If you’ve tried eczema creams, steroids, and injections but your skin keeps flaring up, here’s the truth: the real problem isn’t your skin — it’s your gut.
Today, I’m going to show you why gut dysfunction causes eczema and the exact protocol I use with my patients to heal it from the inside out — including a 6-year-old girl who resolved her eczema in less than 3 months.
My name is Dr. Tom Rofrano from the Natural Medicine Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and author of the FreeDiet®.
Why Eczema Is Really a Gut Problem
In nearly 40 years of practice, one of the most common issues I see is gut dysfunction — and with it, skin eruptions such as:
- Eczema
- Acne
- Hives
- Rashes
A recent case illustrates this perfectly.
Case Study: A 6-Year-Old Girl With Severe Eczema
A 6-year-old girl was brought in by her parents. She had:
- Eczema since age 2
- Allergies starting at age 4
- Eczema on her torso, face, and forearms
- Sinus congestion
- Cat and dog allergies
- Anxiety
- Stomach pain
- Overall poor health
What Had Already Been Tried
She had seen:
- A pediatrician → topical steroid creams
- A dermatologist → more steroids + immunosuppressive creams
- An allergist → extensive blood work, allergy shots, monthly injections
After all of this, she still had eczema everywhere and felt miserable.
Step 1: Identify the Root Causes
Medications can temporarily reduce symptoms, but they don’t fix the underlying problem.
I ordered blood and stool testing, which revealed:
- Food Sensitivities
She had sensitivities to:
- Gluten
- Multiple grains
- Yeast
- Eggs
- Soy
- Legumes
- Seeds
- Leaky Gut
Gluten sensitivity and infections had damaged her gut lining.
- Gut Infections
She had:
- Candida yeast overgrowth
- Bacterial overgrowth
- High inflammatory markers
- Nutrient Deficiencies
Including:
- Low zinc
- Low vitamin D
- Other deficiencies
These findings match what I typically see as the main causes of eczema:
- Gluten sensitivity
- Gut infections
- Leaky gut
- Food sensitivities
- Nutrient deficiencies
This is why her allergy skin testing didn’t show food reactions — sensitivities are delayed immune responses, not immediate allergies.
Step 2: The Diet That Healed Her Skin — The FreeDiet®
I put her on the FreeDiet®, which removes the most common inflammatory and gut-disrupting foods.
Foods to Avoid on the FreeDiet®
- Gluten
- Grains
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Soy
- Legumes
- Nightshades
- Processed foods
This diet reduces inflammation, heals the gut, and calms the immune system.
I’ll include a link below to the FreeDiet® Phase 1 Food Chart.
What She Ate
- Breakfast: A nutrient-dense smoothie (protein, essential fats, fruits, vegetables, fiber)
- Lunch & Dinner: Meat, chicken, or fish with vegetables and healthy fats
For children, we modify the diet to make it easier to follow.
Step 3: Supplements That Supported Her Recovery
She took:
Children’s Core Support
- Children’s multivitamin
- Fish oil
- Vitamin D with K
Gut-Healing Support
Inflammation & Immune Support
Her Results: Clear Skin in 6 Weeks, No Allergies in 3 Months
At 6 Weeks
- Skin was clear except for one small spot on her wrist
- No longer allergic to cats and dogs
- Gained 2 lbs (she had been underweight)
- No more itching
- Skin was softer and smoother
- Anxiety improved
- Stomach pain gone
At 3 Months
- Skin completely clear
- No eczema anywhere
- No allergies
- No gut symptoms
- Mood and anxiety improved
- Gained another pound
- Feeling like a happy, healthy child again
And all of this happened without any medication.
Why This Works: Heal the Gut → Heal the Skin
Eczema is not a skin problem.
It’s a gut problem showing up on the skin.
When you:
- Remove inflammatory foods
- Heal leaky gut
- Clear infections
- Replenish nutrients
- Calm the immune system
…the skin finally has a chance to heal.
The Bottom Line
If you or your child has eczema, the most important step is getting the proper testing to uncover the root causes.
When you identify what’s driving inflammation and are provided the right solutions, I believe almost anyone can get better.
Go here if you would like a free copy of the FreeDiet® phase 1 food chart.
