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Key Takeaways
- Jenn’s eczema healing journey was 20 years living with eczema, interrupted by two years of topical steroid withdrawal.
- Dealing with individual gut issues doesn’t always improve chronic skin issues.
- More aggressive protocols aren’t necessarily better, especially when other overloaded systems and foundational needs are being overlooked.
- Looking for foundational issues is just as important as other root causes.
- Jenn’s eczema cleared with a different approach, even through summer heat.
- There is NO universal eczema protocol. Your history and underlying picture matter.
What do you do when your eczema treatment isn’t working, even though you’ve found legitimate problems that could be contributing to your skin?
Do you push harder?
Kill more gut bugs?
Cut out more foods?
Add another supplement?
That’s where my client Jenn found herself after years of struggling with eczema.
Jenn had already been through a hellish two-year topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) journey. And even after that ended, she was still dealing with eczema.
She sought help from multiple holistic, integrative, and naturopathic practitioners looking for answers. Along the way, testing uncovered several gut issues that could be culprits.
So you’d think addressing those issues would finally make a huge difference in her skin, right?
Nope, they didn’t.
Jenn followed the protocols and did what she was told, but she saw only small improvements. And right before we met, she went through an aggressive parasite protocol that still wasn’t moving the needle the way she had hoped.
The surprising turning point in Jenn’s eczema healing journey wasn’t another aggressive protocol.
It was almost the exact opposite.
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In This Episode:
- Why finding a potential eczema root cause can lead you to play whack-a-mole trying to fix your skin
- What should you do if you have leaky gut and gut microbiome problems?
- Why aggressive protocols barely moved the needle for Jenn’s eczema
- No, a die-off or Herx reaction doesn’t mean a protocol is working
- Why foundational support is so critical and must be addressed before diving into larger issues
- What finally changed when Jenn stopped pushing harder and looked at the bigger picture
Quotes
“When one area of the body has been out of balance for a long time, the effects may begin spilling over into other systems.”
“Terrible die-off reactions should never be interpreted as proof that a protocol is working.”
Links
CLICK HERE to join the Fix My Skin Workshop Series (starts Sept 23!)
427: Eczema Treatment Not Working? Why Everything Jenn Tried Made Her Skin Worse
If you’ve been dealing with eczema for months or years, you probably know how exhausting the trial-and-error cycle can become.
Maybe you’ve worked with conventional practitioners. Then functional or integrative practitioners. Maybe naturopaths.
Or perhaps you’ve tried figuring it out yourself with information from blogs, forums, podcasts, and social media.
When none of those approaches creates lasting change, a really insidious thought can creep in:
Maybe there’s something uniquely wrong with me.
Maybe your case is impossible. Maybe your body just won’t respond. Maybe this is what the rest of your life will look like.
I’ve worked with chronic skin problems for more than 10 years, and one thing I’ve seen repeatedly is how resilient the human body can be.
But context matters.
What’s going on in your individual case matters. And how you approach those issues matters too.
Jenn’s story is a perfect example.
Jenn Had Already Found Gut Bug Problems
After going through topical steroids and eventually a difficult two-year TSW experience, Jenn was still struggling with eczema.
She started working with different holistic and integrative practitioners, hoping someone could finally explain what was going on.
And to be fair, these practitioners did find pieces of the puzzle: First, H. pylori. Then Candida. Then parasites.
These were real findings in Jenn’s case.
But the problem was that the focus kept landing on each individual gut issue without anyone really zooming out to ask: What does the entire picture look like?
This is where I see people with chronic skin issues get stuck. There can be a tendency to assume that if you fix the gut, the skin will automatically get better.
But chronic skin issues can be more complicated than that. When one area of the body has been out of balance for a long time, the effects may begin spilling over into other systems. So simply identifying and attacking one gut problem may not be enough.
And for Jenn, it wasn’t.
Then Came An Aggressive Parasite Protocol
Right before Jenn and I met, another practitioner had decided that parasites needed to be addressed aggressively.
On paper, you can understand the logic. You found a problem, so you go after the problem. Hard.
But several weeks into the protocol, Jenn was still really struggling and had only seen small improvements. Understandably, she was incredibly frustrated. After everything she’d already endured, she wanted her life back.
She wanted her skin to be normal. She wanted to be able to make plans without wondering whether her eczema would throw a wrench into them.
When a practitioner identifies something that could be contributing to your symptoms, it’s natural to think, Great. Let’s get rid of it.
