Keto Diet: Friend Or Foe For Eczema Sufferers?

Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease that affects an estimated 1 in 10 people. While the exact cause of eczema is unclear, it is believed to be linked to a combination of environmental triggers, genetics, and emotional stress. As there is currently no cure for eczema, treatments focus on managing symptoms such as itching, redness, and inflammation. In addition to topical treatments, some people have explored the use of the keto diet to manage their eczema, but is it effective?

Keto diet may help treat eczema

Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease that affects about 31.6 million people in the United States alone. It is characterised by itchy skin and rashes that can significantly impact one's quality of life, particularly during childhood. While the exact cause of eczema remains unclear, it is believed to be linked to a combination of environmental triggers, genetics, emotional stress, and environmental factors.

Although there is limited scientific evidence, an increasing number of success stories suggest that the keto diet may be an effective therapeutic option for managing eczema. The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet that has gained popularity for its potential health benefits, including weight loss and improved metabolism.

Reducing Inflammation

The keto diet has been shown to decrease inflammation in the body. By eliminating sugar and refined carbs, which are known to increase inflammation, the keto diet may help reduce skin inflammation associated with eczema. Additionally, the keto diet includes healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties and can further contribute to reducing skin inflammation.

Improving Gut Health

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in skin health. An imbalance in the gut microbiome can lead to an overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacteria, which may trigger or exacerbate skin conditions like eczema. The keto diet can help improve the gut microbiome by reducing sugar intake, as most opportunistic bacteria in the gut feed off sugar. Additionally, the keto diet includes probiotics and fermented foods, which have been found to potentially improve the clinical effects of eczema in children and adults.

Weight Loss and Normalising Hormones

Skin conditions like eczema may be associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The keto diet is well-known for promoting weight loss and normalising hormones and blood sugar levels. By addressing these underlying factors, the keto diet may indirectly help improve eczema symptoms.

Eliminating Food Allergens

Food allergies and sensitivities can contribute to eczema. The keto diet eliminates common allergens such as soy, wheat, gluten, dairy, and eggs. By removing these potential triggers, the keto diet may help reduce eczema flare-ups. Additionally, the keto diet's emphasis on whole foods and the elimination of processed foods may further reduce exposure to allergens and inflammatory substances.

While the keto diet may be beneficial for some individuals with eczema, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before making any significant dietary changes. Additionally, more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of the keto diet for eczema management.

Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease

Eczema is a group of inflammatory skin conditions that cause itchiness, dry skin, rashes, scaly patches, blisters and skin infections. It is a common condition that affects more than 31 million Americans and isn't contagious.

There are seven different types of eczema: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, and neurodermatitis. Each type has unique triggers that can affect the skin's barrier function. For example, seborrheic dermatitis usually affects the scalp, while stasis dermatitis occurs due to poor circulation in the legs.

The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but researchers believe it results from an interaction between genes and environmental triggers. An overactive immune system can also lead to eczema by causing the skin barrier to become dry and itchy. Emotional stress, certain soaps, laundry detergents, metals, extended exposure to dry air, and extreme temperatures are potential triggers.

While there is no cure for eczema, treatments are available to help manage symptoms. These include moisturizers, antihistamines, topical steroid creams, corticosteroids, injectable biologics, and phototherapy (light therapy).

Some people have found success in managing eczema through dietary changes, such as following a ketogenic diet. The ketogenic diet has proven to be an effective therapeutic option for managing dermatologic conditions and decreasing inflammation. By reducing sugar consumption, the ketogenic diet can help balance the gut microbiome, which is linked to skin health.

However, it is important to note that the success of the keto diet in treating eczema is based primarily on anecdotal evidence, and more scientific research is needed to reach clear conclusions.

Keto diet is proven to decrease inflammation

The ketogenic diet has been proven to reduce inflammation in the body. This is due to the metabolic state of ketosis, which the body enters when carb intake is restricted. Ketosis brings about several biochemical changes that help reduce inflammation.

