# Eczema

Category: Conditions

Also known as: atopic dermatitis, dermatitis

Eczema is fundamentally linked to low thyroid function and intestinal irritation, with Ray Peat identifying hypothyroidism as the most common underlying factor in ordinary cases. When thyroid function is low, circulation to the intestine becomes poor and serotonin rises…

10 passages · 1 author · 2011–2022 · Most-cited: [Ray Peat](https://bioenergeticoracle.com/md/voices/ray-peat/index.md)

Canonical page: https://bioenergeticoracle.com/concepts/eczema

## Synthesis

**Eczema** is fundamentally linked to **low thyroid function** and intestinal irritation, with Ray Peat identifying hypothyroidism as the most common underlying factor in ordinary cases. [Source 5] When thyroid function is low, circulation to the intestine becomes poor and serotonin rises, allowing *endotoxin* to enter the circulation; the combination of endotoxin and serotonin then causes the skin to develop abnormal growth patterns. [Source 5] Peat also pointed to **transglutaminase**, an enzyme activated by estrogen and found abundantly in both the skin and intestines, as a mechanistic link between gut irritation and skin eruptions. [Source 4, 8] This enzyme reacts to gluten, and Peat argued that gluten is inherently toxic to everyone, not just those with diagnosed coeliac disease, because the seed proteins are designed to cause inflammation in the intestines of animals that eat them. [Source 4]

Dietary management centers on eliminating gut-irritating foods and correcting nutritional deficiencies. Peat advised that both eczema and psoriasis tend to flare up when people eat bread, other grains, beans, or seeds, and recommended checking the diet thoroughly for poorly digested, irritating foods as the first step. [Source 3, 8] In infants, he suggested that if the baby is breastfeeding, the mother should carefully examine her own diet for allergens passing into the milk; if the baby is eating solid foods, one food should be eliminated at a time for a week to identify triggers. [Source 2] He also noted that heated or fried fats are more irritating to the intestine, and that sensitivity to them is exaggerated when **vitamin D**, **calcium**, and thyroid are low. [Source 9] Nutritional support should prioritize foods like liver, eggs, oysters, fruits, and milk, with particular attention to *vitamin A deficiency* as the most likely insufficiency, though he cautioned that supplementing vitamin A can increase the need for thyroid hormone. [Source 7, 10]

Peat explicitly rejected the use of polyunsaturated fats for eczema, stating that omega-6 oils like safflower oil only appear to help because their two basic functions are *slowing metabolism and causing inflammation*. [Source 6] Instead, he recommended hormonal and systemic interventions. **Thyroid supplementation** very often helps, and **pregnenolone** can produce significant changes by turning off the stress system, since stress reactions from the pituitary-adrenal axis are associated with flare-ups of skin problems. [Source 8] Topically, he described a case where a solution of **procaine** (Novocaine) dissolved in water with a little alcohol made eczema disappear instantly, and noted that topical aspirin and caffeine are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. [Source 1, 7] Blood tests for vitamin D deficiency or an excess of phosphate in the diet relative to calcium—such as from eating too much meat over milk and cheese—can reveal factors that activate the inflammatory system. [Source 3]

## People also ask

### How does low thyroid function contribute to eczema?

Peat argued that hypothyroidism reduces intestinal circulation and raises serotonin, allowing endotoxin to enter the bloodstream; the combination of endotoxin and serotonin then triggers abnormal skin growth patterns characteristic of eczema.

### Why did Ray Peat advise against using omega-6 oils for eczema?

Peat stated that polyunsaturated fats like safflower oil only appear helpful because their basic functions are slowing metabolism and causing inflammation, making them counterproductive for eczema.

### What dietary changes does the entry recommend for managing eczema?

The corpus describes eliminating gut-irritating foods such as bread, grains, beans, and seeds, while prioritizing easily digested foods like liver, eggs, oysters, fruits, and milk, with attention to correcting vitamin A deficiency.

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## Cited passages

Passage numbers match the `[Source N]` markers in the synthesis above.

