Many people with eczema are eager to find relief from itchy, irritated skin and may turn to special diets in hopes of seeing improvement. The carnivore diet has gained attention for its bold claims about health and inflammation. But can this all-meat approach help manage eczema symptoms and flare-ups, or is it just another trend without scientific backing?
In this article, we’ll explore what the carnivore diet involves, what the latest research says, and what people with eczema should consider before making any dietary changes.
What Is the Carnivore Diet?
Generally speaking, the carnivore diet includes eating only products from animals. This includes meat, fish, chicken, seafood, and certain dairy products. People following this diet typically avoid all plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
While there are several variations of the carnivore diet, they all share the same core idea: Eating only animal products is believed by some to promote better health. Supporters claim it can help with weight loss, manage blood sugar, and even improve certain chronic health conditions. However, scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited. As of now, there is no solid research that supports the carnivore diet delivering provable health benefits. Nutritional research shows that the carnivore diet can fall short in thiamin, magnesium, calcium, Vitamin C, iron, folate, iodine, and potassium. Fiber intake is significantly below recommended levels, and the sodium content of the carnivore diet is very high.
The Carnivore Diet and Carbs
The carnivore diet avoids carbohydrates with the belief that a high-carb diet leads to chronic (ongoing) disease. The carnivore diet is stricter than the ketogenic diet (keto diet), which limits carbs but doesn’t completely cut them out.
Read also: The Carnivore Diet: An Autoimmune Solution?
Proponents of the carnivore diet also emphasize that eliminating carbohydrates can help with weight loss. While eliminating carbs might cause you to lose weight, carbs are the human body’s preferred energy source, so going down to zero carbs can be risky.
You may benefit from consuming less white sugar and flour, but following a strictly low-carb or no-carb diet isn’t generally recommended. Plant-based foods are a good source of fiber, which is crucial for digestive and heart health. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in particular provide not only fiber but also an array of nutrients and plant compounds that offer health benefits.
The Carnivore Diet and Eczema
Some people are curious if following an all-meat eating plan, like the carnivore diet, could help improve or even cure eczema. Currently, there’s no cure for eczema, and no single diet has been proven to reliably reduce its symptoms. Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a condition that causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. According to the National Eczema Association, many people with eczema use the phrase “flare-up” to describe a phase of eczema when they are experiencing one or more acute symptoms or side effects from prolonged itchiness.
People with eczema are more likely to develop food allergies or sensitivities, which can sometimes trigger flares. Although research on dietary changes for this skin condition is limited, some individuals have found that avoiding certain allergens or foods seems to help manage their symptoms. Triggers can be different for everyone, and in rare cases, some people have reported meat as one of their eczema triggers.
There are several stories of those with eczema or TSW seeing improvement or temporary relief of symptoms while on a carnivore diet. However, the most likely explanation is that by eliminating all grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and seed oils, these individuals have eliminated foods that they were previously and unknowingly allergic or sensitive to. By removing these foods, we would expect to see lower inflammation and greater balance in the immune system. Also, the diet is by nature one that excludes heavily processed or “junk” foods.
Read also: The Carnivore Diet's Impact on Sleep
The carnivore diet, in this way, is functioning more like an elimination diet: a strategy used by doctors and dieticians to identify allergens by reducing the number of foods a patient eats, and then reintroducing foods one by one to see which ones trigger an unpleasant reaction. In some cases, a carnivore diet can actually trigger eczema or other allergic symptoms. Why? Eggs, dairy, fish, and shellfish are all common allergens for some folks. Some people can have an allergy to beef and other red meat. Another reason the carnivore diet could be helping those with TSW is that it promotes high nutrient-dense foods. TSW patients are often constitutionally deficient from battling the symptoms of thermodysregulation, sleep deprivation, irregular eating patterns or food choices, etc.
You shouldn’t cut out any foods from your diet without talking to your doctor first, as this might increase your risk of developing nutrient deficiencies. Your healthcare provider can help you find an approach that supports your overall well-being and eczema management.
Can Eating Meat Help Eczema?
There’s no strong scientific evidence that eating more meat - or eating only meat - directly helps manage eczema symptoms. While protein from animal sources can be an important part of a balanced diet, no studies have shown that increasing meat intake alone improves eczema or reduces flares. In fact, for some people, certain types of meat could trigger symptoms.
How Can the Carnivore Diet Impact Your Health?
Apart from recognizing the potential inaccuracy of the health claims associated with the carnivore diet, keep in mind how eating a carnivorous diet could have an impact on your health in other ways.
The Carnivore Diet and Heart Disease
Some studies indicate that people with eczema may face a higher risk of heart disease compared with the general population. The carnivore diet could increase this risk since an all-meat diet can lead to high cholesterol, raising the likelihood of heart problems. Eating large amounts of sodium from processed meats can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
Read also: Troubleshooting Carnivore Diet Diarrhea
The Carnivore Diet and Other Health Concerns
Cutting out all grains, legumes, fruits, and veggies can create health issues besides heart disease. Other potential side effects associated with a carnivore diet include:
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Constipation from inadequate fiber intake
- Kidney disease related to high sodium from eating a lot of processed meats
- Colorectal cancer associated with high meat consumption
- Electrolyte imbalances causing dizziness, fatigue, muscle cramps, and weakness
- Kidney damage due to high sodium in meats, as well as byproducts from consuming too much protein. There is also a higher risk for kidney stones.
