Welcome to Eczema Life.

Explore research-backed resources to support your skin barrier and microbiome, designed for individuals with eczema and the health professionals guiding their treatment.
Eczema Life

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Caring for eczema-prone skin takes a tailored approach, and simple daily habits can help keep flare-ups at bay. Start with our handy eczema resources, designed to support your skin barrier and complement your existing treatment plan. Created by eczema researcher Ren Karen Fischer, the guides offer simple, practical steps to follow. If you are a health professional, you will also find dedicated resources for doctors and other health professionals on the resources page.

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Childhood Eczema

Child With Itchy Eczema at Night? — Here's How to Stop The Itching And Scratching

Child With Itchy Eczema at Night? — Here's How to Stop The Itching And Scratching

|Karen Fischer
If you've ever thought, How do I keep my child from scratching their eczema at night? you're not alone. You tuck them in and then the scratching starts. By morning...

Eczema News

The Damp Skin Myth: When You Really Need to Moisturise After a Shower

The Damp Skin Myth: When You Really Need to Moisturise After a Shower

|Ren Karen Fischer
  Is moisturising immediately after bathing actually best for your skin or could it be quietly sabotaging it?  It's one of the most commonly asked skincare questions: "Should I apply...
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Eczema Warriors

A Healthy Plant-Based Diet Made My Eczema Worse

A Healthy Plant-Based Diet Made My Eczema Worse

|Reception Support
This week we bring you the inspiring true story of Julie, one of our Eczema Warriors. Like many living with chronic skin conditions, Julie has experienced the suffering and pain...

About

The Eczema Life Story

Twenty-five years ago, nutritionist Ren Karen Fischer watched her daughter struggle with eczema, a condition she had also suffered from. Fortunately, a nurse imparted some wonderful advice that sparked a journey that helped her family become eczema-free. Over the following 20 years as a nutritionist and researcher, Fischer worked alongside hundreds of patients with all types of skin disorders at the Eczema Life Clinic, listening to their stories and prescribing unique compounded supplements and skincare to provide relief. The discoveries were documented and later became best-sellers, The Eczema Diet and The Eczema Detox.

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gut health blog

Frequently asked questions

What is eczema and what causes it?

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterised by dry, itchy and inflamed skin. It's generally understood to result from a combination of genetic, environmental,
immune and skin barrier-related factors, particularly elevated skin pH, impaired skin barrier function and an overactive immune response.

Is eczema linked to gut health?

The link between gut health and eczema is biologically plausible, and newer genetic and treatment-based studies are starting to
support it. However, the broader research is still inconsistent, so saying "leaky gut causes eczema" is premature. A more accurate way to put it: gut bacteria appear to be associated with eczema and may influence the immune system. But it's just one piece of a much bigger picture. Still, your diet matters, as it's the main driver of gut health.
Can diet really affect eczema?

For many people, yes. While eczema isn't caused by diet alone, certain foods can act as triggers that worsen inflammation and flare-ups in sensitive individuals. In my clinical research and practice, I've found that identifying individual food intolerances, rather than following generic
elimination diets, can make a meaningful difference for many people living with eczema. My eczema research can be found here and The Eczema Detox can be found here.  
What foods commonly trigger eczema flare-ups?

Common dietary triggers include dairy, wheat, eggs, peanut, soy and high-histamine foods, although triggers vary significantly from person to person. More than 50% of people with eczema may have salicylate intolerance so some healthy foods can make eczema worse (Fischer, 2025).
Is the Eczema Life Clinic still open in Sydney?

No. When Ren Karen Fischer relocated to the Gold Coast, the Eczema Life Clinic closed so she could focus on completing her eczema research as part of a Master's by Research Degree at Bond University, and to spend more time with her parents, who are both in their nineties and appreciate a little extra help these days. If you are seeking nutrition advice from a nutritionist who knows Fischer's eczema detox programs, book a consultation nutritionist Bonnie via the eczemadiet.com website (see the Consultation tab).