Physical, Mental and Spiritual Causes of Eczema (Dermatitis)

As Holistic Body-Mind-Soul Therapists, we look for the root causes of ill health on the physical, mental and spiritual levels. Using our own unique healing methodology, we assist our clients back to health and wellbeing.

Our goal for this article is to provide an overview of the physical, mental and spiritual causes of eczema that go beyond conventional thinking. Our hope is that it will help you understand the condition better, ultimately with the objective of getting to the root cause of the issue(s). 

Whether you are someone diagnosed with eczema, a supportive parent, or a curious seeker of holistic wellbeing and health, this information is designed to provide a thoughtful exploration and our hope is that it will help connect the dots to the different areas that require support when dealing with eczema. 

Introduction to Eczema (Dermatitis)

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is far more than a surface-level skin irritation; it is a complex, multi-layered signal from the body that something deep within requires our attention. Characterised by red, inflamed, and intensely itchy patches of skin, eczema can be a source of immense physical discomfort and emotional distress.

While conventional medicine focuses primarily on suppressing the inflammatory response through topical steroids and immunosuppressants, true and lasting healing requires a wider lens. At Higher Healing, we view the skin as our primary boundary—the thin veil between our internal world and the external universe. When this boundary flares, it is often a “message” regarding how we relate to the world around us.

This article provides a comprehensive roadmap of eczema. Understanding these root causes is an empowering first step in navigating the actual healing journey, which can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming to undertake alone. Translating this knowledge into a personalised, step-by-step action plan is exactly how we help our clients at Higher Healing address the functional imbalances in the gut, decode the subconscious emotional conflicts of separation, and align with the spiritual lessons of healthy boundaries and self-love.

Physical Causes of Eczema

From a functional medicine perspective, skin conditions are rarely just “skin deep.” Eczema is typically an outward manifestation of internal imbalance, primarily involving the immune system, the gut, and systemic inflammation. Because physical root causes vary so wildly from person to person, functional testing is an invaluable tool to take the guesswork out of your healing journey, allowing us to look “under the hood.” Aside from the below, various other tests can also be recommended based on an individual’s unique symptom picture.

Gut Microbiome Dysregulation (The Gut-Skin Axis)

The health of your skin is intimately tied to the health of your digestive tract. When the delicate balance of bacteria in the gut is disrupted (dysbiosis), or when the intestinal lining becomes overly permeable (often called “leaky gut”), undigested food particles and toxins can enter the bloodstream. This triggers a systemic immune response that frequently manifests as inflammation on the skin. 

To uncover these specific gastrointestinal issues, a Comprehensive Stool Analysis (such as GI-MAP or GI Effects) is used to identify gut dysbiosis, pathogens, and markers of leaky gut.

Food Sensitivities and Allergies

• Eczema flares are highly correlated with hidden food sensitivities. Common triggers include dairy, gluten, soy, eggs, and processed sugars. Consuming foods your body cannot properly tolerate keeps the immune system in a state of chronic high alert, fueling the inflammatory fire that drives eczema. 

Food Sensitivity Panels (IgG/IgA) are an excellent tool to help pinpoint the exact foods triggering this immune response.

Nutritional Deficiencies

• Our skin requires specific nutrients to maintain its protective barrier and modulate inflammation. Deficiencies in essential fatty acids (specifically Omega-3s and GLA), Vitamin D, Zinc, and Vitamin A are rampant in those with eczema. Without these vital building blocks, the skin loses its integrity, becoming dry, reactive, and prone to cracking. 

Utilising Micronutrient and Organic Acids Testing can reveal the specific vitamin, mineral, and fatty acid deficiencies that are preventing the skin’s barrier from healing.

Immune System Overdrive (Th2 Dominance)

Eczema is characterised by an overactive immune response, specifically a dominance in the Th2 immune pathway. This imbalance causes the body to overreact to everyday environmental factors (like dust, pollen, or pet dander) as if they were dangerous threats, resulting in a localised inflammatory cascade on the skin.