### Source 1 — Ray Peat KMUD: 12-10-13 Aging and Energy Full Interview

Ray Peat · Interview · Jan 25, 2017 · https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEdDTAyZuJU

> **Andrew Murray:** There we go. You could definitely try that, because it does sound like there's some kind of imprinted memory in what happened for that to come back.
>
> **Caller:** Yeah, I tried to look it up, and there were several things I found on the Internet, but none of them suggest any type of treatment. And the big thing is that I would have an open sore there until that healed, and it healed rather rapidly.
>
> **Andrew Murray:** Yeah.
>
> **Caller:** except at times it would form a false crust, a false scab, which would come off.
>
> **Andrew Murray:** Yeah, well, you could definitely try that anesthetic cream and try that as a next thing to do. Yeah. All right, thank you very much. Yeah, you're very welcome. Okay, I think we have two more callers, so let's get the next caller on the end. Where are you from?
>
> **Caller:** Is that me?
>
> **Andrew Murray:** Yes, you're on the air. Where are you from?
>
> **Caller:** Yeah, so I just have a really quick question. The doctor mentioned about the woman who used alcohol and something else up her shin, and the eczema just disappeared instantly. What was the other thing?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Was it

### Source 2 — One Radio Network: Great Monthly Talk with Ray Peat PhD (August 17, 2020)

Ray Peat · Interview · Aug 17, 2020

> **Patrick Timpone:** Very interesting. Here is someone that lives in a condo. Upstairs they're smoking. I've been having high histamine reaction symptoms, and I feel stress and things like that. Is there anything that I can do possibly to improve the air? I guess, have you ever seen any of these air purifiers, Dr. Peat, that work good?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Yeah. They're almost always crazily overpriced. An ultraviolet, a very strong ultraviolet lamp, if you don't look at it, it will produce some ozone and destroy viruses and bacteria in the air and to a certain extent detoxify some of the organic toxins. if it's a fairly small space. And having a fan and a filter combined with a strong ultraviolet bulb, that's the basis for some of these air cleaning things that they often sell for $1,000 worth.
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** You can do it yourself.
>
> **Ray Peat:** Yeah, you can do it yourself.
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** You can figure it out. My 14-month-old granddaughter has eczema. It seems like she scratches herself so much it's hard to see and prevent her from scratching. Anything that we could look at?

### Source 3 — One Radio Network: Nothing is as it seems with COVID (July 20, 2020)

Ray Peat · Interview · Jul 20, 2020

> **Patrick Timpone:** My goodness. Here is Mathene. She says, I have a 14-month-old granddaughter who has eczema. It seems sometimes she scratches herself so much it's hard to see and prevent her from scratching. What can I do to help? We're just at a loss here. My goodness.
>
> **Ray Peat:** 14-month-old. Checking the diet thoroughly for potentially irritating, poorly digested foods would be the first thing. Uh-oh. Then, if you don't find particular foods like bread or pasta would be first things to consider, then you might consider a blood test for vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency, or too much phosphate in the diet, an excess of meat, for example, over milk and cheese. those things can activate the inflammatory system.
>
> **Patrick Timpone:** Dr. B, do you think it's worth the expense or the effort to get raw cheeses as opposed to just old pasteurized cheese?
>
> **Ray Peat:** No, I think the really important thing is if you have a reaction to the cheese, a lot of people have started having bad reactions digestively or Look at the labels. If they don't say just milk, salt, natural cultures, traditional cheeses might say natural cultures, but just milk, salt, and rennet are the basic safe ingredients. If it says vegetable rennet, that can mean a... An engineered enzyme system manufactured a bunch of fungal enzymes, for example. Two-thirds of the commercial cheeses are now using those so-called cultures and enzymes bought from a manufacturing company rather than acquired in the barn or the cave where they age the cheese.

