Healing a baby's gut had a surprising effect on this common condition

Can eczema be managed through gut health?

Gastroenterologists say it’s possible.

A social media user recently shared their experience of their baby’s eczema improving following improvements to the baby’s gut health, and experts say the association makes sense.

An interesting case

In a TikTok video, gastroenterologist Wendi LeBrett, MD, discusses the baby's case, noting he likely suffered from eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease—a group of immune-mediated conditions linked to eczema, asthma, and allergies. "These conditions have a strong link between both food and environmental exposures and lead to inflammation throughout the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly the esophagus," Dr. LeBrett says.

In this baby's case, the parents allegedly were able to heal his eczema through diet changes, certain supplements (including acemannan and beef liver), and by reducing exposure to environmental toxins in the home.

Inside-out inflammation?

“The relationship between the gut microbiome and eczema (atopic dermatitis) is an area of active research, and while the exact mechanisms are still being explored, several key points have emerged,” Irene Sonu, MD, a clinical associate professor of medicine in Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Stanford, tells MDLinx.

“A diverse gut microbiome is generally associated with better health outcomes. In individuals with eczema, studies have shown that there may be reduced diversity in the gut microbiome, which could contribute to the development or exacerbation of the condition,” Dr. Sonu explains. “The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the development and regulation of the immune system."

Some skin conditions involve an altered microbiome of the skin, but research also suggests that many skin conditions, including eczema, are accompanied by an altered gut microbiome.^[]

“A lot of the diseases that happen even out on the skin or in the body in different systems may arise from the inflammatory response at the gut level. So a lot of autoimmune and even allergic reactions, even eczema, could be one of those conditions,” Ronald Hsu, MD, a gastroenterologist at UC Davis, tells MDLinx.

An evolving area of research

The link between eczema and gut health is an exciting area of research, although experts say further study is required.

“While there is promising evidence linking gut health and eczema, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms involved and to establish effective interventions,” Dr. Sonu says. “It remains uncertain whether eczema signifies poor gut health, especially since there are so many other mechanisms that lead to the development of eczema, such as genetics, skin barrier dysfunction, and environmental exposures.” 

But she says physicians should be mindful of eczema in patients when undertaking an assessment of gut function.

“Eczema is associated with some inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, such as eosinophilic esophagitis. Thus the presence of eczema should also be taken into consideration when evaluating a patient.”