Toxin Overload and Liver Burden

• When the liver and lymphatic systems are overburdened by environmental toxins, heavy metals, or metabolic waste, the body will attempt to expel these toxins through its secondary elimination organ: the skin. This toxic “wear and tear” can severely aggravate eczema symptoms. 

Functional testing, such as heavy metal or environmental toxin panels, can be used to evaluate this toxic burden and assess how well your detoxification pathways are functioning.

Genetic Predisposition

• Genetics plays a significant role in the development of eczema, as it tends to run in families. Research indicates that individuals with a family history of allergic conditions such as asthma, hay fever, or eczema are more likely to develop the condition themselves. Specific gene variations can affect the skin’s barrier function and immune response, making individuals more susceptible to environmental triggers and inflammation, leading to the onset of eczema symptoms. 

Through Genetic and Nutrigenomic Testing, we can identify specific genetic variations (such as mutations affecting the filaggrin gene) that impact skin barrier integrity, histamine breakdown, and immune system regulation, allowing for highly targeted nutritional and lifestyle interventions.

Chronic Stress and the Immune System

• Stress is recognised as a significant contributing factor to eczema flare-ups and exacerbations. High levels of stress can weaken the immune system and disrupt the body’s natural balance, leading to increased inflammation and skin sensitivity. Furthermore, stress can trigger behavioural responses such as scratching, which can damage the skin barrier and worsen eczema symptoms. Implementing stress management techniques such as mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and seeking support can help individuals better manage their eczema symptoms. 

Comprehensive adrenal testing can also be utilised to assess cortisol levels and how chronic stress is biologically impacting your overall health and immune function.

Understanding these physical root causes is incredibly empowering and knowing what is happening inside the body is only the first step. The true transformation happens in accurately interpreting these functional tests, pairing them with the right natural therapies, linking these physical causes to mental and spiritual blockages, and creating a protocol that actually works for each individual’s unique biology. 

This is where our expert guidance removes the friction and overwhelm from your healing journey to feel supported and guided

Emotional Causes and Themes of Eczema

If you are new to understanding the mind-body connection and how our thoughts and emotions impact our physical health, then please read the following article we have created: Understanding the Mind-Body Connection and how it impacts health. 

To provide a quick summary, the mental wellbeing of an individual plays a crucial role in the manifestation and progression of physical symptoms as the mind cannot be separated from the body. Mind, body and soul are one and the same system. 

Understanding the emotional themes associated with eczema is vital for getting to the deeper holistic root cause of the issue. This can often be due to traumatic experiences at any life stage, even going all the way back to being in the womb. These experiences are stored energetically in the body and subconscious mind. 

As you explore the themes below, bear in mind that the original stressful event may have occurred long ago. Even if you feel you have consciously moved past it, your body and subconscious mind might still be harbouring this heavy energy.

From a mind-body perspective, the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) is directly linked to separation conflicts. Here is a general overview of the scenarios that can trigger this biological program:

Separation

Separation is the core emotional theme of eczema. This can range from the literal loss of contact with a person or pet to the symbolic “feeling” of being distant from a loved one. Interestingly, the red, itchy symptoms of eczema often do not appear during the height of the stress; they typically emerge when the separation is resolved. For example, a child may develop a rash shortly after a parent returns from a long business trip, signalling the body’s repair phase after the perceived “loss” of contact.

Wanting to have skin contact

This is especially prevalent in children and infants who rely on physical touch for safety and reassurance. If a child is separated from a caregiver—perhaps through a hospital stay, a transition to daycare, or being weaned too abruptly—the subconscious perceives this as a biological threat. The longing for physical closeness creates an energetic void that the skin eventually responds to. Even in adults, the moving away of a close friend or the return from a meaningful visit can trigger a biological response rooted in the desire to still have that person close.

Not wanting to have skin contact

Conversely, eczema can be a response to unwanted contact. This occurs when an individual’s personal boundaries are violated, or they are forced into physical proximity with someone they dislike or find repulsive. This might stem from poor personal boundaries, past trauma, or even sensory sensitivities.

