The Link Between Your Gut and Eczema

When most of us think about our gut health, we tend to focus on its link with digestive disorders, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). But the effects of gut health are far more widespread — so widespread, it can affect your skin.

If you’re one of the 31.6 million Americans who suffer from eczema, you might be surprised to learn that an imbalance in your gut health could be making your symptoms worse, even contributing to eczema flare-ups. The good news: Taking a few steps to improve your gut health could be all it takes to relieve those symptoms and improve your overall skin health.

At Allergy Associates of Utah, our team specializes in patient-centered therapies for eczema, focusing on a holistic approach that combines lifestyle changes with medication for maximum relief. In this post, our team reviews the surprising link between gut health and eczema flare-ups.

The gut-skin axis

The link between gut health and skin disorders is a relatively new concept, but one that’s gained a lot of traction. Today, the link is so widely accepted, it’s gained a nickname of sorts: the gut-skin axis.

Your gut is home to millions of tiny microorganisms — “good” bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and other tiny “flora” that support gut health and function. These tiny organisms make up your gut microbiome, and though they play essential roles in digestion, their impact extends far beyond the digestive system.

Your gut microbiome also plays an important role in your immune system, regulating immune function to help keep you healthy. Interestingly, immune function also plays a role in skin health, especially in immune-mediated skin conditions like eczema. This relationship between your gut, your immune system lays the foundation for your gut-skin axis.

Eczema and your immune system

Eczema happens when a trigger — dust, pollen, or pet dander, for instance — triggers an abnormal immune response, along with an increase in inflammation. Together, these reactions cause the itchy, red, sore, swollen skin patches that are the hallmarks of eczema.

Research suggests an imbalance in your gut microbiome triggers these abnormal immune responses, leading to an exacerbation of eczema symptoms along with an increased risk of flare-ups. 

Data also shows that people with eczema tend to have a less diverse gut microbiome compared with people who don’t have eczema, potentially making their skin more susceptible to inflammation.

In addition to regulating immune responses, the gut also plays a crucial role in maintaining normal skin barrier function, protecting the skin from the harmful effects of irritants. When your gut microbiome is compromised, your skin barrier can be compromised too, further increasing the risk of eczema flare-ups and persistent symptoms.

Approaching eczema holistically

Even though medications may help soothe and even reduce eczema symptoms, optimizing gut health may help, too. Our team employs a holistic approach to eczema treatment, offering food challenges and other approaches focused on helping you find a solution that works.

To learn more about eczema and how we can help you manage your symptoms more effectively, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Allergy Associates of Utah in Sandy and West Jordan, Utah, today.