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat regimen that changes the way the body uses energy. When the body is restricted of carb-derived sugars such as glucose, it begins breaking down fat into ketones and keto acids, which can be used as alternative fuels. This process of ketosis has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve outcomes after brain injuries in rodents.

Benefits of Keto for Inflammation

The keto diet has been found to be beneficial for managing varying dermatological conditions, including psoriasis and eczema. It is also useful for reducing inflammation in the brain, which could be helpful for those suffering from epilepsy and other neurological illnesses.

Foods to Eat on Keto to Reduce Inflammation

When following a keto diet, it is important to focus on consuming anti-inflammatory foods such as:

• Grass-fed beef
• Salmon
• Walnuts
• Eggs
• Strawberries
• Coconut oil
• Olive oil
• Broccoli
• Flax seeds
• Raspberries
• Avocado
• Green tea
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Kale
• Peppers
• Mushrooms
• Spinach
• Fermented cabbage

Other Benefits of Keto

In addition to reducing inflammation, the keto diet is also renowned for weight loss, boosting metabolism, and normalizing hormones and blood sugar. It has also been found to be effective for controlling certain types of epilepsy.

Sugar and refined carbs can increase inflammation

Human studies confirm there is a link between added sugar consumption and higher inflammatory markers. A study of 29 healthy people found that consuming only 40 grams of added sugar from just one 375-ml can of soda per day for 3 weeks led to increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These included higher inflammatory markers and fasting glucose, and unfavorable changes in LDL cholesterol. Participants who drank the daily soda gained more weight over the study than those who didn’t.

Another study in people with overweight and obesity found that those who consumed one can of regular soda daily for 6 months had increased levels of uric acid by the end of the study, a trigger for inflammation and insulin resistance. Meanwhile, those who drank diet soda, milk, or water had no increase in uric acid levels.

Drinking other sugary drinks can also spike inflammation levels. One study found that people who consumed a 50-gram dose of fructose experienced a spike in inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) just 30 minutes later. Furthermore, CRP remained high for over 2 hours.

A high-sugar diet may also increase inflammation in your gut and lead to increased gut permeability, also known as a "leaky gut". In one human study, researchers fed healthy participants a high-sugar diet and found that the permeability of their small intestine increased as a result. Animal studies have shown similar results.

Sugar stimulates the production of free fatty acids in the liver. When the body digests these free fatty acids, the resulting compounds can trigger inflammatory processes.

Sugar and refined carbs can hike up inflammation in the body, but going low-carb means leaving all that inflammatory sugar behind. Most opportunistic bacteria in your gut feed off sugar. Reducing sugar consumption can assist in bringing your gut microbiome back into balance.

Ketogenic diets containing high amounts of MCTs should be used with caution

While a ketogenic diet has been anecdotally linked to improvements in eczema, there is limited scientific research on the topic. However, there is a skin condition called "keto rash" or prurigo pigmentosa, which is associated with the ketogenic diet and can look similar to eczema.

Ketogenic diets that are high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) such as coconut oil, especially when combined with omega-3 fatty acids, should be approached with caution. A study on mice found that this type of diet exacerbated psoriasis, a skin condition.

Co-lead investigator Roland Lang, PhD, from the Department of Dermatology at Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, explained:

> "Ketogenic diets supplemented with MCTs not only induce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but also lead to an accumulation of neutrophils in the skin resulting in a worse clinical appearance of the skin of the mice. Neutrophils are of particular interest since they are known to express a receptor for MCTs and therefore a ketogenic diet containing MCTs may have an impact on other neutrophil-mediated diseases not limited to the skin."

Therefore, while a ketogenic diet may help some people with eczema, those considering this dietary approach should be aware of the potential risks, especially if they have pre-existing skin inflammatory conditions. It is always advisable to consult a healthcare professional before making significant dietary changes.

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