• The “Hygiene Factor”: If you are forced to shake the hand of someone you perceive as “dirty” or “stinky” (in a literal or figurative sense), your body may biologically react by trying to “numb” or distance that area of the skin. Once you are safely away from that person and the stress is resolved, the body repairs that energetic and physical boundary, which often manifests as an inflamed, itchy rash.

The Location of the Eczema is important

When looking at the emotional themes from a metaphysical perspective, the location of the eczema is important. Whether it is on one side of the body versus the other will mean it has a different emotional theme. Additionally, if it is located in the hands versus the feet or knees, it will also have a different emotional theme and meaning.

Interpreting these specific locations alongside your unique life story requires careful exploration. While this article gives you the exact roadmap of the emotional themes, these will always be unique to you. Discovering exactly how to apply this to your own life and release that trapped energy is where our unique personalised approach comes in. Unpacking this together and being held accountable to your healing is often the transformative breakthrough our clients need to finally move past chronic flare-ups.

Spiritual Causes and Themes of Eczema

Spiritually, eczema is a powerful teacher regarding the illusion of separation. It asks us to look at the veil we have placed between ourselves and the Divine/Higher Self, and between our true selves and others.

Healing the Illusion of Disconnection

The separation conflict is a physical reflection of the soul’s belief that it can ever be truly alone. Eczema calls you to reconnect with your higher self and realise that while physical forms may come and go, the energetic bond of love is eternal. By strengthening your internal connection to the Divine/your Higher Self, the outer “need” for constant reassurance through skin contact begins to soften.

The Virtue of Personal Power

• If your eczema is rooted in unwanted contact, your soul is urging you to develop the virtue of courage. It is an invitation to establish healthy, empowered boundaries. The inflammation is a physical “No!” that you may be struggling to say out loud. Spiritual healing comes when you honour your truth and refuse to let your energy field be invaded simply out of a desire to keep the peace or a fear of disappointing others.

Radical Self-Soothing

When we lose the touch of another, we often feel a loss of safety. The spiritual task here is to learn the art of self-nurturing. Eczema invites you to inhabit your skin with radical self-acceptance, providing for yourself the warmth and validation you previously sought from the external world.

Other Spiritual Considerations

Sometimes, the energetic imprint of feeling “unsafe,” rejected, or separated does not originate with your own lived experience in this lifetime. Unresolved emotional programs and shocks can be passed down through generations as inherited ancestral trauma. Furthermore, your skin may be carrying the echoes from past or parallel lives, such as karmic wounds involving betrayal, being cast out from a community, or feeling “untouchable.” The energy we carry from past and parallel lives, karmic wounds, and inherited ancestral trauma could be significant areas that require exploration in our sessions.

Embracing a Holistic Approach to deal with Eczema

By viewing your eczema not as an enemy, but simply as your body trying to bring back into balance, you can begin to decode its wisdom. As you align your mind with empowering thoughts, nourish your physical vessel, and heal the energetic wounds of separation, your skin will no longer need to carry the burden of these subconscious conflicts.

From reading the information in this article, we hope you can appreciate the emotional and spiritual themes that are intertwined with physical aspects of health. Therefore, a holistic approach to health that integrates emotional strategies with naturopathic treatments, nutritional recommendations, and spiritual practices is always our recommendation. This triad of well-being forms the foundation for navigating the challenges of eczema and getting to the true root cause.

Addressing imbalance on all three levels of your being, can not only transform your health but can transform your life too. It is crucial to understand that every individual shows up differently. You are a completely unique individual with your own distinct biochemical makeup, your own deeply personal emotional history, and your own spiritual path. Working with experts to help you navigate this journey with ease and guidance is key. 

While this article outlines the broader themes, the specific nuances of your condition are simply beyond the scope of a single article. In today’s world, healing information is everywhere—but true healing requires implementation, personalisation, and accountability. The energetic track triggering your flare-up, or the specific nutrient your gut is failing to absorb, requires a tailored approach. 

You don’t just need to know what is wrong; you need an expert partner to show you how to approach it. To understand how these themes specifically apply to you and to get a step-by-step roadmap for your healing, talk to us by booking a Discovery Call now!