The words eczema and atopic dermatitis are often used interchangeably, but clinically speaking, eczema is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that include atopic dermatitis, and which cause red, itchy, inflamed skin. More than 30 million Americans have some form of eczema, according to the National Eczema Foundation. Some forms of eczema, like contact dermatitis, are short-term conditions that resolve within days or weeks. Atopic dermatitis, though, is chronic and inflammatory, and often begins during childhood. “Those with atopic dermatitis develop dry, itchy, and scaly skin, usually on skin folds,” says Samer Jaber, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, and the founder of Washington Square Dermatology in New York City. According to the National Eczema Foundation, scientists don’t know the exact cause of atopic dermatitis, but symptoms surface when an allergen or irritant prompts the immune system to kick into overdrive. What’s more, atopic dermatitis often happens alongside allergies and asthma (altogether, they’re known as the “atopic triad,” per the aforementioned foundation), and certain foods can worsen symptoms in people with food allergies. This skin condition also tends to run in families, Dr. Jaber says. RELATED: Researchers Identify Subtype of Eczema Tied to Food Allergies Unfortunately, there is no cure for atopic dermatitis, though symptoms can be tamed through a variety of approaches. “Using gentle cleansers and moisturizers, as well as avoidance of skin irritants, fragrances, and scented products is helpful,” Jaber says. In addition, anything you can do to reduce stress may help keep flare-ups at bay. This is where yoga can play a role. For people with atopic dermatitis, yoga may be particularly helpful because of its ability to reduce stress. “We know that stress can influence a lot of skin diseases, particularly eczema or atopic dermatitis,” says Ronald Brancaccio, MD, a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and board-certified dermatologist at the Skin Institute of New York in New York City. When stress goes up, the response of small protein-like molecules known as neuropeptide mediators gets heightened in the brain and peripheral nervous system (the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord), which then affects immune cells in the skin, according to an article published in Acta Dermato-Venereologica. Because people with eczema have a weak skin barrier, they are more susceptible to the effects of stress on skin immune cells. Still, stress can cause skin issues in people without eczema. For example, a survey published in May 2016 in Acta Dermato-Venereologica asked college students about their stress levels and skin issues. Researchers observed that college students with the highest levels of perceived stress, which they measured through a validated questionnaire, had more skin issues than students with moderate or low levels of perceived stress. Specifically, high-stress students experienced more itchiness (called pruritus), hair loss (called alopecia), excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), and scaly skin than their less-stressed peers. RELATED: 8 Yoga Poses for Beginners and Their Benefits As a form of mindful meditation, yoga has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in a variety of populations. A study published in Medical Science Monitor, for example, found that a three-month yoga program helped improve stress, fatigue, depression, and perceived physical well-being in a group of women who described themselves as “emotionally distressed.” The program consisted of two weekly 90-minute Iyengar yoga sessions with poses designed to reduce stress, such as backbends, forward bends, and inversions. One drawback to the study is that it involved only 16 subjects (eight in the experimental group and eight in the control, who did not perform yoga during the study period). Meanwhile, another past study revealed that a controlled-breathing practice known as Sudarshan kriya yoga reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol in participants with alcohol dependence after two weeks. Yoga has also been shown to lower inflammation, which offers clear benefits to people with inflammatory skin diseases like eczema. In a small study published in June 2017 in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, adults who participated in a three-month yoga and meditation retreat not only reported lower levels of anxiety and depression, but they demonstrated an increase in plasma levels of an anti-inflammatory protein known as interleukin-10, as well as a decrease in plasma levels of a pro-inflammatory protein known as interleukin-12. Yet the study involved only 38 participants and lasted just three months, so a longer, more rigorous study is needed to confirm the results. Also, the authors noted that other aspects of the yoga retreat — such as diet and exercise — may have contributed to these positive results. RELATED: What Is an Anti-Inflammatory Diet?
Yoga May Help You Manage Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis, but More Research Is Needed
Unfortunately, the research on yoga and eczema or atopic dermatitis is lacking: “Given that yoga can improve stress, it can likely be helpful to minimize atopic dermatitis flares, although there have been no scientific studies showing this,” Jaber says. That said, as research shows that yoga reduces stress and inflammation, it may be worth testing it out for yourself. Not to mention that yoga offers many other worthwhile benefits. For example, a 12-week study involving about 150 participants published in the June 2015 issue of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows that performing hatha yoga for one hour a week can help you build strength, endurance, and flexibility. Meanwhile, a review of randomized controlled trials published in July 2018 in Age and Ageing revealed that yoga can improve health-related quality of life and mental well-being. So, while scientists don’t have hard evidence to support yoga as an effective means for managing the symptoms of eczema and atopic dermatitis, they have conducted plenty of research showing that yoga lowers stress and inflammation — two hallmarks of many skin conditions. RELATED: A Detailed Guide to Treating Eczema
How to Start a Yoga Practice to Help Manage Your Skin Condition
If you’re interested in using yoga to manage eczema and atopic dermatitis, look for a yoga style that fits your abilities and preferences. Some styles, like ashtanga and vinyasa, are fluid and fast-moving. Meanwhile, styles like yin yoga and Iyengar are slower and focus on nailing the pose before moving on to the next. Do some research to find the style that speaks to you. When in doubt, talk with your primary physician or dermatologist about yoga as a potential treatment option. For more information on eczema and atopic dermatitis, visit the American Academy of Dermatology.
