"The changes have been nothing short of life-changing. Within a couple of months, I noticed a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of my flare-ups"
Hi Diane, can you share a bit about your experience with eczema?
Diane: I’ve been living with eczema for as long as I can remember—literally since I was a baby. Over the years, I’ve tried just about every conventional treatment you can think of—creams, steroids, dietary changes, even different light treatments. While some things helped a bit, nothing ever really cleared it up entirely. One of the only things that seemed to make a noticeable difference was when I went on holiday abroad. The combination of sun and sea water would always calm my skin down, but the relief was only temporary and would soon flare up again after returning home.
What were your symptoms like, and how did they impact your daily life?
Diane: Eczema has been a constant battle. My skin was always itchy, dry, and prone to painful flare-ups that would leave it red and inflamed. The worst part was that I could never pinpoint exactly what triggered the flare-ups. Sometimes it seemed like stress, other times certain foods, but there was no clear pattern.
Even the areas that my eczema flared up seemed to be different, sometimes it would be my legs and arms, other times on my face.
What led you to consider a gut microbiome test?
Diane: After decades of dealing with this, I had pretty much resigned myself to the idea that eczema was just something I’d have to live with and manage.
I'm no stranger to alternative therapies having tried everything, but about a year ago, I started reading more about the connection between gut health and skin conditions. It caught my interest because I had never explored that angle before. I read that the gut microbiome can influence inflammation in the body and cause eczema flare ups. Since conventional treatments hadn’t given me lasting relief, I thought it was worth a try.
I tried the gut microbiome test with an open mind, not expecting much but secretly hoping that it would help to identify causes.
What was the process of taking the gut microbiome test like for you?
Diane: The test was easy, it got posted through my door, I did the test and sent if off on the exact same day. I swabbed a piece of toilet tissue, I didn't have to provide an actual stool sample, which was one of the reasons I chose FeelGut.
Then around 4 weeks later, I received my full report that identified a gut imbalance and gave me a full breakdown of foods to eat and avoid.
What did the results reveal, and how did you use that information to address your eczema?
Diane: The report showed that I had a significant imbalance in my gut bacteria. I was low in certain types of beneficial bacteria that are known to help reduce inflammation and support a healthy immune response. On the other hand, I had an overgrowth of other bacteria that could contribute to inflammation and potentially exacerbate my eczema. In fact the report did highlight "skin related conditions' as something my microbiome put me at risk of.
I stuck to the food recommendations that were given to me almost immediately, and bought the supplements that were recommended.
What improvements have you seen since making those changes?
Diane: The changes have been nothing short of life-changing. Within a couple of months, I noticed a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of my flare-ups. My skin started feeling less irritated, and the itching became much more manageable. I’ve also noticed that my skin is more resilient now—fewer random flare-ups and a lot less dryness.
While the sun and sea water still help when I’m on holiday, it’s incredible to finally have something that works long-term even when I’m at home. It’s the best my skin has felt in years, and I feel like I’ve finally found something that addresses the root cause, rather than just masking the symptoms.
What would you say to others who have been struggling with eczema and are considering taking a gut microbiome test?
Diane: I would strongly encourage them to give it a try. After so many years of trying conventional treatments with limited success, this test gave me insights that I never had before. Understanding what’s going on inside your body—especially in the gut—can be a game-changer. If you’ve tried everything else and are still struggling, this could be the missing piece of the puzzle. It’s definitely worth exploring, especially if you’re tired of just treating the symptoms without knowing the cause. Just keep an open mind, like I did!
