A Journey with Eczema
In many parts of the world – such as the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and the United States – it is still common for doctors to prescribe oral corticosteroids as a first-line treatment for eczema. While these drugs may temporarily relieve visible symptoms, they do not address the root causes of the condition. More concerningly, systemic steroid use disrupts both the endocrine system and the immune system, which can leave the body vulnerable to further complications.
Research shows that oral corticosteroids can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, impair normal hormonal regulation, and weaken immune responses (Charmandari et al., 2014). This weakening of host defenses allows opportunistic pathogens – such as Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Trichophyton fungi – to colonise and infect the skin more easily (Totté et al., 2016; Mori et al., 2022). Over time, this creates a vicious cycle of recurring bacterial and fungal infections, each requiring further medical interventions and contributing to worsening skin barrier damage.
The emotional and physical burden of this cycle can be profound – insomnia caused by relentless itching, social withdrawal due to visible symptoms, and the psychological strain of chronic illness are all too familiar for those navigating severe eczema and steroid withdrawal.
Due to personal limitations, I am sharing my journey in stages, and more details will be revealed over time. For now, I invite you to follow the blog as I continue documenting both the challenges and the breakthroughs.
What I can say today is that since beginning Skin Friend AM Activated Multi and PM Mineral Matrix, I have noticed significant improvements in my skin condition, quality of sleep, mental clarity, and overall daily functioning. If you are unsure where to start in your own eczema journey, I can wholeheartedly recommend beginning with these supplements – they are safe, reliable, and, in my experience, the highest quality formulations available.
The Hidden Toll: Gut Microbiome Disruption
The extensive use of pharmaceuticals, such as antibiotics, antifungals, and steroids, left a profound impact on my gut microbiome. Research shows that antibiotics can significantly reduce microbial diversity, leading to dysbiosis and impaired immune regulation. Antifungal treatments, while necessary, also disrupt the fungal component of the gut microbiota (the mycobiome), shifting it from mutualism to competition. This imbalance is increasingly recognized as a contributor to chronic inflammatory conditions like eczema.
Enter Skin Friend: A Turning Point
In mid-2025, I began supplementing with Skin Friend AM Activated Multi and PM Mineral Matrix, developed by nutritionist Karen Fischer, author of The Eczema Diet. These vegan, non-GMO formulations are designed to support skin repair, gut health, and immune function.
🌞 Skin Friend AM Activated Multi
- Contains zinc gluconate to assist gut wall repair and wound healing
- Includes methylated B vitamins for energy and skin regeneration
- Features vitamin C and biotin to support collagen formation and skin elasticity
- Free from salicylates, preservatives, gluten, dairy, soy, and histamines
🌙 Skin Friend PM Mineral Matrix
- Provides a 1:1 ratio of calcium and magnesium to support nervous system and digestive health
- Includes glycine and silica for detoxification and skin barrier support
- Designed to be gentle and effective without unwanted additives
📈 The Results: Skin and Gut Transformation
Since incorporating these supplements into my daily routine, I have experienced:
- Improved skin complexion: Reduced inflammation, oozing, crusting, and itching as well as fewer flare-ups and faster healing
- Enhanced bowel movements: A sign of restored gut function and microbial balance
- Greater resilience: Fewer infections and better tolerance to environmental allergens
These improvements align with emerging research on the gut-skin axis, which highlights the bidirectional relationship between gut microbiota and skin health. By nourishing my body from within, Skin Friend helped me rebuild the foundation for long-term healing.
Reclaiming My Health: A Holistic Approach
To support the healing, I drew upon my upbringing with traditional Chinese medicine and herbology passed down by my grandparents, six years of international coaching experience in diet and fitness, my bachelor’s in health science (major in nutrition and exercise science), and three years of professional experience in health and medical research. I committed to a rigorous regimen of:
- Clean eating: Whole foods that are not highly processed or high in artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or additives. Rich in anti-inflammatory, low-histamine foods to support gut and skin health.
- Sleep therapy: Consultations with sleep specialists to manage insomnia and improve circadian rhythm.
