Eczema can be quite debilitating due to the pain, itching, and social stigma of unsightly lesions. It occurs in all ages and can be initiated by a variety of situations. The main cause of eczema, however, is candida. Candida is yeast that is part of the normal flora within the digestive tract. It serves a purpose in small numbers, but over 80 percent of Americans are estimated to have candidiasis or an overgrowth of candida. Why is it so common in the United States? The combination of significant exposure to hormones and antibiotics in United States’ food and water, frequent over-use of antibiotics, higher levels of chlorine in the water supply, nationwide addiction to sugar, increasing dairy intolerance and the related mucus buildup, and birth control pills are all culprits.

Infant eczema is not uncommon. In most cases, it is the result of candida being passed along from the mother. The reaction at the skin level is from the detoxification of toxins related to candida. Overgrowth of candida in the digestive tract results in the absorption of their toxins into the body and their attempted removal by the skin through a process of exfoliation and/or blisters. To be clear, a localized yeast infection at the skin level is not being described; this reaction is more of a result of detoxification. While steroids are often used, they are not an actual treatment. Steroids work by suppressing the immune activity, which includes detoxification and repair. Many people believe steroids suppress the inflammation, but that concept is a misunderstanding. Inflammation is repair; they cannot be distinguished. Think of it with the following analogy: you sprain your knee and it swells up, so you take an aspirin to reduce swelling/inflammation. Is the swelling something you want to stop? Is it harmful? No, the swelling is the body trying to repair the ligament. The inflammation is not making the sprain worse, yet everyone wants to reduce the swelling as if it is the problem. The same is true of eczema. The redness and peeling are a reaction to toxicity and an attempt by the body to heal itself. It is important to treat the source of the toxicity rather than suppress the repair of the skin. Most people know that topical and systemic steroids can age and thin the skin.

Eczema in children and young adults is going to show up on skin regions that relate to where the candida infection is in the gut. The exact locations are still being mapped out. The reason the condition often waxes and wanes is because the candida population will vary based on external factors. Topical solutions that are soothing can be used on all forms of eczema, but the real treatment must be an internal antifungal.

Eczema of the hands and feet is also a candida problem, although it is likely a different strain (there are 56 unique strains of candida). Peeling of the palms and fingers has been associated with the emotions of not feeling happy or productive in a job. Peeling of the feet has been associated with the feeling of being stagnant in a life path. Emotions are almost always part of disease.

Eczema of the eyelids is completely different in that it has no association with candida. This form of eczema is related to stress, as the eyelids represent the adrenals in Chinese medicine. Almost everyone who has this form of eczema has had a very stressful event occur in their life, such as death, divorce, or financial distress. The treatment for this form of eczema is identifying the cause and self-care.

TREATMENTS

Antifungals. The least toxic and most effective method of frequency medicine is preferred.

Mucus cleanse.Mucus is one of the causes of eczema. It is most commonly created by dairy and/or fried foods. Mucus protects candida within the gut, so removing it allows other treatments to work. About half of people affected by eczema need a mucus cleanse. Colonics help if the mucus is only in the large intestine.

Diet changes. Reducing sugar and mucus-forming foods will help. A digestive enzyme complex to better break down foods is suggested. It is also recommended that eczema sufferers avoid fermented drinks like kombucha and alcohol, especially beer, because they promote yeast.

Probiotics. This option is not really a treatment as much as it is a preventative. In other words, taking probiotics will help repopulate good bacteria, but does not shrink candida populations. Most probiotics are worthless, so it is not easy finding truly beneficial strains and products.

Medicine. There are not many medications that could be considered holistic. Taking an antifungal prescription is the only exception, but it may not be preferred over more holistic remedies. Minimize antibiotic exposure and eat organic when possible. Avoid hormone supplementation, since it will encourage more yeast.

Soothing topicals. Topicals can help make the condition more comfortable, but nothing will actually treat the problem from the surface. Barrier alternatives, like oils, will typically sting less and provide more relief. Trioxolane is one active that has shown a tremendous calming ability without suppressing repair.

Aestheticians will often refer their eczema cases to a local dermatologist, but they should not be afraid to take these cases on. Diagnosis is not required to be of assistance to the client. Skin care professionals do not have to offer a cure; they are simply making supplement recommendations that can strengthen the body’s ability to fight or heal this condition. The world is moving into an era where people prefer solutions that are more permanent and more natural and skin care professionals now have a chance to make a truly positive impact on clients.