Can the Carnivore Diet Help Fix Your Eczema?

If you have tried every approach under the sun to fix your eczema without success and are considering trying out the carnivore diet to see if it works, this post is for you.

This post covers the following:

What is eczema
What causes eczema
What are the current treatments for eczema
Can the carnivore diet help heal eczema?
How to find out if the carnivore diet can help you?

What is eczema?

Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) is a common chronic skin condition characterized by red, dry and itchy skin patches that can sometimes lead to infection. ^[1]

Eczema is most common in children but can also affect adults. ^[2]

Worldwide eczema prevalence is about 10% to 20% in children and 1% to 3% in adults and is rising. ^[3]

In the U.S., 31.6 million people (10%) have some form of eczema. Around 10 million U.S. children under 18 have eczema and around one-third have moderate to severe conditions. The prevalence of eczema in children is also on the rise.^[4]

In the UK, eczema prevalence is around 10% with about 2% of child patients suffering from severe eczema conditions.^[5]

Eczema prevalence in developing countries is generally lower than in developed countries but is increasing due to urbanization, pollution, and the adoption of a Western diet and lifestyle. ^[6]

Eczema can significantly affect the quality of life of the patients as well as that of their families.

What causes eczema?

We don’t yet know the exact causes of eczema but it is thought to be due to a number of factors including an overactive immune system, genetics, stress, and environmental factors. ^[7]

Some eczema patients may have an “overactive” immune system that causes them to respond to environmental triggers like cleansers, shampoo, soap, detergent, body wash, certain fabrics, cigarette smoke, air pollutants, pet hair, cold and damp climates, dry air, excessive heat, and high humidity. ^{[8, 9]}

Around 30% to 40% of eczema patients suffer from allergies and may be allergic to things like dust mites, pollen and foods such as milk, eggs, nuts, or fish.^[10]

In some people, elevated stress can also trigger eczema, however, the relation between stress and eczema flare-ups is not well understood.^[11]

A mutation in a gene called filaggrin may affect the formation of the protective outer layer of the skin and cause eczema in some people.

In healthy people, every cell in the skin has two copies of the filaggrin gene. In some eczema patients, however, there is only one copy of this gene, resulting in insufficient filaggrin for skin formation and repair and subsequent skin damage. ^{[12, 13]}

Genetics, however, has been downplayed because although our genetics hasn’t changed much, the incidence of eczema has been on the rise.

What are current treatments for eczema?

Because we don’t yet know the exact causes of eczema, current treatment options only aim to deal with symptoms and help patients to live as comfortably as they can with their skin condition.

Current treatment options for eczema include the following:^{[14, 15, 16, 17]}

Moisturizers (creams and ointments) can help keep the skin moist, relieve itching and protect the skin from infection
Steroid creams (anti-inflammatory creams) can relieve the itching and inflammation but prolonged use can cause thinning of the skin and other side effects. Patients can suffer from serious withdrawal symptoms when they stop using steroid creams
Pimecrolimus and tacrolimus to treat eczema symptoms when steroid creams are not well tolerated or are ineffective
Phototherapy is exposure to ultraviolet radiation under supervision that can help reduce the symptoms of chronic eczema in some people
Dietary and lifestyle changes, for example, removing sensitive food like nuts, dairy, grains, or seafood and avoiding known allergens and triggers
Special soaps, detergents, and shampoos which don’t contain harsh chemicals can reduce the loss of moisture on the skin and reduce eczema severity
Other treatments include wet wrap, allergy medication, and other medications that suppress the immune system’s responses.

Natural therapies (e.g. herbal medicines, Ayurveda, acupressure, and qigong) and supplements are often tried out by eczema patients but there is no research evidence indicating that any of them actually works. ^{[18, 19]}

Can the carnivore diet help heal eczema?

We don’t know exactly why but the carnivore diet has been able to help so many people heal their eczema and other serious health problems that the modern healthcare system hasn’t been able to.

If you check out Dr. Shawn Baker’s website, you will find thousands of testimonials about how the carnivore diet has fixed people’s myriad health problems including eczema.

In the section below, let’s have a look at a few anecdotal examples before we look at the possible reasons why the carnivore diet can help fix eczema.

