Eczema? Here's how to help it

Different times of year have different effects on people's eczema, but it is common to see flareups in winter because of the cold, dry air and everything that brings with it. But fear not! There are things you can do to help.

Eczema is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including food, stress and our actual environment - things like dust, pollution, cosmetics, heating, clothing, and weather. This means it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what is driving your eczema, but below are some suggestions to soothe your skin.

10 things to do if you have eczema

1. Have fermented foods 4 times a week: People with eczema are much more likely to have a lack of diversity in their gut microbiome. Fermented foods and drinks, like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and kombucha, will increase the diversity. If you're not used to having fermented things, start with one glass of kefir/kombucha or half a tbsp kimchi/kraut at a time and increase it slowly over a few weeks.

2. Take this probiotic: Eczema has been linked to gut permeability as the permeability increases inflammation in the body, meaning you are more likely to react to certain foods. The specific strains of bacteria in this probiotic can reduce gut permeability. Try it for 12 weeks.

3. Eat oily fish 3 times a week: This will increase your omega-3 intake, which reduces inflammation (and eczema is an inflammatory condition!). Salmon, anchovies, sardines, mackerel, herring and trout are great. I like smoked trout and tinned sardines best!

4. Pay attention to common food triggers: Wheat, dairy, soy, peanuts, eggs, citrus, and tomatoes have been linked to eczema flareups. Watch how your body reacts to them to see if they're problem foods for you.

5. Reduce stress levels: People with eczema have been shown to have higher stress levels. Try doing a breathing exercise for 5 mins every evening (Insight Timer is great), go for a 30 min walk, find an exercise class you love, take a magnesium supplement, put boundaries in place - whatever it is you need to do.

6. Try l-histidine: This has been shown to improve the skin barrier, which is essential for hydrated skin, and therefore eczema reduction. Try 4g for 4 weeks.

7. Take vitamin D: Severe eczema is correlated with low levels of vitamin D. Take 5 drops daily for 3 months - this is especially important over winter!

8. Avoid toxins: Smoking and pollution have both been shown to worsen eczema. If you smoke, try to cut down and then stop. Don't walk on main roads where possible, and standing back at junctions actually reduces your exposure to pollutants too.

9. Clothing: We don't want to irritate your already delicate skin, so try to wear 100% cotton clothes and avoid seams and scratchy materials.

10. In your house: If your radiator is on, have a bowl of water beside it so the air isn't too dry. Dust mites' droppings can trigger flareups, so hoover and dust regularly and open your windows every day to get fresh air and disrupt the dust mites' ideal conditions.

You can use code 'LAJN15' for 15% off supplements at The Natural Dispensary. If you're on any medication (prescription or not) please check for interactions before taking any of the supplements I have suggested.

If you would like any further support or investigations into what's triggering your eczema, please do get in touch!