But more aggressive doesn’t automatically mean more effective.
The “Shiny Object” Problem With Gut Protocols
It’s really common for people (and practitioners) to get shiny object syndrome when it comes to gut problems.
A test finds Candida, H. pylori, parasites, or another gut issue, and suddenly that one finding becomes the entire focus. Every symptom gets attributed to it. Every intervention targets it. And the rest of the body gets ignored.
In Jenn’s case, the gut issues absolutely mattered. But no one had stopped to ask what problems those issues may have caused over time or what else could be enabling that inflammatory picture to continue.
Her case also included overlooked issues such as nutrient deficiencies, liver detox overload, and a high gut toxin burden. So while aggressively targeting parasites might have made sense in isolation, the plan wasn’t a good fit for what Jenn’s body needed at that particular moment.
And there’s another important piece of this.
Is A “Die-Off Reaction” Really A Sign Your Eczema Protocol Is Working?
When people react badly to a gut protocol, they may be told they’re experiencing a “die-off” or Herx reaction.
And sometimes that message becomes: It gets worse before it gets better. So you push through.
But I don’t believe that terrible reactions should automatically be interpreted as proof that a protocol is working. Sometimes important steps have been skipped or overlooked.
Think about showing up for an advanced third-year college math class when you’re still learning algebra. Or going camping in a rainforest for a week without the supplies you need.
You may know where you ultimately want to go, but that doesn’t mean you’re prepared to jump straight there.
That’s why understanding the full scope of your case is so important.
Finding Your Root Cause Code Means Zooming Out
If you’re serious about figuring out why your skin continues to flare, the first step is finding your Root Cause Code.
And here’s what’s really important: It’s rarely just one thing.
If you’re searching for the one root cause of your eczema, you may miss the other pieces that are keeping you stuck.
Finding your Root Cause Code requires zooming out, both historically and in the present moment, to understand how different issues may be interconnected.
Then you need a plan that helps unwind those issues in an intentional order without unnecessarily throwing your system into another flare.
Because knowing what the problems are is only part of the equation. We also need to ask if your body is prepared to handle what you’re asking it to do.
Foundational work isn’t always exciting.
Supporting liver detox and elimination pathways doesn’t sound nearly as satisfying as saying, “We’re killing the parasite!”
But skipping those foundational pieces may stall your progress or make later steps harder to tolerate.
What Finally Changed Jenn’s Eczema
So if pushing harder wasn’t the answer, what changed?
Jenn took a step back.
Instead of seeing H. pylori, Candida, parasites, and everything else as isolated targets, she began looking at how the pieces fit together.
She learned this process through my Skin Rash Rebuild program.
The goal was to identify the different problems present in her case, understand their relationship to one another, and use that information to guide the order of her plan.
That sequencing mattered.
Rather than every step feeling like another battle with her body, the foundational work helped make future steps and protocols work better together. Think of it like lifting the entire boat instead of desperately trying to plug one hole at a time.
And eventually, Jenn’s skin changed. She was even able to maintain clear skin through the summer heat, which can be a common flare trigger for many people.
Then she sent me a message I’ll never forget:
“I’m about two weeks into my current protocol, and I’ve had a total clearing of the remainder of my skin issues. I’m so thrilled that I’m almost beyond words. Jen, I cannot thank you enough for all your wisdom and support. The Skin Rash Rebuild has been an absolute game changer for me. I have never seen this kind of healing with my skin, and I am over the moon.”
She looked back at photos from when her skin was at its worst the previous fall, particularly her face and neck, and couldn’t believe how much things had changed.
That was Jenn’s experience.
It doesn’t mean you’ll have the same results. And it doesn’t mean you should copy her protocols. Because that would miss the most important lesson from her entire story.
Your Eczema Root Causes May Look Completely Different
Having the same diagnosis as someone else doesn’t mean you have the same underlying picture. Two people can both have eczema and need completely different approaches.
That’s why I don’t want you reading Jenn’s story and thinking, Okay, I need to test for H. pylori, Candida, and parasites.
Those were issues identified in her case. Your history is different. Your symptoms may be different. Your previous treatments are different. And your Root Cause Code may be different.
The goal isn’t to copy Jenn.
It’s to recognize when the endless cycle of trying harder, adding more, and attacking whatever the latest test found isn’t getting you where you want to go.
Sometimes the smarter move is to zoom out.
What I Want You To Remember
If your eczema treatment isn’t working, your first instinct may be to do more.
