modern medicine man

🧴🦠 Did you know? The story of eczema may begin much deeper than the skin.

Your skin and gut are constantly communicating through the immune system. When the intestinal barrier becomes disrupted, bacterial fragments and other molecules can interact with immune cells and potentially promote the inflammatory signals involved in conditions such as atopic dermatitis.

This is part of what scientists call the gut–skin axis.

Research is finding that people with atopic dermatitis can have differences in their gut microbiome compared with people without the condition. A 2024 systematic review in Nutrients found associations between atopic dermatitis and changes in gut microbial diversity and composition, including alterations in beneficial bacteria and microbes linked with inflammation.

And the connection may work both ways. A 2023 review in Frontiers in Microbiology described how gut microbes can influence immune development, intestinal barrier function and systemic inflammation — all pathways that may affect skin health.

One particularly interesting area is short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate. These compounds are produced when beneficial gut bacteria ferment dietary fiber and can help regulate immune activity and maintain the intestinal barrier.

That doesn't mean eczema is simply a “gut disease.” The condition involves genetics, the skin barrier, immune responses, environmental triggers and the microbiome. But it does suggest that treating the skin may be only one piece of the bigger picture.

🥬 Supporting the gut with fiber-rich foods, diverse plant foods and fermented foods may help create a healthier environment for beneficial microbes.

The skin you see may be showing you what is happening beneath the surface.