What Causes Eczema in Children?
Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects up to 30% of children in their first few years of life. While there are genetic components, diet and lifestyle factors play a big part in your child developing eczema.
Common Triggers of Eczema in Children
1. Harsh Chemicals
What sorts of skin products (soaps, body wash, shampoo/conditioners, lotions) and home products (washing detergent, cleaning products, dishwashing liquids) are you using? These often contain high levels of chemicals, alcohols, detergents, and fragrances—all of which are NOT skin-friendly.
2. Synthetic Fabrics
Clothing and bedding made from synthetic materials don’t allow the skin to breathe. Wool and synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and nylon, can cause overheating, sweating, and irritation. Breathable fabrics include cotton, silk, and bamboo.
3. Common Culprit Foods
Diet is often a trigger for eczema due to its links to the immune system. Dairy, gluten, and sugar are common culprits, but we want to avoid eliminating these foods long-term in little ones. It’s best to make dietary changes under the guidance of a trained professional.
4. Gut Health
Check for signs like bloating, irregular bowel movements, stool consistency issues, or mucus in stool. The gut is highly linked to eczema, and gut repair is often a great place to start—it's usually the root cause.
5. Bathing
Are you bathing your baby or child too much? When dealing with eczema, the less you bathe them, the quicker it will heal.
How to Support Eczema-Prone Skin
Sun exposure, or supplementing with children's vitamin D is great for skin healing and regulating the drives of eczema (immune cells)
Essential fatty acids found in foods like fish, seeds, nuts & avocado (can be passed through breastmilk too) or supplementing with children's omega-3s.
Zinc rich foods found in oysters, meat, cheese, pumpkin seeds and fruits and vegetables.
Anti inflammatory foods - such as raspberries and blueberries - eat the rainbow 🌈 🍎 🥗
And if you need extra support with this, you can book an appointment Alexis with who can create a personalised eczema prescription and plan - book with Alexis here.
