The Hormonal Connection: Why Women Experience Eczema Differently
Oestrogen and progesterone play a significant role in regulating immune responses and skin barrier function. When these hormones fluctuate — during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, or at menopause — the skin's ability to retain moisture and fend off irritants can weaken. Many women notice eczema flare-ups in the week before their period, when oestrogen levels drop sharply. This is not coincidental: oestrogen suppresses inflammation, so lower levels can leave skin more reactive and prone to itching and redness.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, these hormonal patterns map onto the body's yin-yang cycle. The pre-menstrual phase corresponds to a relative deficiency of yin (cooling, moistening energy), which can allow damp-heat to rise and manifest on the skin. TCM practitioners often address women's eczema with formulas that nourish yin and blood as well as clear heat and dampness — targeting the root cause rather than just the surface symptoms.
Eczema During Pregnancy: What Changes and What to Use Safely
Pregnancy brings the most dramatic hormonal shift a woman's body can experience, and the effects on eczema are unpredictable. Roughly half of pregnant women with pre-existing eczema find their condition worsens, particularly in the first and second trimesters. The surge in progesterone, combined with the immune system's shift toward a Th2-dominant response (to protect the foetus), can tip the balance toward increased IgE-mediated reactions — exactly the mechanism that drives eczema flare-ups.
Safety concerns during pregnancy lead many women to avoid topical steroids — and rightfully so, as high-potency corticosteroids carry documented risks. This makes gentle, plant-based alternatives particularly valuable. A warm herbal soak using a registered formulation like Eczema Clear (濕疹清) can soothe inflamed skin externally without systemic absorption concerns. The key is to use lukewarm water (not hot, which worsens dilation and itching) and to keep soak sessions short — around 10 to 15 minutes — followed by gentle patting dry.
Beyond topical care, pregnant women should prioritise cotton clothing, avoid fragranced detergents, maintain a cool sleeping environment, and follow a diet low in heaty and spicy foods. Stress management also matters: anxiety and sleep disruption — both common in pregnancy — are well-known eczema triggers that compound hormonal effects.
Breastfeeding and Your Baby's Eczema: The Dietary Link
One of the most important — and least-discussed — aspects of infant eczema is the role of the breastfeeding mother's diet. Breast milk is not a neutral medium: it carries bioactive compounds, fatty acids, cytokines, and trace amounts of dietary proteins that directly influence the baby's immune development and skin health. When a nursing mother consumes foods that generate damp-heat in TCM terms — such as beef, shellfish, alcohol, spicy dishes, and deep-fried foods — these properties can transmit through breast milk and exacerbate the baby's eczema.
Conversely, a cooling diet — featuring foods like barley water (薏米水), winter melon, mung bean soup, and lotus root — can help reduce damp-heat in both the mother's body and the baby's via milk. Some mothers report noticeable improvements in their baby's skin within days of making dietary adjustments. This does not mean extreme elimination diets; rather, a mindful reduction of the most heat-generating foods can yield meaningful results without nutritional compromise.
The postpartum period also deserves attention. After delivery, many women in Hong Kong follow traditional confinement practices (坐月) that involve consuming large amounts of ginger, sesame oil, and organ meats to 'replenish' the body. While these have cultural value, they can significantly increase internal heat — and both the new mother's eczema and the breastfed baby's skin may suffer as a result. A balanced approach — moderate warming foods with adequate cooling counterweights — is generally better tolerated than extreme confinement diets.
💡 TCM Tip for Nursing Mothers: If your breastfed baby has eczema, try reducing beef, shellfish, and fried foods from your diet for two weeks while increasing barley water and winter melon. Track changes in the baby's skin — many families see improvement within days. External relief for the baby can also be gently supported with a diluted herbal soak like Eczema Clear (濕疹清), which is suitable for infants.
