Is Your Eczema Really Connected to Your Gut Health? The Honest (Unbiased) Breakdown

Eczema is one of those conditions where everyone seems to have an opinion — and almost every opinion contradicts the next. One person swears diet changed their life, another says it made zero difference, and someone else insists it is purely genetic and you should stop trying to “fix” it. You have probably seen people blaming eczema on everything: gluten, dairy, stress, shampoo, gut bacteria, detergents, humidity, or even your neighbour’s cat.

It is confusing, overwhelming, and honestly, not very helpful.

The truth? Eczema is complex. There isn’t a single villain, but there are patterns — and yes, your gut can be one of them.

I am not a doctor, but I have battled eczema for years, and sometimes personal experience gives insights that consulting multiple specialists didn’t.

I noticed eczema is rising globally, especially in modern, urban environments. (Years ago, I barely knew what it was. Now, most people I know, or coach, either have eczema or know someone who does.) That is why I decided to start breaking things down, analysing, and creating holistic health programs, like FLORA. They may be gentle and take more time than medication, but I feel that this is what our bodies need: attention, care, nutrition that nourishes, and a lifestyle that supports balance instead of high cortisol and stress.

I am not claiming that fixing your gut will automatically cure eczema. But when I shifted from a skin-only approach to seeing my body as a complex system in need of harmony, I finally healed. It took time and multiple approaches, but today, I can live fully, train, eat freely in moderation, and enjoy life. If my articles or programs can help even a little, that’s a win.

Now, let’s move on and break it down simply, without giving you 12 supplements to buy or sending you back to the doctor for yet another round of steroids.

Why eczema is so confusing & the BIG mistake: assuming all eczema is the same

Eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis or AD) is an umbrella term. Your skin may look similar to someone else’s, but the underlying cause can be totally different. Some common contributors include:

• Skin barrier dysfunction

• Immune system overreaction

• Allergic or irritant contact dermatitis

• Heat- or sweat-induced flares

• Microbiome imbalance in the skin or gut

• Stress and high cortisol

• Food sensitivities
  

Eczema is less like one diagnosis and more like a puzzle, and the pieces are different for everyone. This is why “I cured my eczema with X” is not always transferable. You might not need X. You might need something completely different. Like Y or Z, or XYZ.

Why gut imbalance can trigger skin flare-ups

This is where things get interesting.

A growing body of research describes a two-way communication system between the gut and the skin. It’s called the gut–skin axis, and it influences how your immune system responds, how reactive your skin becomes, and even how strong your skin barrier is.

When the gut microbiome is imbalanced or inflamed — often due to antibiotics, low fibre intake, chronic stress, IBS, infections or years of processed foods — it can fuel systemic inflammation. This makes the skin more reactive, itchy, and flare-prone. Some people notice bloating and gut symptoms long before eczema appears.

Important: This does not mean the gut is the cause of all eczema. But it is absolutely a major piece of the puzzle for many people, especially if there is a long history of antibiotics or gut issues.

When the gut is not the main cause

Of course, not all eczema must be gut health-related. (Although in my opinion, we can never simply ignore it.)

Some flares are triggered primarily by environmental irritants like fragranced products, detergents, heat, humidity, sweat, or skin barrier fragility, hormonal changes, or nutrient deficiencies.

This is why someone with excellent gut health can still flare up every summer, or break out during stress, or react to a product they have used for years.

Why sugar often makes flares worse

Sugar is not really the cause of eczema, but it absolutely can fuel inflammation.

When blood sugar spikes frequently, the body becomes more reactive, and the skin becomes more sensitive. Some people notice flare-ups the day after sweets, desserts or sugary drinks, not because sugar “causes” eczema, but because it makes an already-sensitive system even more inflamed. It is more about calming the system than eliminating a root cause.

Cutting sugar won’t cure eczema, but for many people, it can reduce the intensity and frequency of flare-ups.

How antibiotics and IBS fit into the gut health and eczema picture

If you’ve had lots of antibiotics growing up, recurring chest infections, gut infections, or IBS, your gut microbiome may have been disrupted for years before eczema even appeared.

Antibiotics are life-saving, but they can also reduce microbial diversity. And diversity is what keeps inflammation under control.

IBS and eczema often overlap because both involve dysregulated inflammation. When the gut is irritated, the skin tends to follow. Long-term gut support (not just a few weeks of probiotics) often makes the difference.

