Millions of people worldwide struggle with eczema, a chronic skin condition that causes redness, itchiness, and inflammation. Eczema can be very disruptive for those with the condition, and people can easily spend hundreds — even thousands — of dollars every year in an attempt to manage their eczema flare-ups and stop the effects of the condition from taking over their lives.
Understanding what triggers flare-ups and how to manage them can be a step toward a better life for those trying to navigate the often frustrating world of eczema. The connection between triggers and solutions prompted Dr. Barbara Paldus, Ph.D., to start Codex Labs, a company offering clinically proven products for those suffering from eczema and other disruptive skin conditions.
Understanding impact
“In recent years, the relationship between gut health and skin conditions has become clear,” says Dr. Paldus. “This complex connection is often called the gut-skin axis, and it reveals that many skin conditions like eczema, acne, and rosacea can have underlying gastrointestinal root causes.”
Indeed, this connection between gut health and skin conditions like eczema was the driving factor behind Dr. Paldus’s and her team’s creation of the range of products available at Codex Labs. Each product was formulated to consider the connection to gut health triggers, and every innovation from Codex Labs is data-driven and clinically proven to produce results.
“Unlike external factors such as air pollution or sun exposure, gut-related skin issues can stem from internal imbalances or digestive tract irritations,” Dr. Paldus explains. While no one is immune to gut-borne skin issues like hives, chronic skin conditions like eczema can be especially prevalent for people with gut-related conditions, such as Crohn’s Disease or irritable bowel syndrome. Several seemingly unrelated conditions can also lead to a “leaky gut” and gluten sensitivity. For example, people with hypermobility often have co-occurring gut health issues that trigger skin conditions.
Several factors disrupt the biological balance between the gut and the skin in the gut-skin axis. Dietary triggers are significantly more common in people with eczema, especially those with gluten and dairy intolerance. When the gut lining is irritated, it can manifest on the skin, leading to dry, flaky skin and itchy red patches.
An imbalance in the gut microbiome is also a significant trigger for eczema. Our gut houses a diverse ecosystem of bacteria and microorganisms that all work together to maintain our immune system and skin health.
However, when this microbiome is out of whack — with the harmful bacteria taking over the good — inflammation results, which can lead to an eczema flare-up. Other internal factors, such as parasites, infections, gluten sensitivity, and even chronic stress, can lead to the exacerbation of one’s eczema issues since people with eczema tend to have, on average, a gut microbiome that lacks certain keystone species from Lactobacillus/Bifidobacterium genera.
Impactful solutions
Dr. Paldus and her team knew they wanted to help people soothe their eczema symptoms with a scientifically sound approach that took the gut-skin axis into account. Through rigorous open-label clinical trials, each Codex Labs product has been scientifically tested based on dermatological scoring of eczema severity and several specific skin parameters, such as hydration, trans-epidermal loss, and desquamation. What they have created for eczema sufferers is a range of products that consider the gut-skin axis and seek to soothe the symptoms of eczema.
For example, the Bia GutBuilder Prebiotic supplement combines amino acids, prebiotic fibers, antioxidants, and superfoods to help aid digestion, improve gut mucosa, and support keystone species in the gut microbiome. The Bia ClearSkin Synbiotic supplement delivers keystone species that help reduce gut irritation, produce butyrate to strengthen the gut barrier, and produce ceramides that fortify the skin barrier. In addition, the Antu Skin Barrier Support Supplement not only helps reduce gut irritation and supports gut barrier integrity, but it provides a key amino acid (l-histidine) that the body uses to build filaggrin, a key structural protein in skin and natural moisturization factor (NMF), which helps skin lock in moisture.
Codex Labs has also developed products like its OTC Eczema Relief Lotion, a soothing, fast-absorbing lotion designed to address dry, flaky skin on the face and body by increasing skin hydration and moisture retention, while decreasing itch and fortifying skin barrier integrity. The company has also created an unscented soap bar, “the first plant-based soap in the world to achieve the Microbiome-friendly seal of quality,” to help those with eczema ensure their skin stays balanced and moisturized without stripping it of vital microbes.
“With a healthy routine and the right products, people can keep the symptoms of eczema at bay,” says Dr. Paldus. “The best skincare products for eczema are the ones that contain only the ingredients you need and nothing else. This is how our Antu Skin Barrier Supplement, Bia Eczema Relief Lotion, and Bia Unscented Soap — that we call the ‘Ditch the Itch’ Set — can reduce not only itch but also the eczema severity (SCORAD) by over 90% in 8 weeks for those with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis.”
Discovering the relationship between gut health and skin conditions has emerged as a crucial breakthrough in dermatological research. Codex Labs is dedicated to offering a comprehensive, sustainable, and scientifically backed approach to managing skin conditions such as eczema. The company’s line of products supports both gut and skin health, targeting triggers and providing soothing relief from the worst eczema symptoms.
As research continues to unravel the complex relationship between one’s gut and skin, Dr. Paldus and the team at Codex Labs will continue to be one step ahead, producing products that are a unique blend of science, innovation, beauty must-haves, and much-needed relief for people suffering from disruptive skin conditions.

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