Eczema And Supplements: Could They Improve Your Eczema?

We are supporting the National Eczema Association with raising awareness of National Eczema Week by creating a variety of content on how best to treat, manage, and understand eczema symptoms better. Too often eczema is not recognised as a serious and painful medical condition by health commissioners and policymakers.

Your dietary intake could be having an effect on your skin health conditions namely; eczema. Adding dietary supplements into your daily routine that contain certain key ingredients may prove effective in treating inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema. Inflammation and a poor skin barrier are key components in the development of eczema, so following an anti-inflammatory diet and focusing on skin health can be extremely beneficial.

6 Beneficial Supplements

1. Fish Oils

Taking fish oil supplements helps to boost your intake of essential fatty acids such as omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 and 6 are well known for their anti-inflammatory properties and may help support the symptoms of dry skin and skin conditions like eczema.

2. Vitamin D

Our skin produces vitamin D naturally when it is exposed to the sun. This is why a lot of people tend to experience more flare-ups during the winter months as we are not exposed to enough natural daylight and it causes a temporary vitamin D deficiency. This can be easily resolved by supplementing during these months. Vitamin D is also found naturally in many foods such as oily fish like salmon and sardines.

During clinical trials, one review of four studies concluded that supplementing with vitamin D had a more beneficial effect on reducing the severity of eczema symptoms than a placebo-controlled trial.

3. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an essential ingredient and antioxidant that is found in many topical skincare products. If you checked your skincare products now, it's probably in one of the formulas somewhere. Diets high in vitamin E (supplementing with 600 IU of vitamin E) led to a 36% reduction in eczema severity after 60 days. Plus, when combined with 1,600 IU of vitamin D too, eczema severity decreased by 64%.

Foods high in vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, avocados, squash, kiwifruit, trout, shrimp, olive oil, and wheat germ oil.

4. Zinc

Zinc is an extremely important mineral that plays a vital role in our skin health and skin condition. Several studies also suggest that it may be useful in treatment to reduce inflammatory skin conditions, including acne and eczema. One study also showed that those with low levels or a deficiency in zinc had a higher risk of eczema symptoms.

5. Melatonin

Although melatonin is best known as a sleep supplement, it may also help treat eczema. Research shows that melatonin may act as an antioxidant, reduce levels of certain markers of inflammation, and inhibit the development of eczema. Interestingly, as those with severe eczema may experience sleep disturbances, this would result in lower levels of melatonin.

Further studies are required on the full health benefits however, melatonin may help to reduce inflammation levels and therefore minimise eczema.

6. Probiotics

Probiotics are a type of beneficial bacteria that are associated with numerous health benefits. The health of the digestive tract can have an effect on eczema sufferers by supporting your immune system.

The development of a healthy immune system depends on having a diverse range of bacteria in the gut from birth and specific strains of probiotics (healthy bacteria) have been found particularly helpful for building a strong immune system, these include Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus species.

Incorporating probiotic supplements into your diet can help to reduce inflammation in the gut that may be effective in combating eczema.  

How To Incorporate These Supplements Into Your Diet

Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Omegas+

Complimenting all the hard work of your skincare, Skin Omegas+ combines omega 3, from sustainable fish oil, and omega 6 from evening primrose oil with the addition of vitamin A to maintain healthy skin cells. The key ingredients nourish dry skin conditions like eczema and support skin health to relieve uncomfortable and dry, itchy skin. Think of it like an internal moisturiser for your skin!

Rejuvenated Skin Perfecting Complex

This supplement corrects the complexion from the inside out. The innovative vegan formula combines multiple beneficial supplements at once such as zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, and lactobacillus to name a few in order to calm and alleviate numerous skin conditions including eczema, acne, rosacea and psoriasis. 

“I started using Skin Perfecting Complex when my skin was inflamed due to stress. I had breakouts of eczema and blotchy patches on my neck and face.  It quickly cleared up and felt much more calm. Plus no pesky hormonal breakouts either.” – Sandra Cooke, Celebrity Makeup Artist

Pregnant women should always check with their healthcare provider or healthcare professional prior to taking any dietary supplements.

If you need some further help then feel free to ask us for the best skincare tips and expert advice from our very own professional skincare advisors! All the products featured above are available to purchase at Dermacare Direct with free tracked delivery via Royal Mail. We can help with our expert advice and top tips making your online shopping stress-free. You can contact us by live chat, email via [email protected], or pick up the phone now and call us on phone number 0116 251 4848 to speak directly with a friendly advisor.