Eczema Treatment in Melbourne: A Naturopath’s Take on What Really Works

Let me be honest… eczema can be stubborn. I’ve worked with countless patients here in Melbourne who’ve tried every cream under the sun, only to find their symptoms creep back the moment they stop using it. Sound familiar?

As a naturopath, I don’t just look at what’s happening on your skin, I’m interested in what’s going on underneath. I’ve seen cases where gut health, stress, food triggers, or even poor sleep were silently fuelling someone’s flare-ups. It’s never just one thing. That’s why I take a whole-body view.

One patient, for example, came in with recurring eczema on her hands. Nothing topical worked for more than a few days. We took a deeper look and it turned out her gut health was severely compromised from years of antibiotic use, and she was reacting to gluten without realising it. Once we addressed both, her skin started to clear. Not overnight, but steadily.

In practice, I might suggest anything from calming nervine herbs like lemon balm to probiotics, or something as simple as switching out irritating laundry products. Sometimes, it’s the little tweaks that make the biggest difference.

What I always tell my patients is this: the skin is a messenger. If we only quiet the message without listening to what it’s trying to say, we miss the point, and the healing doesn’t last.

Watch my family’s story with Eczema and see how we stopped the pain: https://www.instagram.com/my_natural_clinic/reel/DIuyyl3TE97

Understanding the Naturopathic View of Eczema

Eczema isn’t just a skin issue. It’s a whole-body signal. That might sound odd if you’ve only ever been offered steroid creams or antihistamines, but in naturopathy, we dig deeper.

The good news is that skin is the safest way for the body to signal for help.

When I sit down with someone dealing with eczema, I want to understand the context. Are they overwhelmed at work? Eating foods that irritate their system? Living in a mouldy apartment? Or even have parasites? These things matter more than most people realise.

Naturopathy is about patterns, how the skin connects to the gut, the nervous system, the liver, the immune response. It’s all one ecosystem. We don’t treat eczema like an isolated rash; we see it as a flag that something underneath needs attention.

What Happens in a Naturopathic Assessment?

If you’ve never seen a naturopath before, here’s what to expect: it’s not a quick chat and a script. I usually spend an hour (sometimes more) digging into your health story. We talk about your diet, your stress levels, your bowel habits, your sleep, even your childhood health history.

Sometimes we run functional tests like gut microbiome mapping, food sensitivity panels, hormone checks, especially if the eczema is chronic or severe. But just as often, it’s about patterns. When did the eczema start? What else was going on in your life then?

This kind of detective work helps us find what’s actually driving the inflammation, not just how to suppress it. Suppression will always manifest as an internal alignment. Always.

If you’re not sure whether naturopathy is right for you, I offer a free 15-minute discovery session where we can chat about your eczema concerns, ask questions, and see whether we’re a good fit to work together. For those ready to dive deeper, paid consultations allow us to fully explore the root causes and build a tailored treatment plan.

Common Natural Remedies I Recommend

Every treatment plan is a little different, but here are some staples I often reach for:

• Probiotics & gut healing nutrients – If the digestive system is inflamed, it needs support. Zinc, glutamine, PHGG, and slippery elm all have their place.
• Essential fatty acids – Omega-3s from fish oil or flaxseed can help calm inflammation from the inside.
• Herbal remedies – Calendula, chamomile, burdock, echinacea, and licorice are a few favourites. Each one supports the skin or immune system in a different way.
• Topical support – Natural balms with shea butter, calendula oil, or manuka honey, or papaya can soothe the itch without the rebound effect of steroids.

That said, it’s never about throwing everything at the wall. The goal is to be strategic and responsive as the skin improves.

So What Causes Eczema, Really?

Ah, the million-dollar question! If only there were one answer. But here’s what I’ve noticed most often in clinic:

• Gut dysbiosis – an imbalance in gut flora or an abnormal presence of enzymes – is incredibly common in cases of eczema.
• Food intolerances – Dairy, gluten and sugar are the usual disturbers, but sometimes it’s eggs, soy, or even seemingly healthy foods like tomatoes or avocado!
• Environmental triggers – Mould, dust mites, chemicals in skincare or cleaning products.
• Stress – This one’s huge. I’ve seen stress alone cause full-body flare-ups in some patients.
• Hormonal shifts – Especially in women, eczema often worsens around periods, postpartum, or perimenopause.

The key is finding your pattern.

Can You Really Avoid Steroids?

Short answer: yes, but it depends on the case.

There’s nothing wrong with using a steroid cream to get quick relief when things are severe, but long-term use often leads to thinning skin or rebound flare-ups. Some of my patients come to me specifically because they’re dealing with topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), which is its own beast.

When we take a naturopathic approach, the goal is to reduce the need for steroids, not just vilify them. By calming inflammation from the inside, the skin slowly becomes less reactive, and that’s when lasting change happens.

Daily Strategies to Support Eczema-Prone Skin

Here are a few practical tips I give almost every eczema client:

• Moisturise religiously – Twice a day with something natural and barrier-supportive (not petroleum-based. Check ingredients. Always.
• Simplify skincare – Less is more. Fragrance-free, no alcohols, no essential oils unless prescribed.
• Watch your laundry – Enzyme-free, fragrance-free detergent, no softeners. Double rinse if needed.
• Diet tweaks – Keep a food and symptom diary. Sometimes small changes make a huge difference.
• Stress care – This one’s often overlooked. Meditation, nature walks, sunshine, magnesium baths (for my eczema patients, I recommend zinc and oat baths), whatever helps you switch off.

My Final Thoughts

Eczema isn’t just about the skin, it’s about what the skin is trying to tell us. If you’re looking for a more sustainable, root-cause approach to treatment, naturopathy offers tools and insights that can genuinely help.

If you’re curious about working with me, feel free to book a free 15-minute discovery call. We can talk through what you’re experiencing and whether naturopathic care might be a good fit. And if you’re ready to take the next step, I offer comprehensive consultations designed to uncover the root causes and build a plan that supports real healing.

And remember, healing isn’t always linear. But with the right support and guidance, progress will be there, and often, so much more than just skin deep.

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