin, processing, and composition. It's difficult to find genuine acemannan in the Netherlands, but with a bit of Googling, we found this brand: Premier Aloe. For those who want to seriously test this, I recommend using it consistently for at least 6 to 8 weeks so you can truly assess its benefits.
Finally
Eczema is rarely a skin problem alone. It often signals an internal imbalance in the immune system, the intestines, or the way the body processes stimuli.
Not every approach will be the solution for everyone. But for some, just one missing piece of the puzzle can make all the difference. And perhaps that's the most important message I want to share with you:
Living without eczema is possible!
It requires curiosity, patience and a willingness to look beyond treating symptoms.
References
- Cucca, V., Ramirez, G. A., Pignatti, P., Asperti, C., Russo, M., Della-Torre, E., Breda, D., Burastero, S. E., Dagna, L., & Yacoub, M. (2022). Basal serum diamine oxidase levels as a biomarker of histamine intolerance: a Retrospective cohort study. Nutrients , 14 (7), 1513. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071513
