Will the symptoms of eczema go away with a change in diet?
A couple months ago I asked for people’s stories of conquering their skin conditions. I was particularly looking for people struggling with the symptoms of eczema (dry, itchy, rashy skin).
Why? Because I get emails all the time from people asking if Beesilk will cure their eczema.
The truth is, while Beesilk may help with the symptoms, it may take more intervention than that to get rid of it.
Meet Susan, who struggled with eczema on her hands since 1998:
“I had eczema on my hands that never seemed to fully go away, no matter what lotion or prescription med I used. I now have beautiful hands again that aren’t itchy all day ”
What have you tried in order to treat it? (doctors, treatments, your own research)
I tried various brands of lotions–Eucerin worked the best, but I had to constantly apply it throughout the day. I also tried various prescription creams & oils, which I also had to apply every day on a regular schedule—just to keep it remotely under control.
If you were able to find an answer, tell me about it:
Last fall my family & I went through several bouts of vomiting & diarrhea over a six week period, and each time it got worse. During the third bout, I lost 6 lbs in a 24 hour period, and that was my breaking point. I had been researching the GAPS & Paleo diets for several years after hearing they helped people heal from asthma, allergies, and eczema. So, last October I cut wheat, sugar, and processed foods from my diet.
How is your life different now than before?
My eczema went away completely, my asthma improved significantly, I lost 15 lbs, and I also lost my “wheat baby”. Before the diet, my daughter and others asked me if I was pregnant. 🙁 Sadly, I was just really bloated from all the processed grains & sugar in my diet. Since starting the diet, I have far more energy than I did before. My moods swings are much less often, and I now have beautiful hands again that aren’t itchy all day. My asthma has improved significantly–no more wheezing all winter, but it hasn’t gone away completely. My overall health has improved in so many ways, but I still have a long way to go before I’m fully healed from all the damage caused by the things I was eating.
Thank you, Susan, for sharing your story.
If you or a family member struggle with dry skin patches, itchy skin, or rash, download our free guide: Tips for Dealing with Eczema or Acne, or view this video, put out by PsycheTruth: https://youtu.be/yCIo7PQHXaY
Susan’s Action Step: Cut out grains, sugar and processed foods. If you’re familiar with the Paleo or GAPS diet, you’ll know that these lifestyles promote living without those three triggers, but finding recipes that cater to this lifestyle can be overwhelming.
A resource that will help you:
For the past few days, MadeOn has been working with the Paleo Family Toolkit to get the word out about their selection of resources that can help you put more of the healthy foods back in your diet. There are a few hours left of this resource. I recommend using these cookbooks in the toolkit first to get started with meals that don’t involve sugar, grains or processed ingredients:
- “Cook Eat Paleo Fast and Easy” – It’s time. Give your Better Homes and Garden with its red and white cover, a break. If you’re new to cooking with primary ingredients, start with this e-book, with its 53 pages of whole goodness. You won’t find any Cream of Whatever soup here.
- “Curry Night” – for those nights when you wish you could have your favorite Asian fare… this ebook is full of recipes featuring lamb, beef, turmeric, and my favorite spice blend: garam masala. Each recipe notes whether it’s AIP-compliant, is free of dairy, can be batch-cooked, and so on.
- “Healing Eats” – for the advanced meal planner who wants something that will cover any of these following protocols: AIP, Whole30, Low Histamine, or Wahls protocol, there’s help!
Renee Harris
P.S. This information is meant to supplement your thoughts and ideas for conquering your skin conditions. I am not a doctor, although a few of the ToolKit contributors are. Consider all viewpoints as you make your health care decisions.