Functional Medicine for Eczema: Getting to the Root of Skin Inflammation

Xenia
Apr 27
2 min read

If you or your child struggles with itchy, inflamed, or recurring eczema, you know it’s more than just a skin issue — it can disrupt sleep, confidence, and quality of life. While conventional treatments like steroid creams or antihistamines offer temporary relief, they often don’t address the underlying reasons eczema keeps coming back.

That’s where functional medicine comes in. At Your Functional Health, we take a root-cause approach to chronic skin issues like eczema by asking: Why is your body inflamed in the first place? And what can we do to bring the immune system back into balance — naturally?

What Is Eczema?

Eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by:

Dry, red, scaly, or itchy patches
Flare-ups triggered by stress, weather, foods, or chemicals
Often linked to allergies, asthma, or autoimmune tendencies

But eczema isn’t just a skin-deep problem. It’s a signal that something deeper is going on — often involving the immune system, gut health, and detox pathways.

Functional Medicine: Digging Deeper Into the Root Causes

Unlike conventional dermatology, functional medicine looks at eczema as a symptom of deeper systemic imbalances. Some of the most common root causes we investigate include:

1. Food Sensitivities

Gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, and corn are common eczema triggers — especially when there's intestinal permeability (aka “leaky gut”).

2. Gut Imbalances (Dysbiosis)

An unhealthy microbiome, SIBO, or Candida overgrowth can increase inflammation and histamine levels, showing up as eczema on the skin.

3. Environmental Toxins

Mold exposure, chemicals in skincare products, and poor air quality can overstimulate the immune system and worsen flare-ups.

4. Nutrient Deficiencies

Low levels of zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, or B6 can impair skin barrier repair and immune regulation.

5. Histamine or Mast Cell Activation

Some people experience eczema as part of MCAS or histamine intolerance, especially when flares are sudden, itchy, and accompanied by other allergic symptoms.

Our Functional Medicine Approach to Eczema

At Your Functional Health, we personalize every eczema protocol, but here’s a general outline of what treatment may include:

Comprehensive testing: food sensitivity testing, GI-MAP, GI360, mycotoxin testing, nutrient panels
Low-inflammatory, gut-healing nutrition: possibly a low-histamine or elimination diet
Natural supplements: quercetin, omega-3s, vitamin D3/K2, L-glutamine, and probiotics
Detox support: binders, liver support, or glutathione if mold or toxins are involved
Skin barrier support: gentle, non-toxic skincare and anti-inflammatory topicals

Your Skin Is Speaking — Are You Ready to Listen?

Eczema is your body’s way of asking for deeper attention. Whether you're dealing with facial rashes, hand eczema, or persistent flare-ups that no cream can calm, there is hope beyond suppression.

If you're ready to uncover the why behind your skin issues and finally find relief that lasts, book a functional medicine consult with Xenia at Your Functional Health in Austin. Also serving Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and the entire State of Texas.

Together, we’ll help your skin — and your body — heal from the inside out.

Your Functional Med NP,

Xenia