Your questions, answered

Genetics do prime your body to be more susceptible that they aren’t everything. Filaggrin variants and a tendency toward Th2-dominant immune responses (an immune pattern linked to allergy and eczema) do make some people more prone to eczema. What you eat, your gut health, and your nutrient status influence whether those tendencies are expressed or develop. We can't change your genes, but we can work with the factors around them.

It's the two-way relationship between your gut and your skin. The state of your gut lining, your microbiome (the community of microbes living in your gut), and the inflammation they generate all influence skin inflammation, and vice versa. For most people with persistent eczema, the gut is part of the picture, which is why we start there.

Conventional care focuses on managing flares from the outside in, emollients, topical steroids, and, in more severe cases, immunosuppressants. That work matters and should continue. Nutritional therapy works from the inside out, addressing the drivers behind the flares. The two approaches sit alongside each other rather than in competition.

Histamine is a compound your body makes and also gets from food. When it builds up faster than your body can break it down, it can drive itching, flushing, hives, and eczema flares that seem to come from nowhere. If your symptoms track with higher-histamine foods, or fluctuate in ways that don't fit a classic allergy, histamine may be part of your picture. We assess this properly rather than guessing.

No. Diagnosing allergies is a medical role, and IgE allergy testing sits with your GP or an allergy specialist. What I do is help you identify food triggers and intolerances through structured assessment, and support you nutritionally around any diagnosed allergies. If I think you need formal allergy testing, I'll say so and signpost you.

Yes. Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), where mast cells, part of your immune system, release their contents too readily, often overlaps with histamine issues and skin symptoms. I support the nutritional and lifestyle drivers involved, always working alongside your medical team, who lead on diagnosis and any medication.

Where it adds genuine value, yes. This can include functional testing and, in one-to-one work, nutrigenomic testing - looking at how your genetic variants may influence things like histamine metabolism, vitamin D processing, or your inflammatory response. Testing is never automatic; we only use it when the result would change your plan.

Yes. Many clients come to me while using topical steroids or navigating TSW ( the intense flare some people experience after stopping long-term steroid use). Nutritional therapy supports your skin barrier, nutrient status, and inflammation through that process. Any decisions about the steroids themselves are to be discussed with your medical practitioner.

This varies from person to person, and I won't promise a timeline because it wouldn’t be the right thing to do, despite some online promises. Skin turns over slowly and the drivers behind eczema take time to change. Most clients are looking at a meaningful commitment over months rather than days. I often find that the most change happens between the 2nd and 3rd consultation.

Consultations are online, so I work with clients across the UK and internationally. Everything, assessment, plans, follow-ups, and resources, is handled remotely.

I'm Jessica Fonteneau, a Registered Nutritional Therapist with an MSc. I hold full registration with BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) and the CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council), and I hold specialist accreditation in oncology nutrition. You can read more on my About and Credentials pages.

The Little Eczema Trap® paediatric approach covers infants and children up to 15. From 16, the clinical picture is treated as an adult.