- Stress management: Movement through running, lifting, cycling, dancing, yoga, and swimming in the ocean, singing and playing musical instruments, and journaling to reduce cortisol levels
- Strict healthy habits: Consistent hydration, sun exposure, and avoidance of known allergens identified through blood biomarkers, skin prick tests and patch tests.
This integrative strategy, combining targeted supplementation with lifestyle medicine, was the turning point in my recovery. It wasn’t just about treating symptoms; it was about rebuilding resilience from the inside out.
📚 Supporting Science
Here are some key studies that reinforce the connection between gut health and eczema recovery:
- Gut Dysbiosis and Adult Atopic Dermatitis: Found altered microbial composition in eczema patients and improvement with microbiota-targeted therapies (Díez-Madueño et al., 2025).
- Postbiotics and Atopic Dermatitis: Demonstrated the role of microbial metabolites in modulating inflammation and skin barrier function (Paz & Lio, 2024).
- Effects of Antibiotics on Gut Microbiome: Highlighted long-term disruption of microbial networks and metabolism (Konstantinidis et al., 2020).
Final Thoughts
My journey through eczema was harrowing, but it taught me the importance of holistic healing. Skin Friend’s AM and PM supplements not only helped ease symptoms but also supported the root causes of my condition by restoring gut health and immune balance.
Eczema is a complex condition, and it’s vital to understand your personal triggers – whether they’re dietary, environmental, or psychosocial. For this reason, I encourage others to explore patch or prick testing, experiment with living in different environments, and engage in practices that calm the nervous system, such as creative arts or physical movement to help manage cortisol and stress. Pick up the book Your Brain on Art by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen if you want to transform your life.
Addressing the root cause of eczema through lifestyle modifications – focusing on gut health, exercise, sleep, and even evaluating the impact of your social networks – can make a world of difference. Pharmaceutical interventions should always be considered the last resort.
Take this advice from someone who has lived through debilitating experiences: start with high-quality, evidence-based supplements like Skin Friend. They can be a safe, reliable, and empowering foundation for your recovery journey.
Comment on this post if you want a 15% discount on Skin Friend Products.
References
Charmandari, E., Nicolaides, N. C., & Chrousos, G. P. (2014). Adrenal insufficiency. The Lancet, 383(9935), 2152–2167. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61684-0
Totté, J. E. E., van der Feltz, W. T., Hennekam, M., van Belkum, A., van Zuuren, E. J., Pasmans, S. G. M. A. (2016). Prevalence and odds of Staphylococcus aureus carriage in atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Dermatology, 175(4), 687–695. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.14566
Mori, H., Hara, Y., Komori, J., & Kanda, N. (2022). Fungal infections in patients with atopic dermatitis: A review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management. Journal of Dermatology, 49(3), 233–244. https://doi.org/10.1111/1346-8138.16244
Konstantinidis, T., Tsigalou, C., Karvelas, A., Stavropoulou, E., Voidarou, C., & Bezirtzoglou, E. (2020). Effects of Antibiotics upon the Gut Microbiome: A Review of the Literature. Biomedicines, 8(11), 502. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8110502
Seelbinder, B., Chen, J., Brunke, S. et al. Antibiotics create a shift from mutualism to competition in human gut communities with a longer-lasting impact on fungi than bacteria. Microbiome 8, 133 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-020-00899-6
Petersen, E. B. M., Skov, L., Thyssen, J. P., & Jensen, P. (2019). Role of the Gut Microbiota in Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review. Acta dermato-venereologica, 99(1), 5–11. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-3008
Paz M, Lio P. (2024, June 25). Postbiotics and Atopic Dermatitis: Aiming to Modulate the Gut-Skin Axis. Journal of Integrative Dermatology. https://www.jintegrativederm.org/article/120208-postbiotics-and-atopic-dermatitis-aiming-to-modulate-the-gut-skin-axis
Díez-Madueño, K., de la Cueva Dobao, P., Torres-Rojas, I., Fernández-Gosende, M., Hidalgo-Cantabrana, C., & Coto-Segura, P. (2025). Gut Dysbiosis and Adult Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14010019
Hong, Y., Li, H., Chen, L. et al. Short-term exposure to antibiotics begets long-term disturbance in gut microbial metabolism and molecular ecological networks. Microbiome 12, 80 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-024-01795-z
Artist & Academic 