- Another supplement
- Another elimination
- Another gut protocol
- Something stronger
- Something more aggressive
But Jenn’s story shows why more isn’t always better.
Finding a problem is not the same thing as understanding the entire picture.
And knowing what you eventually need to address doesn’t necessarily mean your body is ready for you to attack everything at once.
Your symptoms are information. Your history is information. And the way your body responds to what you’ve already tried is information, too.
Instead of fighting harder against your body, the goal is to understand what it’s telling you and build a plan that works with it.
That’s when you can finally stop playing whack-a-mole with your skin and start making sense of the bigger picture.
Ready To Stop Guessing About Your Eczema?
If you’re doing more and more for your skin but don’t have much to show for all that effort, I want to invite you to my free Fix My Skin workshop.
I’ll walk you through the liver and gut connections that can keep people with eczema and other unpredictable skin issues stuck, along with how I think about finding your individual Root Cause Code.
You’ll also get three self-quizzes to help you look for signs of liver detox overload, Candida overgrowth, and hidden parasite issues.
Plus, I’ll share real client cases so you can see how these pieces can fit together, and you’ll have the opportunity to bring your questions to a live Q&A.
As one previous attendee, Charlotte, shared:
“Wow, you blew my mind. I had no idea all of this was going on. My functional doctor never mentioned any of this. Now I know why nothing worked and what I should be focusing on.”
The Fix My Skin workshop is completely free, but seats for the live sessions are limited.
>> Click HERE to save your spot!
Frequently Asked Questions: Why Eczema Treatment Not Working
Why is my eczema treatment not working?
If you’re wondering how to heal eczema because your eczema treatment isn’t working, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need a stronger or more aggressive protocol. Sometimes the bigger problem is that treatment is focused too narrowly on one issue while other important imbalances or foundational needs are being overlooked.
It can be helpful to zoom out and consider your history, symptoms, nutrient status, detox and elimination pathways, gut health, and how your body has responded to previous treatments before deciding what to address next.
Can gut problems cause eczema?
There may be a connection between gut health and eczema,but simply “fixing the gut” does not guarantee that your skin will automatically clear.
Chronic skin issues can involve multiple interconnected systems, which is why you must identify your skin’s Root Cause Code from 16 different possibilities. That’s why focusing exclusively on gut findings may leave other important pieces of your individual picture unaddressed.
Are Candida and eczema connected?
Candida overgrowth may be relevant in some eczema cases, but that doesn’t mean Candida is the root cause of everyone’s eczema. If Candida is identified, it should be considered within the context of your larger health picture rather than assuming an aggressive Candida protocol will automatically clear your skin.
Can H. pylori contribute to eczema?
H. pylori may be one finding worth considering as part of a larger health picture, but identifying it doesn’t necessarily explain everything contributing to chronic eczema. Rather than hyper-focusing on a single gut finding, it’s important to consider what else may be happening alongside it.
Can parasites be a root cause of eczema?
Finding parasites doesn’t mean they are the single root cause of someone’s eczema. It also doesn’t automatically tell you when or how aggressively they should be addressed.
An aggressive parasite protocol may not necessarily translate into significant skin improvement if other important pieces of the picture are being missed. That’s why context and sequencing can matter just as much as identifying a potential problem.
Is a die-off reaction a sign that my eczema protocol is working?
A bad reaction should not automatically be interpreted as proof that a protocol is working. People are sometimes told that worsening symptoms are simply a “die-off” or Herx reaction and that they need to push through because things get worse before they get better.
But bad reactions may also indicate that important foundational steps were overlooked or that the protocol isn’t a good fit at that particular point. Your response to treatment is valuable information worth discussing with your practitioner.
Should I try a more aggressive gut protocol if my eczema isn’t improving?
Not necessarily. More aggressive does not automatically mean more effective. Before pushing harder, it may be worth asking whether other systems need support and whether your body is prepared for the next step. Addressing foundational issues and sequencing interventions appropriately may create a better environment for later protocols to work.
What are the root causes of eczema?
There isn’t one universal root cause of eczema that applies to everyone. I use the term Root Cause Code because chronic skin issues may involve multiple interconnected factors rather than one single problem you can find and eliminate. I’ve found there to be 16 different root causes, so your code is based on the three to six that are present for your body.
Your health history, symptoms, test results, previous treatments, and responses to those treatments can all provide clues. The goal isn’t to copy someone else’s eczema protocol. It’s to understand the specific pattern present in your own case.
