Skin Starts in the Gut: Holistic Tips for Eczema, Dermatitis & Acne
Skin Health Begins Within
At Meadowlark Made, we believe healthy skin starts from the inside out. Through the many years on our holistic journey, we’ve learned how diet, lifestyle, and natural products play a role in supporting skin health. Conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and acne often begin in the gut — your body’s internal ecosystem.
Your digestive system is home to trillions of microbes that influence immunity, hormone balance, and inflammation. When this balance is disrupted, the skin often becomes the messenger, showing signs of stress, irritation, or inflammation.
Understanding the Gut-Skin Connection
Eczema and Dermatitis: Chronic inflammation and immune overactivity are often linked to gut imbalance. Research shows that reduced gut microbial diversity is associated with atopic dermatitis. The Gut Microbiome and Eczema | Gut Symbiosis and Atopic Dermatitis
Acne: Gut imbalances and digestive issues can contribute to inflammation, hormonal fluctuations, and skin acting as a secondary detox pathway. Microbiome and Probiotics in Acne
Sensitive Skin & Rosacea: Dysbiosis, dietary triggers, and stress can leave the skin reactive or easily inflamed. The Role of Gut Microbiome and Inflammatory & Allergic Skin Diseases
Babies and children are especially sensitive. Early gut imbalances can influence the development of eczema and other skin conditions. Supporting their digestion and microbiome from a young age can help maintain a resilient skin barrier. More on the Gut-Skin Axis
Holistic Tips for Supporting Gut & Skin Health
Your skin reflects the health of your inner ecosystem. Here’s a more detailed, practical approach for adults and children to help calm irritation, reduce flare-ups, and support overall skin resilience.
1. Simplify Skincare
Do:
Use gentle, natural products that support the skin barrier — like tallow-based balms, herbal salves, or minimal-ingredient creams.
Apply moisturizers daily (or multiple times a day) to maintain hydration and moisture plus strengthen the barrier.
Don’t:
Use harsh soaps, detergents, or skincare products with sulfates, alcohols, or synthetic fragrances.
Over-exfoliate or use abrasive scrubs — these can damage the skin barrier and trigger flare-ups.
Why:
A healthy skin barrier retains moisture and keeps out irritants. Over-cleansing or harsh ingredients weaken this barrier, making skin more prone to eczema, sensitivity, and inflammation. Healthline – Skin Barrier
2. Nourish the Gut
Do:
Eat a variety of fiber-rich foods: leafy greens, berries, beans, sweet potatoes, and whole grains.
Add probiotic-rich fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir, miso, or yogurt (for kids, choose age-appropriate, low-sugar versions).
Include nourishing fats: olive oil, avocados, pasture-raised egg yolks, and tallow (topical application may also support barrier health).
Don’t:
Consume high amounts of refined sugar or processed foods, which can feed inflammatory gut microbes.
Rely on artificial additives, emulsifiers, or ultra-processed snacks that may disrupt the gut microbiome.
Why:
Your gut microbiome plays a key role in immune balance and inflammation — both major factors in skin health. A healthy, diverse gut flora supports calmer, clearer skin. PMC – Gut-Skin Axis
3. Support Stress Resilience
Do:
Prioritize regular, restorative sleep — it’s essential for hormone balance and immune repair.
Incorporate gentle movement like walking, stretching, or outdoor play.
Explore mindfulness tools: deep breathing, journaling, meditation, or nature time with your kids.
Don’t:
Ignore chronic stress, overwork, or screen overload — they can contribute to flare-ups and gut imbalance.
Skip rest in favor of “pushing through” — your nervous system needs down time to reset.
Why:
Stress affects your skin via cortisol, inflammation, and gut disruption. Reducing stress can improve barrier strength, reduce sensitivity, and lower flare-up frequency. National Eczema Society – Stress & Skin
4. Encourage Outdoor Time
Do:
Spend regular time outdoors — even 20–30 minutes of sunlight and fresh air can support vitamin D and immunity.
Let kids (and adults) play in natural settings: gardens, forests, parks — exposure to soil and biodiverse environments boosts microbiome diversity.
Don’t:
Overuse antibacterial wipes, sanitizers, or harsh cleaning products — these reduce helpful microbial exposure.
Avoid nature due to dirt or “messiness” — some microbes are friends, not foes.
Why:
Contact with nature helps diversify the skin and gut microbiome, supporting long-term immune resilience — especially in children. Time Spent Outdoors Helpful to Gut Microbiome
5. Observe and Adjust
Do:
Keep a simple diary of diet, skincare, stress, and environmental changes to track possible flare-up triggers.
Adjust routines gradually — one change at a time — to better observe effects.
Use symptom-tracking apps (like Eczema Tracker) if helpful.
Don’t:
Chase every trending skincare product or treatment without giving your current routine time to work.
Start restrictive elimination diets without professional guidance — this can backfire or increase stress.
Why:
Flare-ups are messages, not failures. Logging daily routines helps you identify patterns and respond with insight rather than panic. While not a cure, self-monitoring is widely recommended to support better management.
Eczema Tracker App
6. Hydration & Gentle Detox
Do:
Drink water consistently throughout the day — especially if your intake is usually low.
Support your body's natural detox pathways with rest, movement, and sleep.
Create space for slow, gentle routines that reduce internal stress.
Don’t:
Rely on excess caffeine or alcohol — they can dehydrate and may worsen inflammation.
View “detoxing” as extreme cleanses or fasts — your liver and kidneys do the detox work already.
Why:
Proper hydration supports overall skin health, though the direct link to eczema flares is modest. Gentle, consistent care for your internal systems can help reduce the burden on the skin.
7. For Babies & Children Specifically
Do:
Choose minimal-ingredient, fragrance-free moisturizers or tallow-based balms.
Offer simple, age-appropriate whole foods — fruits, veggies, probiotic-rich foods (like plain yogurt).
Stick to gentle bathing routines, soft fabrics, and reduce exposure to irritants.
Don’t:
Use medicated creams, steroid products, or adult skincare formulas without pediatric advice.
Over-wash, scrub, or use hot water baths — these can strip natural oils and damage the skin barrier.
Why:
Children’s skin and microbiome are still developing. Research shows that early skin microbiome disruption can precede eczema onset. Supporting their barrier and microbiome now helps build resilience over time.
Infant skin microbiome & AD development | Healthline - Gut Skin Axis
Why Meadowlark Made Products Matter
Our products are crafted to work in harmony with the skin, supporting its natural function instead of masking symptoms. By combining ancestral knowledge with prairie-grown herbs and tallow, we help your skin feel calm, nourished, and resilient — whether it’s adult skin or your little one’s delicate skin.
Healing naturally starts from the inside out. Caring for the gut, honoring the skin’s barrier, and using gentle, effective products can help your skin tell a healthier story.
Bare Balm - a gentle, tallow herbal salve for inflamed, dry, or irritated skin (formulated for babies and ultra-sensitive skin)
At Meadowlark Made, we believe in learning and growing together. The information shared here is meant for education purposes only and reflects our research in holistic skin wellness. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace medical advice. Consult with your healthcare provider for concerns about your or your child’s health.
