The Eczema Pattern No One Talks About

Most eczema sufferers share a similar history.

Highly processed foods

Heavy reliance on plant foods believed to be “healthy”

Years of seed oils

Repeated topical suppression

And a skin barrier that never quite recovers

Eczema does not start on the skin.

It shows up there.

Eczema on hands

Oxalates and Skin Inflammation

Oxalates are naturally occurring plant defense compounds.

They bind to minerals like calcium and can form sharp crystalline structures in the body.

According to discussions led by Dr. Chaffee and echoed by Dr. Berry, oxalates can accumulate in tissues when intake is high and clearance pathways are overwhelmed. Skin is one of the places they may surface.

Common high-oxalate foods include:

• Spinach

• Almonds

• Dark chocolate

• Sweet potatoes

• Beets

• Many nuts and seeds

• Beans

• Wheat

• Potatoes

• Buckwheat

In sensitive individuals, oxalate overload has been associated with:

• Burning or itchy skin

• Eczema flares

• Rashes that migrate or worsen unpredictably

• Delayed skin healing

When people reduce oxalates, they often report an adjustment period followed by calmer skin and fewer flares. This is something many carnivore and animal-based practitioners observe repeatedly in clinic and community reports.

Seed Oils and the Broken Skin Barrier

Seed oils are a newer addition to the human diet. Canola, soybean, sunflower, safflower and corn oil are rich in unstable polyunsaturated fats.

Dr. Saladino speaks extensively about how excess omega-6 fats contribute to systemic inflammation and impair mitochondrial and cellular signaling. Skin cells rely heavily on fat composition to maintain barrier integrity.

When seed oils dominate the diet:

• Cell membranes become fragile

• Inflammatory signaling increases

• Skin becomes reactive and slow to repair

• Moisture loss accelerates

No topical product can fully compensate for a diet that destabilizes the skin barrier from the inside.

Why Tallow Makes Sense for Eczema-Prone Skin

This is where things begin to feel logical again.

Tallow is rich in:

• Stearic acid

• Palmitic acid

• Oleic acid

• Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K

These are the very fats human skin is built from.

When applied topically, properly rendered tallow:

• Supports barrier repair

• Reduces transepidermal water loss

• Feeds the skin without overstimulation

• Does not disrupt the microbiome

For eczema-prone skin, less stimulation equals more healing.

No chasing actives.

No constant exfoliation.

No stripping and re-coating.

Just nourishment.

Dietary Shifts That Often Ease Eczema

While every body is unique, the following changes are repeatedly associated with improvement in eczema symptoms within carnivore and animal-based circles.

Reduce or Remove Oxalate-Heavy Foods

This is not about fear mongering. It is about relief. Gradual reduction is often gentler than sudden elimination.

Remove Industrial Seed Oils

Replace with stable fats such as:

• Tallow

• Butter

• Ghee

• Animal fats

Prioritise Animal-Based Nutrition

Animal foods provide:

• Highly bioavailable protein

• Fat-soluble vitamins

• Structural fats the skin recognises

Many people notice skin improvement before digestion, weight, or energy changes.

Simplify Topical Inputs

Eczema-prone skin often thrives when the product list shrinks.

Tallow-based balms with minimal ingredients are frequently better tolerated than complex formulations.

The Bigger Picture

Eczema is a protective response from a body under metabolic and inflammatory stress.

When oxalates are reduced, seed oils are removed, and skin is fed with fats it recognises, the body often remembers how to heal.

Slowly.

Quietly.

Without drama.

That is the kind of healing that lasts.

With Love, Meeka xo