THE PROBLEM: Atopic Dermatitis
Fabi developed itchy, red skin rashes two years ago, shortly after giving birth to her daughter.
These angry rashes, also known as “atopic dermatitis”, appeared suddenly on her elbows, hands and legs. They would disappear for a few days and then the rashes and itching would come back in full force.
Fabi’s skin flares went from bad to worse around her period.
On top of the physical discomfort, Fabi experienced anxiety as she worried if the rashes were a sign of something more serious and wondered if her skin would ever heal.
Fabi tried a steroid cream which gave her a little relief, but not much. She contemplated going to a dermatologist. Given by her commitment to healing from within – rather than masking the symptoms – Fabi began looking for a Functional Medicine physician.
Frustrated, anxious and not wanting to rely on steroids for the rest of her life, Fabi and I connected in a complimentary consultation. She shared her hope that together we would be able to identify the root cause of her sudden and severe skin challenges.
She was ready to heal her skin – permanently and naturally.
THE PROCESS: Gather information + data
During our first 90 minute virtual appointment, Fabi shared many essential puzzle pieces.
Fabi was using high quality, organic skin care, personal care products and household cleaning products. This was important for me to know to rule out reactions to chemicals as the cause of her itchy rashes.
Beyond clean products, Fabi was beautifully prioritizing her health.
She was fueling her body with whole foods.
Her daughter was a great sleeper, allowing Fabi to get 8 hours of restful sleep nightly.
She was deeply connected to people in her life – within her family and as a pastor at Soul City Church Chicago.
She wasn’t on any medication and had no pre-existing conditions.
And yet Fabi’s itchy skin rashes persisted!
Fortunately, we found our answers in a combination of lab work and a special kind of food sensitivity – one that can’t be detected in a blood test but was identifiable through Fabi’s tracking of symptoms and what she was eating and drinking.
THE SOLUTION: Address the root cause
For Fabi, the root cause of her itchy skin rashes were the result of a histamine intolerance brought on by a disruption in her microbiome, hormonal fluctuations and nutrient deficiencies following the birth of her daughter.
Think of Fabi’s situation like a bathtub where the water is turned up and the drain is clogged. When that bathtub overflows – it’s a problem!
For Fabi, when her “histamine bathtub” overflowed, she experienced the itchy, angry rashes.
Now let’s break down the root cause of Fabi’s symptoms one at a time.
Microbiome: A faucet full of histamines
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Like many women, Fabi required an antibiotic following the birth of her child. While the antibiotic was very important for Fabi’s health and safety at the moment, it negatively impacted Fabi’s microbiome. We learned this through one of the many lab tests Fabi completed.
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The disruption of her microbiome persisted. The “unwanted” microbes in Fabi’s body produced more histamines.
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This is like a faucet that is left on, filling up a tub with water.
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Knowing this gave me a very clear idea of the nutritional approach we would take to support Fabi’s healing process.
Hormonal fluctuations: More water from the faucet
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When Fabi shared that her itchy rashes worsened around her period, it was a very useful clue for me. It told me that her body would benefit from gentle detoxification support as there is a connection between hormonal fluctuations and histamine levels.
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This is like a faucet that is turned up, adding to the flow of water.
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While many people think that detoxification in our body only processes harmful toxins, in reality, our detoxification pathways also process our hormones, along with many other items.
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Gentle detox support would allow Fabi’s body to process her hormones more efficiently, reducing histamine-related reactions around her period.
Nutrient deficiencies: A clogged drain
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The nutrient deficiencies we identified through Fabi’s blood tests (vitamin B12, zinc, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids) painted a clear picture. Collectively these depleted nutrients made it virtually impossible for Fabi’s body to process and “drain” her histamine levels properly.
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These nutrient deficiencies were clogging the drain.
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In summary, Fabi’s “overflowing histamine tub” was producing the recurring angry skin rashes. For Fabi, her histamine tub was overflowing given by both excessive histamine production and inefficient elimination of histamines.
THE RESOLUTION:
To heal Fabi’s skin, we got to work in reducing her body’s production of histamines (i.e. turning down the histamine faucet) and supporting her body’s ability to eliminate histamines (i.e. drain the histamine tub).
And Fabi’s skin rashes disappeared!
Her skin healed.
First the severity of Fabi’s flares decreased.
Next the frequency of her flares decreased.
And then the flares went away altogether.
How did we get there?
Fabi adhered to the low histamine diet I prescribed. We worked together to come up with food solutions that worked for Fabi’s life and her body’s needs.
Over time as Fabi’s skin and body healed, we strategically expanded her nutritional options, arriving at the most varied, nutrient-dense diet possible while still preserving her healthy skin.
Fabi was also diligent about taking her supplements as recommended. This allowed her body to optimally process both hormones and histamines.
Months after beginning our work, with her skin healed, Fabi repeated her labs so that we could measure her progress and modify her plan accordingly.
Fast forward to where Fabi is today…
Fabi now has more “bend” than ever in her nutritional choices.
While she mostly chooses to consume lower histamine foods, Fabi has done the work to reclaim physiological resiliency.
This means Fabi can consume moderate to high histamine foods periodically without paying the price.
Fabi has the information, enduring inspiration and strategies she needs to keep her skin healthy and beautiful.
And that is living Well Empowered!
Wondering if a data-driven, Well Empowered approach would make a difference for you and your health?
I invite you to schedule a complimentary 30-minute virtual consultation to explore working together.
