Eczema/GF Help me heal please

[Greenmama2]

For the first time since early childhood. I remember getting awful rashes behind my knees as a child which had long gone before age 7 or 8 but looking at eczema images online I'm sure that's what it was.

Four months ago I started to get itchy patches between the fingers of my right hand (I am right handed). I showed my naturopath who said that since it was in between my fingers it was probably fungal. I believed her and threw everything natural I could at it and of course changed my diet to reduce sugars etc. Eventually when nothing was working I gave up and tried an over the counter antifungal cream which didn't work either.

I was just starting to wonder if I had it all wrong and it was indeed eczema when I friend noticed it. Since our discussion revealed that it seemed to behave in the same way as the ezcema she had healed by giving up gluten I decided to trial GF for a few weeks before seeing a doctor (because I'd rather not use a steroid cream). I felt that it might not make that much difference since I didn't actually eat that much gluten. DH's sourdough and soaked flour in kefir pancakes plus the occasional ordinary bread or pasta when out.

Of course it magically started to get better within a week and of course I fell off the wagon on Sunday when a friend handed me a mince pie :( I had a huge outbreak on Monday. Ugh. Monday and Tuesday were really painful although gradually improving and only today is my hand vaguely comfortable again. Wow. I honestly thought I didn't have any food sensitivities (and thanked my lucky stars for it). Wrong.

So...How do I heal this? What does it mean? Leaky gut huh? Why do I suddenly have eczema after decades of not having it and after three ish years of moving closer and closer to a TF wholefoods diet? Is it actually evidence that my body is healing from a childhood of frequent antibiotics? Or is more sinister and I'm actually getting sicker?

 

[Marsupialmom]

How old are you?
 

I have entered "perimenopause" and I have had issues with skin changes. 

Also is diabetes/blood sugar potential issues? 

[Greenmama2]

I'm 34. Hmm, I do have delicate blood sugar. I've learnt in the last few years to eat protein and fat pretty regularly and that keeps me from feeling wobbly. What is the connection there?

[Marsupialmom]

Blood sugar issues could lead to persistent yeast issues. When you eat gluten-free you are often eating foods with less sugar. You pig out on the gluten breads, cakes, pasta --- you have sugars and carbohydrates yeast love to feed on. So it might not just be the gluten but wall all often comes with gluten.

Mince pie can have lots of sugar in it!

[Greenmama2]

Hmm yeah I'm pretty sure it's not that. As I said I eat recent protein and fat to keep it stable. Also when I thought the excels was fungal I eliminated any other sugars. My only gluten until the week before last was pretty much just a slice or two of dh's gluten every second day for breakfast (with peanut butter & lots of grass fed butter).

[amyhulen]

I used to have really bad skin probably not eczema but pretty darn close to it. In february I had to cut dairy out of my diet due to not recovering and suffering horribly from some gluten I had gotten into on accident. I thought going gluten free was the answer to all my problems but boy was I in for a suprise when I cut the dairy out too. My skin completly cleared up almost immediatly, my joint pain disapeared completely, I no longer suffer from hypoglycemia, my energy levels went through the roof and I got pregnant within 2 months after 20 years of infertility.

It might be worth a try to cut dairy out for a week and see if it helps. Also one thing that worked well for my skin was Calendua gel. I still have extremely sensitive skin and have to be very very careful about what I put on it otherwise I end up with chemical burns that take weeks to heal.

[bluets]

Originally Posted by amyhulen 

I used to have really bad skin probably not eczema but pretty darn close to it. In february I had to cut dairy out of my diet due to not recovering and suffering horribly from some gluten I had gotten into on accident. I thought going gluten free was the answer to all my problems but boy was I in for a suprise when I cut the dairy out too. My skin completly cleared up almost immediatly, my joint pain disapeared completely, I no longer suffer from hypoglycemia, my energy levels went through the roof and I got pregnant within 2 months after 20 years of infertility.

It might be worth a try to cut dairy out for a week and see if it helps. Also one thing that worked well for my skin was Calendua gel. I still have extremely sensitive skin and have to be very very careful about what I put on it otherwise I end up with chemical burns that take weeks to heal.

be careful with calendula gel and eczema.  it can force the eczema back into the epidermis, causing the eczema to then spread further, as it tries to "escape" the area where calendula was applied.  better to go with something like st john's wort cream.

to the OP, have you considered homeopathy?  cell salts?
 

[Greenmama2]

Considered them? Sure. Any advice on what to try. We have a good homeopathic first aid kit given to me by my naturo/homeopath SIL (the same one who said it was fungal ) but it doesn't have Apis Mellifica which is the only one I've seen recommended for ezcema. What kind of cell salts?

