Can Parasites Cause Skin Rashes or Eczema?

By Tori Taggart, MS, CNS, LDN

When it comes to skin conditions, an often overlooked potential cause for chronic skin rashes is parasitic infection.  Many people believe that parasitic infection only occurs in non-industrialized countries but parasites are equal opportunity invaders and these infections can occur anywhere in the world, including the United States. Our microbiome is made up of a variety of bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The balance of this bugs is really important in full body health.  This “terrain” needs to stay healthy and robust to prevent pathogens from getting in and taking hold and to keep inflammation under control.

Parasites are organisms that require another organism to survive by living in or on that organism.  Many parasites are microscopic (amoeba or protozoa) while others are larger such as heminths or worms (like pin worms or tape worms). Many live in the digestive tract but parasites can be found almost anywhere in the human body. We get exposure to parasites in our everyday lives.  We touch surfaces that are infected or eat produce that hasn’t been thoroughly cleaned. Meat and seafood can contain parasites that aren’t properly killed in the cooking process (hello, sushi!). We can get them in rivers and creeks or lakes on our favorite hikes or walking on the beach barefoot.  Your child’s favorite sandbox at the local park can contain parasites from dog/cat feces and even just touching things in day to day life and not washing our hands can pave way for these critters to make their way in.  If our immune systems aren’t up to par or we have imbalance in that microbiome or if our digestive tracts lack enough acidity or have some permeability or inflammation, we can pick up a parasitic infection. 

This isn’t meant to scare you or make you never want to leave your house, but it is a good reminder that these organisms are part of our everyday lives even though they aren’t often talked about.

Parasites can affect the skin through their impact on the immune system and inflammation in a few different ways listed here:

• Immune Dysregulation

  • Parasitic infections can alter the immune system, triggering Type I and Type IV hypersensitivity reactions, both of which play a role in eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions (Maizels & McSorley, 2016).

• Toxin Release & Systemic Inflammation

  • Some parasites release metabolic byproducts or toxins that lead to increased intestinal permeability and systemic inflammation—both associated with skin flare-ups (Fasano, 2012). We often refer to this as “leaky gut” which is one of the root causes of eczema.

• Gut–Skin Axis Disruption

  • The gut–skin connection is increasingly well-documented. Parasites that disrupt the gut microbiome may contribute to dysbiosis, increasing the risk of inflammatory skin conditions (De Pessemier et al., 2021).  This dysbiosis creates a microbial imbalance that in turn can create skin rashes and itchiness.

• Histamine Response & Urticaria

  • Certain parasites, such as Giardia lamblia and Strongyloides stercoralis, are known to provoke urticaria and eczema through immune stimulation and histamine release (Steinmann et al., 2010).

So, how do you know if a parasite is contributing to your skin condition? Many parasitic infections are asymptomatic or chronic and won't be detected by conventional stool tests alone.  At Cleanbody, we are able to run more sensitive tests on stool that can help us find evidence of parasites.  We have a variety of options to look for parasites such as looking at the stool under a microscope and using PCR testing which looks for the DNA or RNA of a parasite in your stool. Think of it like a super-sensitive microscope for genes where if even a tiny amount of parasite DNA is present, PCR can copy it millions of times so we can detect it.  If parasite DNA is found in your sample, it means that parasites are (or were recently) living in your gut.  We can also use basic blood work to look for clues of parasitic infection and  then of course, looking at various other symptoms in the body can help to confirm this.  None of these tests are foolproof; sometimes testing can miss an infection. (Generally there are many more false negatives, rather than false positives).  Parasites are by design, made to evade detection and they are quite good at it.  It is important to take into consideration stool testing, blood work and symptoms when dealing with potential need for treatments. 

Some tests that we may use if it suspected that a parasitic infection could be contributing to your skin condition: 

Comprehensive Stool Testing 

• Examples: GI-MAP (Diagnostic Solutions), GI Effects (Genova Diagnostics)

• Detects parasites, bacteria, yeast, leaky gut markers, and inflammation.

Food Sensitivity and Allergy Panels

• Tests like IgG food panels can reveal delayed food reactions.

• Chronic immune stimulation from food triggers can worsen eczema or rashes

Organic Acids Test (OAT)

• Measures metabolites in urine to detect fungal, bacterial, or parasitic overgrowth

• Indicates detox burden and mitochondrial function

Histamine & DAO Testing

• For those experiencing hives, flushing, or eczema, histamine intolerance can be a clue—often exacerbated by gut dysbiosis or parasites.

Natural Treatments for Parasite-Related Skin Issues

When we discover a parasite in someone with eczema, we use a variety of ways to treat the infection and rebuild the gut. 

Herbal Protocols

Some herbs shown to have antiparasitic properties include:

• Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) – Used in malaria and helminthic infections (Willcox et al., 2004).

• Black walnut (Juglans nigra) – Contains juglone, an antiparasitic compound.

• Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) – Effective against parasite eggs and larvae (Chaieb et al., 2007).

• Neem (Azadirachta indica) – Broad-spectrum antiparasitic and antifungal (Subapriya & Nagini, 2005).

There are a variety of products from professional supplement companies that contain some of these listed herbs and many others that have anti-parasitic properties. Sometimes we use blends of herbs to kill off parasites whereas other times we may focus more on rebuilding the healthy bacteria in the gut to help crowd out the infection.  Treatment is individualized and is why it is important to work 1:1 with a practitioner for your specific case.  