What you can realistically fix with diet (and what you cannot)

Diet can help lower inflammation, stabilise blood sugar, support the microbiome, and reduce triggers. For some people, this makes a noticeable difference. But diet cannot fix everything.

It won’t solve fungal eczema, allergies, parasites, contact reactions or certain genetic forms of eczema. It also won’t magically rebuild a damaged skin barrier if stress, environment or products keep irritating it.

Think of diet as one impactful tool rather than the entire toolbox. It works best when combined with lifestyle support, stress regulation, barrier care, and understanding your personal triggers.

How steroids affected my gut and skin health

From my own experience, relying on topical or oral steroids provided short-term relief, but I noticed my skin flares seemed to come back stronger once I stopped.

Over time, it felt like my gut and skin became even more sensitive, and I had to work harder to calm inflammation naturally. This isn’t to say steroids are "bad". Just that for me, they weren’t a long-term solution, and focusing on gut and lifestyle support ultimately made the biggest difference.

What actually helped my eczema after 5+ years

The solution was never one single fix.

It was a combination of supporting my gut long-term, reducing sugar, adjusting my diet slowly, improving my stress habits, and finally stopping certain medications that were constantly irritating my system (and messing with my hormones). I also paid attention to products, heat, and environmental triggers. Sounds like a lot? Not if you are patient, focused on your healing, and have proper guidance and support.

It took time, and it took trial and error, but eventually, things calmed down.

That experience is why I take a holistic view: gut health mattered, but so did everything else around it.

However, now I can clearly notice that when my gut is "off," my skin follows shortly after. I can eat and drink everything, but I stay aware and listen to my body. (If you want to read more about my personal experience, I’ve shared it in another post.)

The middle ground: gut, immune system, and environment

The most accurate, realistic way to understand eczema is this: Eczema is both a local and systemic condition. It involves immune regulation, skin barrier health, microbiome balance (gut and skin), stress load, and environmental triggers. Yup, that's all. 😅

For some people, gut health is a major contributor. For others, environment or barrier dysfunction matters more. For many, it’s a blend.

This is why I'm gonna say this again: a holistic approach makes the most sense. Support the gut gently, strengthen the barrier, manage stress, avoid irritants, and improve lifestyle habits.

How to start calming inflammation without overwhelm?

If you are unsure where to start, keep it simple. Begin by:

• supporting your skin barrier with gentle products

• adjusting sugar intake

• adding fibres and foods your gut tolerates well

• staying hydrated, especially in hot climates (keep an eye on your urine colour, aim for pale yellow)

• moving daily

• improving your evening routine and sleep (stress and lack of sleep can dramatically influence inflammation)

• tracking flares, so you can start spotting patterns that make sense for your body.

  
  

Healing eczema is rarely about perfection. It is about consistency, understanding your body and creating a unique system.

From confused to calm: Your Next Step

If you want a simple, step-by-step program to gently calm inflammation, support your gut and skin health, and build habits that make your body feel safer and less reactive, FLORA walks you through it in a calm, practical way.

It’s a 4-phase program designed for people who feel:

• Bloated, inflamed, or tired

• Confused about what helps or harms their skin

• Frustrated with random internet tips

• Need guidance, support and motivation in their journey

  
  

✨ Join FLORA Today and take the first step toward a healthier gut and calmer skin.

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References & Suggested Reading:

1. Zhao Y, Yu C, Zhang J, et al. (2025). The gut-skin axis: Emerging insights in understanding and treating skin diseases through gut microbiome modulation. International Journal of Molecular Medicine. Reviews how gut microbiome composition and metabolites influence immune regulation, inflammation, and skin barrier function in conditions like atopic dermatitis. PubMed

   
   

2. The Role of the Microbiota in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis. (2024). PubMed. Highlights that gut dysbiosis can influence skin microbiome and immunity, increasing colonisation of harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus on eczema-affected skin. PubMed

   
   

3. Epidermal Barrier Dysfunction in Atopic Dermatitis. (2009). Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Shows that genetic factors, lipid abnormalities, and environmental insults impair the skin barrier, explaining flares that are independent of gut health. PubMed

   
   

4. Katsarou S, Makris M, Vakirlis E, Gregoriou S. (2023). The Role of Tight Junctions in Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine. Demonstrates how tight junction and barrier dysfunction increase skin permeability and immune reactivity, explaining environment- and stress-triggered flares. MDPI

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