Functional Medicine Eczema Treatment in northern virginia
A personalized, holistic approach to help you get long-term relief
Virtual Appointments • In-Person in Alexandria & McLean
getting to the root cause of eczema
Content by Dr. Christopher Johnson, ND | Founder of Thrive Naturopathic
When you have eczema, itchy, inflamed skin can impact your confidence and cause ongoing discomfort. For some people, it gets a lot worse than this. Prescription medications provide temporary relief at best, leaving the underlying issue unresolved and sometimes actually making it worse.
By the time someone sits down with me in my Alexandria or McLean office, they’ve usually been through a whole host of different treatments and approaches and are often resigned to thinking the condition is incurable.
The main problem with most approaches is they think of eczema as a condition originating in the skin. In fact, eczema is an immune condition. That means it starts in your immune system (primarily located in and around the gut) and only manifests in the skin. Eczema is inflammation of the skin (dermatitis) – and as with all inflammation in the body, it starts in the immune system.
What that means is that to actually address the issue you have to change the way your immune system is working.
Over my 18+ years in practice, I’ve helped hundreds of people recover from eczema. But it can only be done if you are willing to take the measures needed to change the patterns of your immune system.
Primary Causes of Eczema
As I mentioned earlier, eczema is an immune system mediated condition. For some reason, your immune system is irritated/imbalanced and producing inflammatory signals that get sent to your skin. Luckily, the possibilities are not endless. In fact, there are really only a few primary causes of this immune imbalance. The vast majority of eczema cases will resolve just by addressing the following three issues.
Gut Inflammation
The immune system is interconnected with the gut (and by ‘”gut” I mean the stomach and intestines) – the tissues are literally woven together like mesh. Therefore, anything that irritates the gut is irritating the immune system. This is usually due to consuming foods which are incompatible with your system, but can also be due to imbalances in the microbiome (bacterial/micro-organism status in the gut)
Imbalanced Stress-Response
Just like the gut is connected to the immune system, so too are the brain and nervous system – via the Vagus nerve (which runs between the brain and the stomach and intestines). If your brain is sending inflammatory signals such as adrenaline into the immune system, this is a source of irritation. Many people are totally unaware this is happening on a regular basis. Luckily, these stress-response patterns can be changed.
Irritants and Toxins
Eczema can affected by strong chemical products – both topically and internally. Household cleaners, scented laundry detergents and personal care products can irritate the immune system. That is because these substances are totally foreign to the immune system – which developed over history to deal with natural forces. The immune system gets confused by these xenotoxins and the result is excessive activity and irritation.
How Can Holistic Eczema Treatment Help Improve Your Day-To-Day Life?
Holistic eczema treatment offers more than just relief from symptoms– it can transform your daily life. We offer personalized plans to relieve itching and improve your appearance, sleep, and mental health.
Relief from Itching and Discomfort
A functional medicine approach targets the root causes of your eczema, reducing inflammation that leads to itching and discomfort. By implementing natural therapies and lifestyle adjustments, our practitioners in Alexandria provide personalized solutions for long-lasting relief from your health challenges for improved quality of life.
Prevention of Future Flare-Ups
Unlike conventional treatments, which often focus on alleviating surface-level symptoms, holistic care addresses the underlying factors that trigger chronic health issues. By identifying these triggers, such as diet and stress, Thrive Naturopathic provides ongoing guidance to prevent future flare-ups.
Improve Skin Appearance
Thrive Naturopathic’s holistic eczema treatments heal your skin from the inside out. By addressing underlying health issues like gut health; inflammation, stress, or nutrient deficiencies, our practitioners restore your skin’s balance for a clearer, healthier complexion.
Improve Sleep Quality
Persistent itching and discomfort from eczema can cause sleep issues, disrupting your schedule and overall well-being. Our practitioners in Alexandria treat the underlying factors causing your eczema, alleviating symptoms for more restful nights.
Better Emotional Well-Being
Living with eczema can impact your emotional health, causing stress and frustration. With lifestyle recommendations and dietary guidance from Thrive Naturopathic, you’ll enjoy clearer skin and reduced symptoms for improved confidence and emotional well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions About Holistic Eczema Treatment Programs
What is the holistic approach to treating eczema?
As opposed to temporarily treating symptoms, holistic eczema treatment addresses the root causes of your skin conditions, such as diet, stress, and environmental triggers. Holistic care plans may involve natural remedies, lifestyle changes, and dietary adjustments, harnessing the body’s natural healing processes for long-term relief and healthier skin.
How does holistic treatment differ from conventional eczema treatments?
Holistic eczema treatment differs from conventional methods by treating the underlying causes of eczema rather than just the symptoms. While conventional treatments use medications and topical creams, holistic care identifies underlying health issues like food sensitivities and stress. By resolving the root cause of eczema, holistic treatments alleviate symptoms and prevent future flare-ups for long-term wellness.
How soon will I see results from my holistic Eczema Treatment program?
Results from holistic eczema treatment may vary depending on the severity of your skin condition. Some patients notice improvements within a few weeks, while others may take longer as their body adjusts to treatment plans. With consistent guidance and personalized advice, Thrive Naturopathic’s practitioners ensure lasting results from natural eczema treatment.
Book a Discovery Call With a Holistic Eczema Treatment Doctor Today
If topical creams and traditional medicines have failed to prevent your eczema flare-ups, Thrive Naturopathic can help. Our naturopathic doctors in Alexandria will examine your symptoms and pinpoint the underlying cause of your eczema, providing personalized treatments for improved quality of life.
Book a discovery call with Thrive Naturopathic today and find relief from dry, itchy skin with holistic eczema treatment in Alexandria, VA.
Meet Dr. Christopher Johnson
Dr. Christopher Johnson is a naturopathic doctor and founder of Thrive Naturopathic in Alexandria and McLean, Virginia. Over the past 18+ years, he has worked with more than 3,000 patients, with a focus on midlife hormone health, metabolic and stress-related health concerns using functional medicine.
His approach helps patients better understand and address the patterns behind their symptoms through structured, systems-based care.
Former Editor-in-Chief of The American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine and former Vice President of the Virginia Association of Naturopathic Physicians.