### Source 4 — KMUD Herb Doctors: Inflammation (Jan 2011)

Ray Peat · Interview · 2011 · http://www.l-i-g-h-t.com/files/herb-doctors-inflammation-I.mp4

> **Andrew Murray & Sarah Johannesen Murray:** And that’s why when people who have eczema and psoriasis take liver herbs like dandelion and burdock that they notice an improvement. It’s generally not enough to cure them but they do notice an improvement. The curative effect has to be more of a combination of looking at the whole system like the thyroid and the diet and how that influences an overall inflammation but working on the digestive tract definitely makes a big difference with Eczema and Psoriasis.
>
> **Caller:** Thank you and can I ask one more question related to Coeliac disease?
>
> **Andrew Murray & Sarah Johannesen Murray:** Sure.
>
> **Caller:** Do you think the test that tests you for gluten allergies are good, accurate?
>
> **Andrew Murray & Sarah Johannesen Murray:** Dr Peat, did you hear that question?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Well, they can very clearly demonstrate the enzymes involved in it. But I think gluten is toxic in itself to anyone. It is just that some people are more resistant to it. It has an overlap with the transglutamanase enzymes -­ which there’s a lot of it in the skin and in the intestines -­ and it happens to be an enzyme that’s activated by oestrogen and I think that's why women have more of a problem with it. But it isn’t some particular disease – it is that gluten is just absolutely not intended as a food. The seeds create the protein gluten as a storage form, but also as a byproduct it discourages animals from eating it because it contains these amino acids that contribute to inflammation. So the seed intends to cause inflammation in the intestines and a very tough person can withstand it for a long time, but it’s not a good idea for anyone to eat it.

### Source 5 — KMUD Herb Doctors: Inflammation (Jan 2011)

Ray Peat · Interview · 2011 · http://www.l-i-g-h-t.com/files/herb-doctors-inflammation-I.mp4

> **Caller:** Hi.
>
> **Andrew Murray & Sarah Johannesen Murray:** Hi, you are on the air
>
> **Caller:** Thanks, I’m sorry I tuned about mid-­way through. I’m not sure you have covered this but I am interested in your thoughts on eczema and relationship to leaky gut and digestive stuff.
>
> **Andrew Murray & Sarah Johannesen Murray:** OK. Dr Peat, what’s your view on eczema?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Say it again, I didn't hear.
>
> **Caller:** The lady was asking about eczema in relation to leaky gut and/or.
>
> **Ray Peat:** Oh well -­ Coeliac disease is one of the causes of both skin disease and Arthritis. Coeliac disease, among other things, will allow endotoxin into your circulation and low thyroid is probably the most common thing associated with just ordinary eczema and that's because when your thyroid is low the circulation to your intestine is poor, the serotonin is high. The combination of endotoxin and the serotonin for example will cause the skin to have abnormal growth patterns.
>
> **Caller:** Would psoriasis then be in the same category?
>
> **Ray Peat:** I think so.
>
> **Caller:** That's so interesting.

### Source 6 — Ray Peat Email Advice Depository — Post 6

Ray Peat · Email · Jan 16, 2013

> ## Thread 11
>
> **Question:** [asked him this question after paul jaminet claimed ray would agree with him to use omega 6 oil to help eczema...] Do you recommend someone try omega 6 supplementation from say safflower oil in an extreme case on eczema? Or will the omega 6 appear to heal the eczema because of lowered metabolism?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Slowing metabolism and causing inflammation are its two basic functions.