Actually I've been getting a lot of relief from a calendula nappy rash cream we were given as a sample before my toddler was born. I was going to buy some more but I'll look for St John's Wort instead.

Dairy? Sigh. At this stage I feel like most of my diet depends on (raw) dairy. I'm reluctant to give it up. I'm still only two weeks (and one slip up) in GF so I'll give it a month & then consider dairy.

[Marnica]

My son has pretty bad eczema.

He is nor GF which helped but did not make it go away entirely. No dairy did nothing for him. I think he has multiple subtle food sensitivities that do not come up on regular diagnostic tests

What has helped him immensely has been homeopathics and allergy elimination. We had been working with an ND but the remedies that were given were not helping.  I started bioset allergy elimination and a homeopathic regime prescribed by a doctor in India (I communicate with him via email). My son's skin is much much better and I see improvement daily.

[bluets]

Originally Posted by Greenmama2 

Considered them? Sure. Any advice on what to try. We have a good homeopathic first aid kit given to me by my naturo/homeopath SIL (the same one who said it was fungal ) but it doesn't have Apis Mellifica which is the only one I've seen recommended for ezcema. What kind of cell salts?

Actually I've been getting a lot of relief from a calendula nappy rash cream we were given as a sample before my toddler was born. I was going to buy some more but I'll look for St John's Wort instead.

Dairy? Sigh. At this stage I feel like most of my diet depends on (raw) dairy. I'm reluctant to give it up. I'm still only two weeks (and one slip up) in GF so I'll give it a month & then consider dairy.

Homeopathic sulfur might be something to try.  I've seen it used as a 30C potency, one dose only, wait and see.  If it helps, repeat a week later; if it gets worse, it is the right remedy but you'll want to find something to relieve the symptoms without suppressing them.  If there is no change, it's not the right remedy.  **But** you should do a little reading about sulfur first in a materia medica to see if it fits with some of your other peculiar and general symptoms, as unrelated as you might think they are to the eczema.  

The eczema is also an indication that something is trying to get out.  Toxins have 2 ways of getting out - through the gut or through the skin.  Of the two, the skin is the least efficient way.  So, in an ideal world, you should not suppress the eczema, just make it a little more tolerable to live with.  Improving gut functioning would also help - and yes, dairy might have to go eventually before you'll see improvement.  Casein and gluten are just problematic proteins.
 

[Greenmama2]

The eczema is also an indication that something is trying to get out.  Toxins have 2 ways of getting out - through the gut or through the skin.  Of the two, the skin is the least efficient way.  So, in an ideal world, you should not suppress the eczema, just make it a little more tolerable to live with.  Improving gut functioning would also help - and yes, dairy might have to go eventually before you'll see improvement.  Casein and gluten are just problematic proteins.
 

Thanks. So this is my query really. Something (toxin)is trying to get out yes? So how do I help that healing process? Without dumping it on my nursling(s - 18 months and infrequently 4.5 year old). Dh is nagging me to try no dairy too. I told him I'll trial it for a week after the 25th. I feel like I need a lot of preparation because I already struggle to get enough protein/fat to feel satiated. We've already tripled our egg consumption in the two weeks I've been GF. Although that is partly because I don't want to make seperate meals for the kiddies so if I am having eggs they have some too.
Thanks for the sulfur suggestion, I will read what I have and ask my naturopath what she thinks.

[Greenmama2]

The eczema is also an indication that something is trying to get out.  Toxins have 2 ways of getting out - through the gut or through the skin.  Of the two, the skin is the least efficient way.  So, in an ideal world, you should not suppress the eczema, just make it a little more tolerable to live with.  Improving gut functioning would also help - and yes, dairy might have to go eventually before you'll see improvement.  Casein and gluten are just problematic proteins.
 

Thanks. So this is my query really. Something (toxin)is trying to get out yes? So how do I help that healing process? Without dumping it on my nursling(s - 18 months and infrequently 4.5 year old). Dh is nagging me to try no dairy too. I told him I'll trial it for a week after the 25th. I feel like I need a lot of preparation because I already struggle to get enough protein/fat to feel satiated. We've already tripled our egg consumption in the two weeks I've been GF. Although that is partly because I don't want to make seperate meals for the kiddies so if I am having eggs they have some too.
Thanks for the sulfur suggestion, I will read what I have and ask my naturopath what she thinks.

[Greenmama2]

Third time lucky
Thanks. So this is my query really. Something (toxin)is trying to get out yes? So how do I help that healing process? Without dumping it on my nursling(s - 18 months and infrequently 4.5 year old). Dh is nagging me to try no dairy too. I told him I'll trial it for a week after the 25th. I feel like I need a lot of preparation because I already struggle to get enough protein/fat to feel satiated. We've already tripled our egg consumption in the two weeks I've been GF. Although that is partly because I don't want to make seperate meals for the kiddies so if I am having eggs they have some too.
Thanks for the sulfur suggestion, I will read what I have and ask my naturopath what she thinks.