While the carnivore diet is delivering strong results for many who’ve tried it, it may be nutritionally unsustainable in the long-term.
What Is the Best Diet for Eczema?
In general, a diet focused on fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, lean proteins, and healthy fats is recommended for people with eczema or heart disease, as well as for general wellness. One example of this type of diet is the Mediterranean diet, which also focuses on healthy fats from fish and olive oil, and includes low-fat dairy products and nuts and seeds. This type of diet is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body, which may help improve eczema flare-ups and symptoms.
“I went to eating an anti-inflammatory diet, and my eczema has gotten a lot better,” one MyEczemaTeam member wrote. A Mediterranean diet limits added sugars, processed foods, and saturated and trans fats. Eating less of these types of foods may also help with eczema symptoms.
People with eczema may also find they benefit from limiting other foods and beverages that seem to trigger their particular symptoms. Common diet-related triggers include alcohol, dairy, sugar, gluten, citrus, eggs, and tomatoes.
Success Story: Neal's Carnivore Diet Experience
Neal hails from Edmonton, Alberta, and has found incredible success in ending his lifelong battle with eczema while following the carnivore diet. Neal’s carnivore journey began on his 30th birthday when he decided to try something different to treat his painful and worsening eczema.
After hearing about the carnivore diet from Dr. Shawn Baker’s podcast, Neal decided to give it a try himself. “It sounded pretty crazy,” he recalls. “I had given everything else a shot and tried to rid myself of this lifelong condition.” Neal had really bad eczema on his mouth, face, arms, and hands. Cases of severe eczema may include periods of flare-ups that can last many days or even several weeks. Moisturizers, antihistamines, topical steroid creams, and corticosteroids are among the potential courses of eczema treatments usually recommended by healthcare providers, although many in the carnivore community have found relief from switching to the carnivore diet.
In addition to his skin condition, Neal hoped that the carnivore diet would also help him address being overweight. “I always struggled with weight,” he shares. “Even after losing about 40 pounds, I was still 185 pounds. I’m 5’4”, so that is big for me.”“I figured, well, what do I have to lose at this point?” For his 30th birthday dinner, Neal began his carnivore journey with steak and eggs and said he hasn’t looked back since.
Soon after he began following the carnivore diet, Neal saw incredible improvements in combating his lifelong struggle with eczema. “In 30 days, my eczema was gone! I couldn’t believe it. It was the most incredible thing! I had tried every medication and diet supplement out there, and nothing had helped my eczema before, but in just one month on the carnivore diet, it was cleared.” As the body can take some time to adjust to a new way of eating, 30 days tend to be the minimum recommendation for those interested in trying the carnivore diet.
In addition to resolving his eczema, Neal was able to lose weight as well. “I leaned out quite a bit, and at 170 pounds, I feel my best.” Another significant win was after a recent doctor’s visit. “The most important thing to me was when I had my yearly physical. Last time, my doctor told me that I was pre-diabetic, and if I had kept up my old lifestyle, I would eventually develop diabetes. This visit, my blood sugar was completely normal, my weight was in a good range, and all my other lab work showed that I was in perfect health!”
Neal says he’s never felt better! “I’ve never had more energy. I can concentrate better at work, and I’m more productive,” he says.
Diagnostic Tool: Meat-Based Formula Study
The aim of a study was to investigate the effectiveness of a home-made meat based formula (the Rezza-Cardi diet), as a diagnostic tool for children with atopic dermatitis and suspected multiple food hypersensitivity. Severity scores for atopic dermatitis, body weight and serum lipid profile were evaluated at baseline and four weeks following the feeding with the home-made meat based formula in 16 children with atopic dermatitis and suspected multiple food hypersensitivity. The severity score of the skin lesions improved considerably in all the children; no significant difference was observed in the serum lipid levels before and after one month following the feeding with the home-made meat based formula. All children gained weight according to the Italian Standards.
Talk to Your Doctor
Over time, you may discover that eating or avoiding certain foods helps you control your eczema symptoms. However, any diet that is too restrictive might cause health problems. It’s important to have enough balance in your diet to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need.
For specific medical advice about dietary changes, talk with your dermatology provider or another health professional, like a dietitian. Never adopt an extreme plan or an elimination diet without first consulting a medical provider, who can help you figure out the best and worst foods for you.
If you are considering the carnivore diet because you suspect that a food sensitivity or allergy is playing a part in a chronic skin problem or systemic inflammation, it may be better to work with a certified nutritionist. They can help pinpoint the foods that are causing problems for you, and help rebalance your system so that it is less reactive.