Homeopathic Remedies 

Some homeopathic remedies can help with parasitic infection. Homeopathy is a system of alternative medicine developed over 200 years ago and it is based on two main ideas:

• “Like cures like”

This means: A substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can be used in very tiny amounts to treat those same symptoms in a sick person.

Example:If drinking coffee makes you jittery and sleepless, a homeopath might give a tiny dose of a substance made from coffee to someone who has insomnia.

• Extreme dilution

Homeopathic remedies are made by diluting a substance in water or alcohol — sometimes so much that there's almost none of the original substance left. In fact, in most remedies, there are no molecules left of the original ingredient. The water “remembers” the substance and somehow keeps its healing effect — even if the substance itself is gone.

• Homeopathy uses very, very tiny doses of substances to treat symptoms.

• It's based on the idea that “like cures like.”

• Most remedies are so diluted they don’t contain any actual ingredient.

Gut Healing Protocols

After or alongside parasite cleansing, gut repair is key:

• Gut Mend: contains a variety of nutrients including L-glutamine which supports intestinal barrier repair (Rhoads et al., 1991)

• Probiotics: Can help rebalance the microbiome post-infection (Kechagia et al., 2013)

• Digestive enzymes: Used as needed and shown on stool testing; can aid nutrient absorption and reduce inflammatory burden

Liver and Detox Support

• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum): Supports liver detoxification and antioxidant activity (Abenavoli et al., 2010)

• Dandelion root: Mild diuretic and liver tonic can be taken in the form of daily tea. 

• Epsom salt baths: Magnesium supports detox pathways and soothes inflamed skin

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

An elimination-style diet can reduce symptoms and aid in healing the gut and reducing inflammatory triggers:

• Remove: gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and processed foods

• Add: Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, and colorful antioxidant-rich foods (Cleanbody rainbow plates!) 

When to Suspect Parasites as a Root Cause

You might want to investigate parasites if you experience:

• Chronic or recurring eczema or urticaria.

• Digestive symptoms (bloating, irregular bowel movements, gas, food intolerance)

• Skin itching, especially at nighttime. 

• Fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, or brain fog

• History of international travel, camping, food poisoning or undercooked/raw foods (sushi, anyone?)

Please note that treating a parasitic infection if you aren’t sure you need to, can actually cause imbalance in your microbiome and create more issues because of it.  Taking anti-parasitics at the wrong time can flare up symptoms- including skin issues. Please take caution and if you believe you may have a parasitic infection, contact us today to set up a Root Cause Consultation so we can discuss next steps and how to get tested and on your way to health. 

Final Thoughts

Skin conditions like eczema are complex and occur for a variety of reasons, but the gut–skin connection is undeniable. If you’ve tried various topical treatments and elimination diets without relief, it may be time to dig a little deeper!

Parasites are more common than we often think and could be quietly driving inflammation, immune disruption, and skin flare-ups. 

Cleanbody offers a comprehensive, root-cause approach addressing:

• Pathogen load/ Gut health

• Immune system balance

• Detox pathways

• Lifestyle, stress management, nervous system regulation 

• Environmental exposures and toxins. 

At Cleanbody, we specialize in addressing the root causes of conditions like eczema, including microbiome imbalances such as parasitic infection. If you're interested in exploring personalized strategies to restore your microbiome and support overall health, we're here to help. Learn more about working with us!

Join Our Live with the Eczema Doc Session on this topic!

We are going live to discuss this topic on Thursday, Sept 11,2025 at 11:30 AM PST! Watch the live or check out the replay here:

About the Author:

Tori Taggart, MS, CNS is a Cleanbody Nutritionist specializing in meeting people in their healthy journeys by digging into the root causes of various chronic diseases and conditions. Through the use of healthy food along with aspects of the natural world around us (sunshine, nature, clean water, stress management, relationships, etc), she helps to empower her clients to take charge of their own health and trust their bodies to thrive and heal.

References

1. Maizels, R. M., & McSorley, H. J. (2016). Regulation of the host immune system by helminth parasites. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 138(3), 666–675.

2. Fasano, A. (2012). Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, 42(1), 71–78.

3. De Pessemier, B., et al. (2021). Gut–skin axis: current knowledge of the interrelationship between microbial dysbiosis and skin conditions. Microorganisms, 9(2), 353.

4. Steinmann, P., et al. (2010). Ectopic parasitic infections: A neglected issue in dermatology? Dermatology, 221(2), 100–106.

5. Willcox, M., et al. (2004). Artemisia annua as a traditional herbal antimalarial. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 98(6), 337–341.

6. Chaieb, K., et al. (2007). Antibacterial activity of clove essential oil against clinical bacteria. Phytotherapy Research, 21(6), 501–506.

7. Subapriya, R., & Nagini, S. (2005). Medicinal properties of neem leaves: A review. Current Medicinal Chemistry – Anti-Cancer Agents, 5(2), 149–156.

8. Rhoads, J. M., et al. (1991). Glutamine stimulates intestinal cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in a rat model of total parenteral nutrition. Gastroenterology, 100(2), 388–394.

9. Kechagia, M., et al. (2013). Health benefits of probiotics: a review. ISRN Nutrition, 2013, 481651.

10. Abenavoli, L., et al. (2010). Milk thistle for the treatment of liver diseases: a review of clinical trials. Phytotherapy Research, 24(10), 1423–1432.

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.