[bluets]

Originally Posted by Greenmama2 

Third time lucky
Thanks. So this is my query really. Something (toxin)is trying to get out yes? So how do I help that healing process? Without dumping it on my nursling(s - 18 months and infrequently 4.5 year old). Dh is nagging me to try no dairy too. I told him I'll trial it for a week after the 25th. I feel like I need a lot of preparation because I already struggle to get enough protein/fat to feel satiated. We've already tripled our egg consumption in the two weeks I've been GF. Although that is partly because I don't want to make seperate meals for the kiddies so if I am having eggs they have some too.
Thanks for the sulfur suggestion, I will read what I have and ask my naturopath what she thinks.

just a tip about food.  GF/CF diets can become a way of life because they do need to be in place for a lengthy period of time.  so, when we made the switch, it was a family affair:  everyone went GF/CF.  for protein/fat ideas, check out the nutrition forum, but coconut oil can be eaten off the spoon - some like to toss in some sweetness, chill it, and make a candy of sorts.  avocado is also a dense treat (with bananas and cocoa powder, voila you've got pudding).

to heal, you need to focus on your gut because that is the most efficient way to dump toxins.  enhance digestion so that things get broken down (use digestive enzymes if necessary); probiotics to enhance uptake and improve elimination; and support the liver (e.g., dandelion root tea/decoction).  

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by bluets 

Originally Posted by amyhulen 

I used to have really bad skin probably not eczema but pretty darn close to it. In february I had to cut dairy out of my diet due to not recovering and suffering horribly from some gluten I had gotten into on accident. I thought going gluten free was the answer to all my problems but boy was I in for a suprise when I cut the dairy out too. My skin completly cleared up almost immediatly, my joint pain disapeared completely, I no longer suffer from hypoglycemia, my energy levels went through the roof and I got pregnant within 2 months after 20 years of infertility.

It might be worth a try to cut dairy out for a week and see if it helps. Also one thing that worked well for my skin was Calendua gel. I still have extremely sensitive skin and have to be very very careful about what I put on it otherwise I end up with chemical burns that take weeks to heal.

be careful with calendula gel and eczema.  it can force the eczema back into the epidermis, causing the eczema to then spread further, as it tries to "escape" the area where calendula was applied.  better to go with something like st john's wort cream.

to the OP, have you considered homeopathy?  cell salts?
 

I have never seen calendula suppress when used in a lotion made from a tincture.   I agree that bases in certain creams/gels can be problematic.  The lotion though, I absolutely love for eczema and yeast rashes when used alongside homeopathy or salts. 

In terms of salts I'd start by looking at calc sulph, nat mur, calc fluor, kali sulph and nat sulph. 

[Greenmama2]

Originally Posted by bluets 

just a tip about food.  GF/CF diets can become a way of life because they do need to be in place for a lengthy period of time.  so, when we made the switch, it was a family affair:  everyone went GF/CF.  for protein/fat ideas, check out the nutrition forum, but coconut oil can be eaten off the spoon - some like to toss in some sweetness, chill it, and make a candy of sorts.  avocado is also a dense treat (with bananas and cocoa powder, voila you've got pudding).

to heal, you need to focus on your gut because that is the most efficient way to dump toxins.  enhance digestion so that things get broken down (use digestive enzymes if necessary); probiotics to enhance uptake and improve elimination; and support the liver (e.g., dandelion root tea/decoction).  

Helpful suggestions thanks but here comes my frustration. I already eat coconut oil and yep, blend up avocados with raw cacao powder. I'm scared to give up dairy in part because I can't imagine how much more coconut oil I can actually eat without gagging. Currently I find it most palatable stirred into a warm milky drink. I can't/won't eat soy or commercial almond milk and don't enjoy rice or oat milk so I don't have an easy replacement. I have made my own almond milk in the past but right now I'm not sure we can afford the vast amounts of almonds. They are expensive here.
Yesterday I started the day with a cup of dandelion and burdock root tea. I'll make that a regular thing.
Thanks for cell salt suggestions. I'll check them out at the hfs today.

[Panserbjorne]

have you thought about supporting the liver and kidneys specifically for the time being?  Homeopathy can be wonderful and I've seen it do excellent things for skin conditions.  For relief in the moment though helping the body detoxify more efficiently can be a huge help.  It doesn't fix the problem, but it can greatly reduce symptoms while you get to the root of the issue.  I'd not necessarily suggest it if you were working with a homeopath.  But if you don't have someone and you are uncomfortable then it can be a palliative measure.