Why patch testing (contact dermatitis) is critical for eczema and psoriasis healing

If you've followed my eczema & psoriasis healing journey, you know that I'm constantly looking for tests that could help me refine my healing protocol for maximum results.

One of my data collection habits is to check for healing stories on social media to see if I discover additional insights.

I came across Grace Nevitt on YouTube, who tells the story of her holistic healing journey with eczema, and found a nugget of gold in her recap!

She talks about patch testing around the 5:08 mark in the video and mentions how she wish she had done it much sooner. She underwent testing for over 150 different allergens on her back.

She learned from the patch tests that she was allergic to alkyl glucosides (5:48 - 5:51). She discovered that every time she used or touched a product containing alkyl glucosides, she would get a contact dermatitis rash that could last up to eight weeks (5:53 - 6:05). She noted that alkyl glucosides are surprisingly common in sensitive skin products, which she had been using, leading to pain and burning sensations.

I intend to get this same test, but apparently I need to wait 1 month due to the fact that I took oral steroids (prednisone), which interferes with the test.

She also confirmed that gut issues were the root of her skin issues. Specifically, she had candida overgrowth. Switching to a restrictive diet and adding in some supplements helped resolve the underlying issue, eventually leading to her skin clearing completely. She eventually found out that the food she used to consume often (tofu) was a trigger for eczema.

I'm suspicious that my underlying issue is also gut related, which is why I've tested for intestinal permeability, adopted the carnivore diet, and have been focusing on supplements that heal the gut.