Chronic Eczema and Carnivore Diet: 5 Main Causes of Eczema and How to Heal Naturally Through Diet

Eczema is a type of dermatitis that can cause inflammation, itching, redness, dryness, and roughness of the skin. In severe cases, it may also lead to blisters, oozing, and crusting, which can result in thickened skin. It is also notoriously difficult to cure.

This skin condition is quite common in the United States, affecting more than 31 million Americans. It usually begins in childhood, and while nearly half of the cases improve or disappear with age, a significant portion of individuals continue to experience symptoms into adulthood.

Carnivore Diet Cures Eczema

In one case, a patient who had suffered from eczema and allergic rhinitis for more than a decade experienced complete symptom relief after adopting a carnivore diet. The underlying mechanism behind this improvement is worth exploring.

This patient had long been troubled by eczema, acne, and allergic rhinitis. Surprisingly, these symptoms disappeared after switching to a carnivore diet for three weeks. We will explore possible reasons for this extraordinary change. For those facing similar issues, this approach may be worth considering.

According to the patient, he had eczema on his feet and cystic acne on his back for more than a decade. Despite trying various treatments from both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine, as well as numerous medications and topical creams, he saw no improvement. In mid-November 2023, he began experimenting with a carnivore diet, and within just three weeks, his skin issues vanished. Remarkably, even his decade-long allergic rhinitis was resolved. This condition had caused him to sneeze multiple times every morning, and he had to rely on nasal sprays and allergy medications for relief.

5 Main Causes and Symptoms of Eczema

Skin inflammation can weaken the skin’s barrier function, making it more sensitive to irritants, allergens, and other environmental factors. The primary causes of eczema include:

• Genetics: A family history of dermatitis, allergies, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), or asthma can make one more susceptible.
• Immune dysfunction: The skin acts as a defense barrier for the body. When the immune system is compromised, the skin barrier weakens, allowing irritants to penetrate and cause further damage. This can, in turn, lead to eczema.
• Environmental factors: Irritants such as soaps, detergents, chemicals, and certain foods can trigger eczema.
• Psychological stress: Stress can exacerbate eczema symptoms by triggering hormonal changes.
• Weather changes: Extreme temperatures and humidity levels can trigger eczema flare-ups.

The symptoms of eczema can be pretty distressing. The most common issue is itching, particularly at night. Eczema often appears as red or brownish-gray patches on the skin, commonly found on the hands and feet (such as the ankles and wrists) and the neck, chest, eyelids, elbows, and knees. Additionally, eczema can increase skin sensitivity and make it more prone to swelling.

Treating eczema is indeed challenging. Topical corticosteroids are often used to reduce inflammation, while antihistamines may be prescribed if elevated histamine levels are suspected. Although antihistamines cannot treat eczema directly, they can help alleviate itching and manage some triggers. In severe cases, immunosuppressants and other medications may be required.

How a Carnivore Diet Can Help Improve Eczema

Next, let’s examine why the patient’s eczema disappeared after switching to a carnivore diet.

A carnivore diet is rich in protein, vitamins B6 and B12, and minerals such as zinc and iron, particularly methionine. Methionine is an essential methyl donor required for the body’s metabolism. Methylation is crucial for many critical biochemical processes, including DNA replication, neurotransmitter production, and detoxification. Insufficient methylation can lead to elevated histamine levels and weakened immune function.

This is particularly relevant to allergies. The release of histamine is an immune response the body produces when facing foreign substances; it serves as a protective mechanism. However, excessive histamine can cause severe allergic reactions. Since histamine is metabolized through methylation, insufficient methylation results in elevated histamine levels in the body.

By switching to a carnivore diet, the patient significantly increased the number of methyl donors in his body, addressing the nutritional deficiencies that led to insufficient methylation. Additionally, the methylation process involves important coenzymes and cofactors, particularly vitamin B6 and zinc.

Vitamin B6 plays a crucial role in energy metabolism, neurotransmitter production, and immune response. Similarly, zinc is essential for brain function, immune health, and proper digestive processes. Both nutrients are abundant in meat, which likely contributed to the patient’s marked improvement.

Most eczema treatments focus on managing the external manifestations, essentially targeting the symptoms. In contrast, dietary changes can address the underlying causes of the condition, effectively tackling the root of the problem.

So why do some people experience deficiencies in vitamin B6 and zinc? Insufficient methylation can be linked to genetic and epigenetic factors, such as family history and environmental influences. Additionally, conditions such as pyrrole disorder may also contribute to these deficiencies.

Pyrrole disorder is characterized by the excessive production of pyrrole compounds in the body, which are then excreted in the urine. This leads to a significant loss of vitamin B6 and zinc. Deficiencies in these nutrients can affect skin health and cause problems with nails and hair, such as increased hair loss.

If insufficient methylation and pyrrole disorder are the underlying causes, the patient might also experience emotional stress, anxiety, sensitivity to light and sound, and personality traits such as perfectionism, competitiveness, rigidity, aversion to change, and a tendency toward depression.

A carnivore diet has another notable feature. In addition to providing the body with essential nutrients, it eliminates sugars and gluten in carbohydrates. These substances significantly affect immune function; excluding them from the diet can aid in the recovery from eczema and rhinitis.

A dietary adjustment study conducted in the United States on 169 patients with atopic dermatitis, with an average age of 43, found that excluding white flour, gluten, and nightshade vegetables (such as white potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants) resulted in the most significant improvement in skin symptoms.

The only drawback of a carnivore diet might be the lack of vegetables. Therefore, incorporating dietary fiber and vegetables into a primarily meat-based diet could offer a beneficial balance.

Reposted from: https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/5-main-causes-of-eczema-and-how-to-heal-naturally-through-diet-5702751