Anecdotal evidence of how the carnivore diet can help control eczema

Below are some example anecdotes posted on Dr. Shawn Baker’s website.

My lifelong problem with eczema is gone. I’ve tried every medication, diet and supplement out there and nothing helped. The carnivore diet cleared it in just 30 days.
Neal

I had eczema all over my back, chest, neck and arms and in a short couple months it was all cleared up. My heels were extremely cracked which I never had a problem until 2019 within a month of starting carnivore my heels were completely smooth and healed.
Troy

I was vegan for 3 years and as a result developed serious eczema and became sickly. Animal foods healed me in less than half a year!
Tanel-Enn Reiman

I was 230 lbs, depressed and anxious, asthmatic, suffering on and off from some pretty terrible eczema… I dug into research and stumbled upon Carnivore. By this time I was prioritizing meat but still eating lots of vegetables. I decided to eliminate the vegetables and incorporate fasting and what do you know? My eczema was cleared within 10 days and has not returned.
Tracey

I started carnivore Jan 12, 2020. So far I am 7lbs down, my biggest thing though is my eczema. I have 3 spots on my body that flair up like clock work since I was about 12 years old, I’m 27 now.
Every cream in the world didn’t touch this shit. It has disappeared in 2/3 spots and the 3rd spot is significantly lessened in severity.
My energy levels are freakishly consistent and now that I’m not riding a carb roller coaster my cravings are completely extinct. I love the weight loss but the controlled eczema, energy and craving extinction have been incredible for me. I wish more people would give this diet a shot for just 30 days, that’s all you need to see significant difference.
Mike

[In] mid teens, I gained 28lbs eating 6 small meals a day, high in fibre and grains and fruit. I had bad acne, chest pains, bloating, gas, eczema, and was very insecure about how I looked… Almost 2 years of bacon and eggs later, 1-2 meals a day, all issues resolved.
Sean

I was suffering from so many autoimmune disorders since I was a kid, including: eczema; horrible rashes that cover my entire body; never-ending itchiness; severe acne on my face; cystic acne on my buttocks, vaginal area, and armpits, back pain, extreme PMS, bladder inflammation (always feeling like I have to pee); extreme depression; crying; anger, and suicidal attempts (took anti-depressants since I was 15, but didn’t help); constant bloating; weight gain; intense sugar cravings; arthritis in my ankles and wrists; vaginal infections due to candida overgrowth; ovarian cyst; IBS; acid reflux; allergies; early graying of hair; and many more…
All of that is completely gone since I went carnivore.
Mim

After trying and failing keto, low carb paleo, and whole foods, I gave up and decided to go full carnivore. After another month of only steak and eggs, my depression and anxiety lifted, I lost more weight, and even my chronic skin rashes and joint pain went away…
I’m a better wife, a stronger person, a more joyful woman, physically fit person, and I even run when the mood hits me without any joint pain. I want to jump around and play with my niece and nephews, jog with our dog, and even started playing silly little pranks on my husband, something I would have been too terrified and shy to do two years ago.
The carnivore diet hasn’t healed me, it’s made me the person I am supposed to be. These really are the best days of my life, and I look forward to how else my life is just going to get better….
The carnivore diet has healed: my obesity (225 lbs to 148 lbs), stubborn body fat, yo yo weight loss, knee pain, back pain, panic disorder, bloating, distended belly fat, sleep quality, abscesses, mouth sores, social anxiety, skin tags, feeling of doom and despair, lack of motivation, handle criticism better, acne, chronic vaginal infections, energy levels, binge compulsions, eczema, anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, vertigo, period cramps, irregular periods, reactions when off carnivore, hallucinations, rushing heartbeat, stomach cramps, eczema and itching, vague joint pain in knees and back, headaches and neck pain.
Jenni

