Understanding Eczema Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition involving dryness, scaling, redness, itch, exudation, and hyperpigmented thickened skin. It often occurs inside the bends of elbows and knees, feet, ankles, wrist, neck, eyelids, upper chest, scalp, and face. The causes of eczema include a dysfunction of the skin barrier, immune dysfunction, environmental factors, and a mutation in gene coding for skin proteins called filaggrins. Food sensitivity both IgE and IgG trigger skin reactions. It is important to identify food sensitivites using a functional pathology blood test. Food sensitivities can cause gut barrier permeability, this together with a dysfunctional skin barrier function increases the risk of eczema. Recent research on the gut microbiome has found links to eczema and overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria such as E.coli, and lower levels of F.prausnitzii and A.muciniphila. A GI-Map stool test can identify any imbalances in the microbiome of a patient which can be corrected. Complementary medicine offers effective treatment of both the symptoms and causes of eczema.