Treating Eczema and Improving Skin Through the Gut with Telehealth and Probiotics

Decode.Me
Codex Labs

Eczema is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease that affects over 200 million people worldwide. Also called atopic dermatitis, the condition can cause rough, scaly patches and skin inflammation that can be itchy or even painful.

Treatment options for eczema on human skin have traditionally been limited to topical solutions. However, science and ongoing studies have shown a connection between skin health and gut health, leading to the development of advanced probiotic treatments that have disrupted the skincare community. The effects of probiotics on individuals with skin conditions are supported by scientific evidence and have been extensively studied.

A new era in skin condition management is also emerging on the heels of the rise in telehealth. The popularity of telehealth has exploded, with people enjoying the flexibility and access to their specialty providers. Even with better telehealth systems, however, the care that people have received for skin conditions such as eczema has often remained firmly rooted in the past.

Codex Labs, a leader in formulating skin treatments that consider the skin-gut-brain biome axis, has developed a new approach to tele-dermatology that is set to revolutionize accessible care for skin conditions. Called Decode.Me, the platform helps people connect with specialists to solve their eczema—or other skin conditions—from the inside out, not just superficially.

The Relationship Between Probiotics, a Healthy Gut, and the Human Skin Microbiome

Recent research has shown that gut health and skin health are frequently directly and causally linked. An imbalance in the gut microbiome often creates conditions in which the body fails to obtain the nutrients it needs, or toxins and allergens in the intestinal tract escape and affect other parts of the body. Both issues can contribute to inflammation and weaken the skin barrier, leading to redness, itch, and eczema flare-ups.

When used in conjunction with a microbiome-supporting soap and eczema lotion, pre- and probiotics have demonstrated the ability to soothe eczema symptoms and reduce the intensity and frequency of flare-ups, without the need for topical or oral corticosteroids. This approach helps restore a healthy skin and gut microbiome, which fortifies both the skin and gut barriers, allowing people to reduce their symptoms while improving their skin and digestive health.

Improve Skin Health with Telehealth and the Use of Topical or Oral Probiotics

Tele-dermatology has often struggled to keep pace with advancements in treatments and skincare products, such as the use of probiotics for enhanced gut and skin health. While many dermatologists now use telehealth systems to extend accessibility to patients, some still only prescribe outdated treatments, such as topical corticosteroids for eczema. These medicines are often quite effective in the short term, but for some patients, they can lead to side effects and health issues lasting years after stopping treatment.

Decode.Me takes a different approach by considering the entire skin-gut-brain biome axis, thereby bridging the gap between traditional telehealth and integrative/holistic treatments for eczema and other complex skin issues. Patients are encouraged to provide details about their personal health history and lifestyle factors, which a team of dermatological specialists can assess to recommend specific testing for a wide array of at-home diagnostics.

Based on the test results, the health care provider can develop a personalized profile that considers a wide variety of contributing factors, including skin and gut microbiome health. A holistic treatment regimen is then created, ranging from oral probiotics to skin microbiome-modulating topicals, with the option of short-term prescriptions of traditional pharmaceuticals if and only if necessary.

How Probiotic Skin Care Can Help Eczema and Skin Barrier Function for Those with Various Skin Disorders

The beneficial bacteria in probiotics are a proven and effective weapon against eczema. The use of supplement-based probiotics is an effort to help restore balance in the gut microbiome and fortify the gut lining, so that allergens and toxins don't leak into the bloodstream, triggering immune reactions and inflammation.

Gut microbiome balance facilitates the efficient digestion of food and produces chemicals known as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are crucial for overall health. Specifically, one SCFA, called butyrate, serves as the primary energy source for the cells that line the mucosal layer of the intestinal tract, helping to prevent "leaky gut." Interestingly, the body can't produce butyrate as it's made by bacterial species in the gut. Some of the tests offered on Decode.Me test for the balance in the gut microbiome and the presence and abundance of SCFAs.

Through synbiotic supplementation (combinations of pre- and probiotics), such as the Gut Barrier Eczema Relief System, and microbiome-friendly personal care products, Codex Labs offers innovative solutions that support gut integrity, the immune system, and skin homeostasis. The result is healthier, calmer, and less irritated skin for individuals suffering from conditions such as eczema.

Advanced Telehealth for Skin Disorder Management

By combining the accessibility and technological advancement of a telehealth platform with integrative medicine, considering probiotics, lifestyle adjustments, and diet changes, Decode.Me brings people with eczema new hope for reduction (if not cessation) of symptoms, all without pharmaceuticals that can potentially create lingering pain and hardship. The remarkable convenience and access to specialists provide a far superior telehealth platform.

In addition to offering advanced, holistic treatments, Decode.Me also provides a wide variety of diagnostic test kits that can be received and executed at home. Patients can always access their medical records easily online, and Codex Labs has ensured that Decode.Me remains fully HIPAA/SOC2 compliant to ensure that all patient data is secure and kept confidential.

The Potential of Probiotics and Telehealth

Integrative dermatology has undergone significant changes with the introduction of telehealth platforms. Digital tools like Decode.Me are ushering in a new era of tele-dermatology with its intuitive platform.

With access to data-driven diagnoses, advanced plant-based topicals, and sophisticated pre- and probiotics that address gut and skin microbiomes, Decode.Me allows patients to learn the root causes of eczema and other skin conditions, and treat them right at the source. Accessible, science-driven telehealth and pre-/probiotics may be just what individuals with eczema have been waiting for.

Join the Discussion

Recommended Stories