Here I will be sharing a holistic approach to managing eczema in babies as a Holistic Nutrition Consultant and mama of two children who have suffered from eczema. If you are a parent dealing with eczema in your child, there is hope. Keep reading for some tips!
I can absolutely relate to parents who struggle with managing their child’s eczema, because I was one of them!
From being a child myself with severe eczema, to having my two eldest children struggle with eczema, particularly my eldest daughter, I have been at my wits end some days.
However, as I studied holistic nutrition, sought naturopathic advice and tried various products that helped temporarily, I have found solutions that truly have made a difference to my daughter’s eczema.
Disclaimer: I do not profess to have the answers to cure or treat eczema medically. I am writing from a holistic perspective of simply managing eczema in children, particularly babies.
What will be covered
- What is eczema?
- The western medicine approach vs a holistic approach to managing it
- Why does it happen?
- Tips to manage it holistically
What is eczema?
Eczema is an atopic dermatitis and is recognised as a red patchy rash that is red, inflamed, dry, scaly and often itchy. It is also linked to a likelihood of developing allergies, asthma and/or hay fever in children.
It commonly develops in children under age 5. In some cases, it resolves itself as the child grows older. However, half of those who experience eczema as children go on to have symptoms of eczema up to adulthood.
A western medicine approach vs a holistic approach to managing eczema in babies
A western medicine approach is simply to treat the external (skin) with topical ointments and creams. However, as I and my daughter have experienced, this only temporarily fixes the problem and not the root cause itself.
Whereas a holistic approach to managing eczema is to treat the root cause of the eczema itself. As eczema is an external symptom of an internal dysfunction, this would be an appropriate way to deal with it.
Why does eczema occur?
Eczema is a response by the immune system overreacting to a perceived threat. The perceived threat could be a combination of things like a food allergy/intolerance, dust, animal fur/hair allergy or toxins. Often times, when the body is overburdened with internal stressors, it shows up on the skin in the form of eczema.
As babies are small and their immune systems are still developing, eczema is more likely to occur if the baby is more prone to internal stressors, as mentioned above.
Research completed by the National Jewish Health Organisation in 2018 revealed that lipids (waxy substances vital to the health of the skin that help to keep allergens, irritants and infections out, while keeping moisture in) found that lipids in those who had eczema were shorter than the lipids in the skin of those without eczema. The allergic immune response in those who suffer from eczema shortens the lipids, making it less effective at protecting and maintaining moisture in the skin.
This gives evidence as to why addressing the root cause rather than the external symptom alone will help eczema sufferers long-term.
Tips to managing eczema holistically in babies (and children too)
Topical treatments are effective once the root cause of eczema has been addressed. Otherwise, the eczema will continue to show up regularly if internal support has not been addressed.
Eczema typically stems from a dysfunction in the gut, as I mentioned earlier. And a great place to begin when identifying the cause of eczema from the gut is by an elimination diet.
Eliminating foods
We did an elimination diet with my eldest daughter and by week three, her eczema was almost completely gone. As her mum, it was incredibly satisfying and emotional to see.
My biggest tip when trying out an elimination diet is to not take away too many foods at once. The point of an elimination diet is to take away 1-2 foods at a time to see which food is the culprit causing the eczema, although there could be a culmination of foods.
If I were a parent starting from the beginning, I would start by eliminating dairy IF your child typically suffers from cold-like symptoms like a runny nose, cough, congestion and ear infections. Other foods you can try to eliminate are gluten, wheat, eggs, peanuts, soy, fish, shellfish, sesame seeds and other foods you think your child may be sensitive to.
Try eliminating some of these foods for at least three weeks and see if there is any difference to your child’s skin.
For my daughter, we tried a low FODMAP diet that seemed to help her. Low FODMAP diets cover a variety of foods to avoid, so if you are desperate and want to see if it works for your child, go ahead. To keep track of the foods to avoid, there are apps to download onto your phone as a reference guide.
Reintroducing foods
Once at least three weeks have passed, it is time to reintroduce the foods you have eliminated from your child’s diet. Reintroduce one food at a time if you eliminated multiple foods. I would reintroduce one food at a time every three days if no reaction has occurred. If eczema has reappeared after the reintroduction of one food, then it is best to continue to eliminate that particular food.
A note about antihistamines: if your child has been administered an antihistamine during the time of elimination, it is best to wait about 5 days before reintroducing the eliminated foods, as it can mask the symptoms of a reaction.
Gut support
There is such a thing as high-histamine or histamine-releasing foods that could be triggering eczema in your child. These foods are sauerkraut, avocadoes, strawberries, cinnamon, citrus and tomatoes. Histamine intolerances may be the reason for flushing or rashes in babies. In some cases, addressing histamine may be needed to help manage eczema.
A Naturopathic Doctor would be ideal to see if you suspect your child may have a histamine intolerance. However, here are some ways to heal the gut if a histamine intolerance presents itself:
- Vitamin C is a natural anti-histamine that helps to metabolise excessive histamine in the body.
- Probiotics like bifidobacterium infantis or bifidobacterium longum can help to lower histamine levels.
- Naturally fermented foods should be reduced while lowering histamine levels, as these foods can contribute to high levels of histamine for those with intolerances.
- High-histamine or histamine liberating foods should be reduced, but not completely avoided.
Other ways to support the gut
These are general ways to help support and strengthen the gut while addressing the above tips:
- A range of bacteria (Bifidobacterium infantis, breve, bifidum, longum or Lactobacillus gasseri, plantarum, rhamnosus and salivarius have been shown to lower histamine levels) to build and diversify the gut
- A range of prebiotics that serve as food for the beneficial bacteria in a child’s gut, helping to support the bacteria’s growth (garlic, onion, Jerusalem artichoke, bananas, oats, leek, asparagus are some examples of prebiotic foods).
- Foods like collagen, glutamine (animal protein, organ meats, cabbage, beets, spinach, oats, eggs if tolerated), bone broth, to support tissue regeneration, immunity and digestion.
- Lowering toxic loads like stress, inflammatory foods, not getting enough sleep, nutrient deficiencies, exposure to toxins, medication/antibiotics, limited access to nature, not moving your body, not being exposed to fresh air (a culmination of these could contribute to eczema flare ups).
Favourite natural products that help to topically manage eczema
Hopes Relief Soap Free Cleansing Bar
Hopes Relief Premium Eczema Cream
Natural Herbal Medicine Eczema Cream
Final thoughts
This blog is purely suggestions-based from the perspective of a Holistic Nutrition Consultant for babies and a mother who has dealt with eczema in both herself and her children. So, if you would like extra support in managing eczema in your child, then I highly recommend seeing a Naturopathic Doctor who will help to identify and treat the root causes of the eczema itself.
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