I hope you enjoyed celebrating Mother’s Day last weekend!  It was my first time being celebrated as a mommy; it made me think a lot about the past and the future, and it made me more grateful for my own mother than ever.  Speaking of the sacrifices and frustrations that come with motherhood……

Many friends and readers have asked about natural remedies for baby eczema because they have already tried everything recommended by their child’s pediatrician.  Baby eczema (also called infant eczema or atopic dermatitis) appears in about 15% of children. It shows up as patches of red skin. The skin is almost always itchy, dry, and rough.  While it may appear just about anywhere on a baby’s body, eczema most often occurs on a baby’s cheeks and at the joints of their arms and legs.  It is very uncomfortable for baby and it makes mommy and daddy feel frustrated, helpless and guilty.

Western Medicine claims that baby eczema is usually due to the following factors: dry skin (low humidity), irritants (wool clothes, perfumes, soaps), stress (children with baby eczema may react to stress by flushing, which leads to itchy, irritated skin — and an increase in eczema symptoms), and possibly allergens like cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, corn and certain fruits.  “There is still debate as to whether food allergies in children trigger eczema” – WebMD’s words, not mine, and certainly not those of a homeopathic doctor.  To those of you on a mission to cure your baby’s eczema, I am sure the first thing you did was go to the pediatrician, remove your baby’s wool pants (I mean, really?) and switch to free-and-clear-laundry detergent.  If nothing has worked for you so far, you are not alone.

I’ve done a lot of research on baby eczema, but I’m not an expert, so I enlisted the help of one.  Enter Dr. Sherri Jacobs, my naturopath.

BB: What is the true cause of most baby eczema?

Dr. Sherri: Baby eczema is almost always related to a food sensitivity. Little ones have immature guts and are quite sensitive.  When trouble occurs, it shows up on the skin.

BB: I know that cutting out allergenic foods and incorporating an anti-inflammatory diet can cure baby eczema in some cases.  Yikes, how do you eliminate milk from a baby’s diet??

Dr. Sherri: If baby is nursing, it is easier to manipulate mom’s diet…toddler’s are more difficult, but it can be done. Often I will only take 1 or 2 foods out at a time so the diet feels manageable. A digestive panel can give some good information in kids and is easier to collect than having to get a blood sample.  It just takes education and commitment. You have to plan and prepare meals/snacks, but like with the cleanse, you find a groove and it is not too hard. 

BB: I know topical remedies do not cure eczema, (they just treat the symptoms) but I like to recommend Weleda’s Calendula product line and fresh aloe gel for baby eczema.  However, I am sure you know of something even more effective!

Dr. Sherri: Topically, I love UNDA ointment # 270 with a drop of liquid vitamin D mixed in and applied to the skin.  All Weleda products are good as well, but the UNDA/ D combo is a little more therapeutic.  (Vitamin D deficiency can be associated with eczema.)  Probiotics are also helpful…different strains are needed depending on age.  Under 1 year, primary strain to look for is bifidobacterium.  Also look out for other health issues that are related to baby eczema like reflux, constipation, gas, etc.  Eczema can be part of what is called the allergic triad in children (allergies, eczema and asthma) so it is important to look at baby’s overall health in relation to skin.  If you can catch food sensitivities early, you can prevent many health issues from developing down the road.

I hope this post is helpful to some of you mommies out there.  A big thank you to Dr. Sherri Jacobs, who has a very busy practice in Charleston, SC.  She also conducts Skype and phone sessions for patients who are not local.

Full disclosure: My child does not have baby eczema, but because I am no longer nursing her, I am terrified of food allergies.  My plan is to limit her exposure to allergenic foods (like cow’s milk) once she no longer needs to drink formula and cross my fingers until then.

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