Eczema

Hi Lavinia
As Maria has already mentioned the best approach would be to see a Nutritional Therapist that could provide a personalised advice. As a general recommendation, increasing your intake of vitamin A, E, Zinc and Selenium could help to nourish the skin and support its repair. You could obtain these nutrients from orange coloured vegetables and fruits (oranges, apricots, carrots, sweet potato, tomatoes etc.), dark green vegetables (kale, spinach, broccoli), seeds and nuts, eggs and high quality meat like organic chicken and oily fish (mackerel, sardines, trout).

It is also important to check if you are reacting to household cleaning products, washing powders, shampoos and other personal care products and cosmetics. Break outs of dry skin, especially when accompanied with itching, could suggest environmental allergy/intolerance.

Dry skin in winter is quite common so try to hydrate more often (especially due to heating and wind) – you can use natural pure aloe vera to soothe the skin and choose oils that are naturally high in antioxidants like cold-pressed pomegranate and rosehip oil. It is good to avoid synthetic preparations with many additives and preservatives – creams usually need many due to the high-water content. Natural oils preserve themselves well due to high antioxidant content so you can find these oils in the shop without the additives that you may react to if your skin is sensitive. Always do a patch test to make sure the product is not too concentrated for your skin.

I would also recommend seeing your GP to check if your thyroid is working properly – low thyroid hormone can also cause dry skin or eczema.

Good luck!

Hello Lavinia
Although eczema and dry skin is a condition that affects the external skin layers. It is something that can be helped by diet. I often say to clients look at it with an inside out approach as what we put into our bodies does have an impact on the external layers such as our skin and hair.

I would certainly advise you to see a nutritionist and get a diet that is tailored specifically to you as in my experience many clients with eczema or dry skin will also experience digestive issues and or food intolerances and these require specialist help. I wouldn't advise cutting anything out of your diet though until you have seen a specialist.

This aside there are general principles that can be applied, ensure that you are drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day as this will help to hydrate the skin. Also ensure that you are consuming plenty of good quality fats as these can help calm inflammation in the body so think coconut oil, olive oil, avocados and oily fish. Aim for one portion daily. Also ensure you are eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, try to get a rainbow of colours in and aim for at least 5 portions of vegetables and 2 fruits daily as this will give your body the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants required to keep you in optimum health.

To give your digestive system a boost I would also recommend adding in some fermented foods, sauerkraut, live yogurt, or kefir, these are all widely available now in supermarkets and health food shops and 2/3 portions per week will help boost the good bacteria in your gut which in turn can help with overall health.

I hope that gives you a few tips to begin with.

Maria