Changing My Diet Cleared Up My Eczema

My acupuncturist explained to me that in some cases, like mine, eczema is triggered by an overgrowth of candida / yeast. If I avoid yeasty foods and drinks (beer, bread, etc.) and everything containing cane sugar and chemical sweeteners (like splenda) from my diet, my yeast levels are lower and my eczema doesn’t flare up. It's a pretty straightforward intervention, but it does require a good deal of label reading and willpower to fully remove sugar and yeast from your diet. I find it is easiest when cooking for myself and recommend avoiding pre-packaged food items – you'll be surprised how many things have sugar, corn syrup, or yeast in them! *Stevia is totally eczema-safe to use though! Small to moderate amounts of honey and agave have also been fine for me.

• willpower
• self-control
• delicious alternatives

My eczema didn’t flare up till after I hit puberty, and when it did it flared up so badly that I had to miss school for over a week. At first, I thought it was poison ivy as it started on my legs. Before long my legs, hands, and neck were covered and it was spreading to my face, which was terrifying. A dermatologist identified it as being eczema and prescribed me some pills and hormone creams to apply to it. They didn’t work. I was itchy and the pressure from the fluid built up around my neck made it feel like someone was choking me. Then I visited my acupuncturist, who I had been lucky enough to start seeing when I was 11 years old. She looked at what the dermatologist had prescribed, gave me a little examination of her own and told me that if I just stop eating yeast and sugar it will clear up. She said my eczema was caused by too much yeast, and that yeast in my body feeds off sugar. She also told me to avoid any juice that wasn’t fresh squeezed, fungi, and other fermented foods and drinks. I made the diet change and within a week my eczema had cleared up. It still flares up a little when my immune system is weakened (when I get sick, am extra stressed or on my period) but it is totally minor compared to what it was– just a few little bubbles on my hands. If I do slip and indulge in a slice of sugary chocolate cake, the next day I’m reminded of the consequences. It’s usually not worth it. (No issues with anything stevia-sweetened or whole-fruit-sweetened though! Moderate amounts of honey or agave also seem to be fine for me.)