I’ve battled numerous health afflictions over the past 15 years, including severe gout, eczema, fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and widespread inflammation that reared its ugly head in countless ways!
My doctors wanted to throw drugs at my issues and told me to “eat less, move more” as well as “avoid meat and saturated fat.”
Deep down though, I knew in my gut that they were dead wrong. Intuitively, I knew I was doing something wrong, but I also knew prescription drugs and more exercise weren’t the solution…
Initially, I started with a paleo-style diet and naturally worked my way into keto. Eventually, I started implementing different fasting protocols, and my health was improving but I still was experiencing health issues; however, to a lesser degree.
It wasn’t until I became a carnivore that I truly experienced healing.
I no longer experience gout. It’s completely gone! The inflammation has subsided, 90% of my eczema has vanished, and my mental well-being has been lifted to vibrant new heights! I’ve also dropped over 30 pounds and at 42 years of age, I am stronger and more athletic than I ever was in my 20s.
Michael

Possible reasons why the carnivore diet might help people fix their eczema

Eczema has been found to be an immune-driven disease at the molecular level and because the carnivore diet has been able to reverse autoimmune conditions, it’s probably why it helps with controlling eczema too. ^[20]

We know that drugs that suppress the immune system can help reduce eczema symptoms.

However, a study has found that Dupilumab, an antibody treatment that blocks the action of two key signaling proteins, has actually reversed disease processes seen in the skin of eczema patients at the molecular level. ^{[21, 22]}

Observational studies have also found a significant association between eczema and various autoimmune conditions, including alopecia areata, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systematic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, and vitiligo.^[23]

While there isn’t any clinical evidence on the ability of the carnivore diet to fix eczema directly, there is quite a bit of evidence on the ability of the carnivore diet to reverse various autoimmune conditions.

The International Center for Medical Nutritional Intervention (ICMNI) clinic based in Budapest, Hungary, has been using a diet called the paleolithic ketogenic diet (PKD) to treat many chronic conditions including autoimmune conditions since 2012. ^[24]

Previously they had been using the paleolithic diet which was proven to be ineffective in the vast majority of chronic conditions.

They then developed the paleolithic ketogenic diet based on clinical evidence from around 4000 patients. They have successfully treated treating many chronic diseases including metabolic syndromes, autoimmune diseases, intestinal permeability, and even cancer.

Again, we don’t know the exact mechanism under which the carnivore diet helped those autoimmune patients reverse their conditions.

However, it is possible that the carnivore diet removes an important environmental factor that triggers autoimmune conditions: troublesome food from your diets such as processed food, additives, and plant toxins.

Another possible reason is that the carnivore diet eliminates nonprotein amino acids (NPAAs) in plant foods which have been found to initiate autoimmune conditions in animals and humans. ^[25]

While most NPAAs have low toxicity, their prolonged consumption can be toxic.

Because NPAAs have a similar chemical structure, size, shape, and charge to protein amino acids, they can compete with and be mistakenly used in protein synthesis. ^[26]

When NPAAs are used in protein synthesis, abnormal or nonnative proteins that cannot function properly are created. ^[27]

As the immune system identifies these abnormal proteins, it attacks those NPAAs, leading to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjogren’s syndrome. ^[28]

How to find out if the carnivore diet can help you?

The carnivore diet has been able to help some people fix their eczema for good.

However, there is no guarantee that it would work for everybody. Some people actually go the other way around, eliminating meat and other animal-based food and find success.

If you are suffering from eczema and have not been able to resolve it with conventional medicines, please consider trying out the carnivore diet to see if it works for you even for just a short period of time.

I can’t see any harm in eating the most nutrient-dense foods that nature provides.

I highly recommend you keep a meticulous record of your food intake, daily routine, environmental exposures, and eczema symptoms as you try out the carnivore diet.

You will be able to go back and fine-tune your diet if the general carnivore diet does not work for you and figure out, for example, whether you need to avoid dairy, pork, or poultry or not.

If you don’t know much about the carnivore diet, following this free 16-week carnivore diet plan can save you a lot of time.

In addition to healing by eating the most nutrient-dense food, there are a few other things that you can do to improve your overall health and increase your chance of fixing your eczema:

Get sufficient sleep
Get enough sun exposure
Minimize or eliminate the use of chemicals (e.g. sunscreen, soaps, cleansers, insect sprays, artificial fragrances, etc.)
Be physically active as much as you can
Reduce stress
Spend as much time in nature as you can.

These can all help strengthen your immune system and accelerate the healing process.