### Source 7 — Email Exchanges — Acne

Ray Peat · Email · 2015

> # Acne
>
> Have you tried anything topical, such as sulfur, or an antibiotics such as minocycline? 10% sulfur soap leaves an antiseptic residue on the skin that can prevent infection.
>
> Vitamin A affects the differentiation of skin cells, the production of steroids, and resistance to infection and inflammation. The great increase in formation of the sex steroids at puberty increases the need for vitamin A, and makes its regulatory actions more important. Thyroid's important functions for the skin are the production of steroids and preventing their imbalance, and maintaining the immune function and production of sebum. Other nutritional deficiencies, especially the balance between vitamin E and unsaturated fats, affect the functions of vitamin A and thyroid, so it's important to include foods like liver, eggs, oysters, fruits, and milk in the diet. Sometimes it's easier just to use Benadryl or minocycline to reduce the inflammation and infection.
>
> A solution of aspirin in water on the skin helps with the inflammation, and is mildly germicidal.
>
> [Why do many women get rid of acne using CONTRACEPTIVES (estrogen)?] Estrogen causes the oil glands to atrophy, so the skin doesn't support bacterial growth so well. Topical sulfur's germicidal effect can help, and topical aspirin and caffeine are antiseptic as well as antiinflammatory. One function of vitamin A is to increase progesterone in the skin, and it has to be in balance with thyroid to do that. Another function is to differentiate the skin cells, reducing keratin plugging of the glands.

### Source 8 — Politics & Science: Two Hour Fundraiser II

Ray Peat · Interview · Feb 22, 2012 · http://l-i-g-h-t.com/files/politics-science-two-hour-fundraiser-2.mp4

> ## Eczema
>
> **John Barkhausen:** I wanted to ask you about eczema. Do you have any tips for how to handle that?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Keeping your intestine in good condition is one of the things. Both eczema and psoriasis tend to flare up in a lot of people when they eat bread or other grains. Beans are very hard on the intestine in general. Seeds, grains, and beans irritating the intestine tend to create sympathetic reactions. The particular enzyme that reacts to gluten is involved in the maturing of the skin cells. This particular enzyme, transglutaminase, is now being studied as a link between the intestine and the skin.
>
> **John Barkhausen:** What can somebody do about eczema if they have it?
>
> **Ray Peat:** Thyroid very often helps. Sometimes pregnenolone, by balancing all of the others. It's the precursor to all of the steroid hormones and in itself it stops the stress reaction. To the extent that your stress system—from pituitary to adrenals—associates with a flare-up of skin problems, just by turning off the stress with pregnenolone, you can see a big change.
>
> **John Barkhausen:** We are out of time. Ray Peat, it's been a real pleasure. Thanks for handling all those questions so well.

### Source 9 — Ray Peat Email Advice Depository — Post 809

Ray Peat · Email · Dec 3, 2022

> [Jun 7, 2021, 1:15 AM]
>
> **Question:** I'm sorry to bother you Mr Peat. // It's funny I called him "Mr" Peat :)) // I have two questions to which you can just reply quickly. 1. Have you ever heard of someone improving their hearing - specifically people who are experiencing hearing loss? 2. Why do the fried/heated fats (no matter which ones - coconut, olive, butter etc) give me eczema, dry skin and scalp as well as some blood sugars dysregulation while "raw" fats have no problems? EXAMPLE: If I cook steak or meat on a grill or use an oven I have 0 issues and If I add some fats to it, or fry in a pan I get all of these skin issues? Are they harder on the liver or is there something else which I'm missing! Love you Mr Peat!
>
> **Ray Peat:** Do you supplement vitamin D and get enough calcium in your diet relative to phosphate? Heated fats are more irritating, and the intestine is exaggeratedly sensitive if vitamin D, calcium, and thyroid are low.
>
> **Question:** I have been supplementing Thorne VIT D+ K topically every day for the past 4 months. I eat a fair bit of cheese and I had to cut back on milk after using doxycycline because I get these intense chest pains/stiffness after I wake up. I have no idea what this could mean. My doxy cotanied silica, titanium dioxide and a few other nasty stuff so I probably made a big mistake in taking it. What about the hearing question Mr Peat? Did you ever know or hear of anyone hearing improving? Thank you so much for everything!

### Source 10 — Email Exchanges — Eczema

Ray Peat · Email · 2015

> # Eczema
>
> Is he getting enough calcium? Liver and thyroid would be better than trying to use separate vitamins---vitamin A deficiency is the most likely, but some B vitamins could be involved, and a vitamin A supplement can increase the need for thyroid hormone, which is increased anyway during the winter.

_Generated 2026-07-20 from the Bioenergetic Oracle corpus._