Are Eczema and Dandruff Signs of Candida Overgrowth?

Many of us have been there: dry, itchy skin, uncomfortable breakouts, embarrassing white flakes on our shoulders. Have you ever been diagnosed with eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, dandruff, or another skin condition? These symptoms are so common that many people accept them as everyday annoyances or even think of them as “normal.” However, conditions like eczema and dandruff could be signs of Candida overgrowth.

An estimated 30 million people (1) have been diagnosed with eczema in the U.S. alone. Our drugstores are filled with dandruff shampoo, antifungal creams, and hundreds of lotions and ointments to soothe red, dry, or itchy skin. As we like to do in functional medicine, let’s explore a possible root cause of eczema and dandruff as well as signs of Candida overgrowth. 

Is There An Underlying Condition?

As common as these conditions may be, they are far from normal. In fact, they are a sign of an underlying health problem inside your body manifesting itself on the outside.

Ignoring or accepting these symptoms as normal can be dangerous. If left untreated, the underlying health problem worsens, and your skin issues persist. You may even develop other symptoms and conditions.

However, if you identify the root cause of conditions such as eczema and dandruff, you can eliminate your symptoms naturally. Say goodbye to the expensive creams, shampoos, and lotions!

When I had my practice as a functional medicine physician, I treated thousands of patients. I saw that most of the skin issues presented to me were signs of Candida overgrowth. Candida is a simple and treatable gut infection.

Let’s talk about what Candida is, how a gut infection can lead to many skin issues — such as eczema and dandruff — and how to overcome Candida naturally.

How Candida Leads to Rosacea, Psoriasis, Eczema and Dandruff 

Candida is a fungus—a form of yeast. A very small amount of this yeast lives in your mouth and intestines. Many different types of yeast can take up residence in your body. Candida albicans (Candida for short) is the most common and studied form of yeast. 

Most people refer to all types of yeast overgrowth simply as Candida overgrowth. I’ll be referring to yeast overgrowth that way in this article.

Candida helps digestion and nutrient absorption. The good bacteria in your gut and the immune system typically keep Candida in check.

However, sometimes the good bacteria in your gut become depleted. Here are some of the possible causes:

The delicate balance in your gut can become disrupted. This could lead to you experiencing signs of Candida overgrowth. 

When Candida can multiply unchecked, it overpowers the good bacteria in your gut and dominates your intestines. This disrupts your gut’s normal balance, wreaking havoc on your digestion. Say hello to gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. Ugh! 

Additionally, your gut is where 95% of your serotonin (your “feel good” transmitter) is produced. This is why some of the signs of Candida overgrowth include mood swings, anxiety, and depression.

You may be wondering, "Okay, great. So what does that have to do with my skin?" Here’s where it gets even more interesting.

Leaky Gut Syndrome and Candida 

Candida has the unique ability to change shape to protect itself from harsh environments. It transforms from a rounded yeast cell into an elongated hyphal cell. (2) These elongated hyphal cells can penetrate your gut lining. 

This, in turn, can cause your gut to become leaky. Now toxins, microbes, proteins, and yeast can escape your gut and travel throughout your bloodstream. Before long, you’ll have noticeable signs of Candida overgrowth. 

Once in your bloodstream, the yeast can colonize other areas of your body, including your skin. This explains why researchers have found Candida in the skin cultures of eczema patients. (3)

Whether it’s eczema and dandruff or toenail fungus and athlete’s foot, they can all be signs of Candida overgrowth. And it all starts in your gut.

It’s also important to note that skin issues aren’t the only consequence of leaky gut. We now know from the work of Harvard researcher Alessio Fasano that leaky gut is one of the precursors to autoimmune disease. (4) That means that if your gut remains leaky, you are more likely to develop an autoimmune condition.

How To Eliminate Candida Overgrowth and Overcome Skin Issues

To get your Candida back in check and reduce skin conditions like eczema and dandruff you must restore the “good” bacteria and repair your gut. That way, Candida cannot enter your bloodstream. 

You can accomplish this with the simple and proven three-action approach in my 30-day Candida Breakthrough® Program. In this online community, you’ll get support from me and other people fighting Candida. Here’s what you’ll do:

Step 1. Starve the Candida by removing the foods that feed it from your diet. This means eliminating all sugar and alcohol and restricting carbohydrates such as fruit, starchy vegetables, grains, and legumes. It also means ditching all fermented foods.

Step 2. Attack the Candida by taking supplements that destroy Candida’s cell walls. I like to use Candifense as well as Caprylic Acid, both of which are excellent at breaking down the walls of Candida cells to destroy them.

Step 3. Repopulate your gut with good bacteria by taking a high-potency probiotic that controls Candida. While battling Candida, I recommend a probiotic supplement containing 100 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) to restore your gut’s healthy microbial balance.

The Final Word on How Candida Links To Rosacea, Psoriasis, Eczema and Dandruff

Candida overgrowth isn’t just a gut problem. Signs of Candida overgrowth can manifest on your skin in various ways. Eczema and dandruff are two of the most common manifestations. Rosacea and psoriasis can also be signs of Candida overgrowth. 

On the surface, it may seem like these conditions are unrelated. However, they often share a common thread — an imbalance of your gut microbiome, with Candida playing a starring role. 

When Candida growth gets out of control, it can lead to leaky gut syndrome. This sets off an unfortunate cascade of events: toxins, proteins, and yeast can escape into your bloodstream. Your immune system gets fired up and responds with inflammation. Where can that inflammation show up? You guessed it, right on your skin. 

Candida overgrowth was the cause of most skin conditions I treated in my practice. That’s why I created the Candida Breakthrough® Program. This kit offers pharmaceutical-grade and doctor-designed supplements, including Candifense and Caprylic Acid. 

Take control of your health! Tackle not only skin issues, but also digestive issues, fatigue, and mood swings by getting to the root cause: Candida overgrowth.