What Having Gut Issues & Eczema Taught Me About The Gut-Skin Connection

For my entire life, I have regularly struggled with two health issues: gut discomfort and eczema. I've long been prone to intense bloating and constipation, and flaking skin and itchiness have left my hands bleeding on many occasions. It's been an unpleasant combination, to say the least.

The term eczema refers to the skin condition atopic dermatitis1 (AD), which affects the barrier of the skin. It's relatively common, with an estimated 1 in 10 individuals (about 31.6 million people) in the U.S. dealing with it.

"With atopic dermatitis, there is a skin barrier defect, and the skin loses water easily, becoming itchy and inflamed," explains board-certified dermatologist Andrea Suarez, M.D., FAAD. For me, this means that no matter how much I moisturize, my skin always remains just as dry as before.

There are several kinds of eczema—each with its own unique triggers, symptoms, and appearance. They include but are not limited to atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis (irritation from poison ivy, for example), neurodermatitis (intense itch), and dyshidrotic eczema (which causes blisters).

If there's one thing that the health world has learned in the past few years, it's the impact that the gut microbiome has on the rest of the body—and quite noticeably on the skin.

This happens because a common response to suboptimal gut health is inflammation, and "exczema is an inflammatory process," Trubow says. "So any time there is inflammation in the body/bloodstream, eczema can develop."

As such, "research suggests that people with eczema may have lower gut bacterial diversity1, lower levels of beneficial gut bacteria, and higher amounts of harmful gut bacteria," notes Suarez.

And this connection is becoming solidly established thanks to robust research.

Here's the good news: Given this intimate connection, showing our gut microbiome some love can also pay off for our skin. And due to the overwhelming research on the gut-skin axis, most skin care professionals encourage folks to address gut health as part of a broader holistic skin care routine.

While it won't completely cure your belly (or skin) woes, eating a gut-friendly diet is a great place to start. "Fiber-rich whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, are thought to support a healthy gut microbiome," notes Suarez. For a comprehensive guide to a gut-healthy diet, head here.

As for foods to consider avoiding? Trubow puts dairy, sugar, and processed foods at the top of the list. "Exposure to molds in the environment or foods can also impact skin health," she adds, so consistently monitoring your home (and pantry staples) for mold is also a smart idea.