Glowing Skin Set: get glowing skin tips over the next two weeks from Salus Integrative Medicine. Great skin starts from the inside, out!
The outermost layer of skin works hard to protect your body from a slew of allergens, toxins, and germs. If you suffer from sensitive skin, allergies, or Eczema, your skin’s barrier might be in need of more support through a few simple changes in your daily habits. Eczema can be caused by a variety of factors; some you can control, others you cannot. While genetics cannot be reversed, there are ways to aid in repair and prevention of skin reactions. Let’s investigate a few factors known to increase flare-ups at the skin’s barrier.
Your skin barrier can be divided into 4 main parts: “the physical layer, the microbiome, the immune layer, and the chemical layer.” (1). In addressing each part, you can find clues for why your Eczema or other skin reactions resurface.
The Physical Part
A special protein is made by your skin barrier (called filaggrin), which accounts for a large part of your skin’s ability to retain moisture and prevent bacteria, allergens, and toxins from entering your body (2). Filaggrin interconnects your skin cells, building a strong and flat barrier. Mutations in the gene that builds filaggrin are strongly associated with Eczema. While you cannot control your genes, you can prevent infections, manage allergies, increase moisture, and help your skin get extra protein.
The Microbiome
Certain microbes support healthy skin, while others can overgrow and harm your skin. “The pH of healthy skin is between 4–6, and is important for the function of the many microbes that live on the skin” (1). A higher pH increases the risk of overgrown bacteria, typically needing treatment from antibiotics (3). As your skin reacts to infections, it can flare up Eczema. The growth of fungus, mold, and bacteria occurs most in dark, damp spaces. Sweat and a lack of ventilation increases the risk of growing infections that can find a break in the skin’s barrier (8).
Avoid:
- Baking soda
- Bar soaps
- Foaming soaps
- Heavy creams or lotions
- Sweat sitting on the skin for extended periods
- Poorly-ventilated fabrics
Swap For:
- Gentle/Mild Cleaners
- Daily Moisturizers made for Sensitive Skin
- Cotton or linen fabrics
- Pat away sweat and use fans
The Immune System
Your immune system could be causing skin reactions as part of an allergy to molds, fungus, or other common allergens. Common yeast species are associated with Eczema flare-ups and often treated with antifungal creams or medications (4). Air pollution and overall pollution, mold, dust mites, household pets, detergents, soaps, and other air-based or food allergens could cause a flare in Eczema (5). Finding the source of even mild allergens can help you address the root cause of Eczema flares and help them happen less often.
The Chemical Part
Your skin care products play a large role in your skin barrier’s ability to ward off skin reactions. Skincare products with Vitamin B3, or niacinamide, and other ceramide products help provide the building materials for a healthy skin barrier (5). Prescription cleansers and moisturizers are also available for intense skin repair.
“In reality, an optimized daily skin care regimen may contribute to the repair of epidermal barrier dysfunction, sustain epidermal barrier integrity, and serve as an important adjunct to improvement of skin actively affected by AD during an eczematous flare” (5).
Vitamin B3 and amino acids in your diet promote skin barrier repair. Consider increasing foods like lean meats, fish, eggs, soy, quinoa, buckwheat, brown rice, nuts, seeds, legumes, and bananas to create the needed proteins and niacin to support your skin barrier from the inside (6,7). Quality supplements can aid in repair as well. These changes may lengthen the time between corticosteroid treatments, and depending on the severity of your Eczema flares, reverse the effects.
For personalized recommendations, schedule an appointment with Dr. Lisa Mainier at Salus Integrative Medicine. Dr. Mainier can talk through your flare ups and help create a plan to navigate your Eczema and build a healthier skin barrier!
Read the previous Glowing Skin Set post on Anti-Aging Foods by clicking here.
Sources:
(1) Parke, M. A., Perez-Sanchez, A., Zamil, D. H., & Katta, R. (2021). Diet and Skin Barrier: The Role of Dietary Interventions on Skin Barrier Function. Dermatology practical & conceptual, 11(1), e2021132. https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1101a132 Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7875671/
(2) MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2020 Jun 24]. FLG Gene; [updated 2017 Oct 1; cited 2026 Jul 7]; [about 5 p.]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/flg/#resources
(3) Cleveland Clinic. (2023). How to Get Your Skin’s pH Balance Under Control. Cleveland Clinic. Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-skin-ph
(4) Corzo Leon, D. E., Scheynius, A., MacCallum, D. M., & Munro, C. A. (2023). Malassezia sympodialis Mala s 1 allergen is a potential KELCH protein that cross reacts with human skin. FEMS yeast research, 23, foad028. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/femsyr/foad028
(5) Del Rosso J. Q. (2011). Repair and maintenance of the epidermal barrier in patients diagnosed with atopic dermatitis: an evaluation of the components of a body wash-moisturizer skin care regimen directed at management of atopic skin. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 4(6), 45–55. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3140899/
(6) Cleveland Clinic. (2021, December 22). Amino Acids. Cleveland Clinic. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22243-amino-acids
(7) The Nutrition Source. (2020, July 6). Niacin – Vitamin B3. The Nutrition Source. Available from: https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/niacin-vitamin-b3/
(8) Cleveland Clinic. (2026). Living With Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema). Cleveland Clinic. Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/living-with-atopic-dermatitis