Soothing Baths For Your Kid's Itchy Skin

Baths can have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits and can be super helpful for managing your kiddo’s skin symptoms, like the itch.⁠
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Here are some of my favs:⁠
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👉🏻Apple cider vinegar can balance skin pH levels and manage infection and inflammation. Dilute 1/4 to 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar in warm bath water. Soak for 10-20 minutes.⁠
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👉🏻Epsom salt may help decrease itching, inflammation, and redness and assist with detoxification. Use 2 cups for a full bath, 1 cup for a half bath, and 1/8 cup for a baby bath. Dissolve in warm bath water. Soak for 10-20 minutes.⁠
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👉🏻Baking soda may help prevent eczema flare-ups, reduce symptoms, draw impurities and toxins out of the skin, and boost immunity. However, it’s also alkaline, so it may strip the skin of its protective natural oils and disrupt the skin flora, especially if overused. 1/8 to 1/4 cup of baking soda. Dissolve in warm bath water. Soak for 10-20 minutes.⁠
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👉🏻Colloidal oatmeal can have potent anti-inflammatory, anti-itch, and antioxidant benefits for the skin. Grind 1 cup gluten-free oats for a full bath and 1/3 cup for a baby bath (use a food processor, blender, or coffee grinder). When the oatmeal dissolves by putting a small amount in a glass of warm water, you’re ready to add the oats to a bath. Add oats until the water is milky in color. Soak for 10-15 minutes.⁠
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👉🏻Rice starch has antioxidant properties and may reduce skin irritation, improve and repair the skin barrier, promote healing, and balance sebum production. Add 2 heaping Tbsp of rice starch to a baby bath, 4 heaping Tbsp to a medium bath, or 7 heaping Tbsp to a normal-sized bath. The water should look milky in color. Soak for 10-15 minutes. ⁠
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👉🏻Dead sea salt. Dissolve Dead Sea Salts into warm bath water: 2 cups for a full bath, 1 cup for 1/2 a bath, and 1/8 cup for a baby bath. Soak for 20 minutes.⁠
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👉🏻Plain water versus bleach baths. A safe dilution of bleach in bathwater isn’t potent enough to kill S. aureus on the skin. If bleach baths have helped your child, it might actually be due to the water and not the bleach. Do not increase a bleach bath dilution; it can damage the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs and even cause permanent damage to these delicate tissues.

*Always read labels to make sure it’s safe for your child. Using food-based ingredients on the skin can increase the risk of developing food allergies. If your child is already eating the foods and tolerates them, there’s less of a concern. If your child hasn’t eaten those foods yet or has allergies to them, avoid use on the skin.

What baths help your kid get some relief? LMK👇🏼

Should Your Child's Skin Be Acidic?

Maintaining the right skin pH is critical for helping with your child’s itchy, rashy skin. ⁠
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On the pH scale, 7 and higher is basic (alkaline), and 7 and lower is acidic. ⁠
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Skin pH is slightly acidic and that helps keep the skin barrier functioning the way it’s supposed to. ⁠
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When skin pH gets disrupted, you get leaky skin, and dry, itchy rashes. ⁠
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Even an increased colonization of problematic skin bacteria, like Staph aureus!⁠
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Avoid making your child’s skin alkaline! Things that contribute to that are: ⁠
👉🏻Hard water⁠
👉🏻Many if not most soaps, cleansers, and moisturizers (even natural products)⁠
👉🏻Over use of baking soda baths⁠
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Other factors that play a role in skin pH:⁠
👉🏻Lighter skin is slightly more alkaline than darker skin⁠
👉🏻Skin pH differs from body part to body part (i.e. armpits and private regions have higher pHs, which can be why those areas are more problematic in some kids)⁠
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There are sooo many other factors, too.⁠
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To learn more, and get strategies to help your child’s skin heal from the outside in, get my Free Guide “Ditch the Itch!”⁠

Is your child's skin itchier at night? It's not a coincidence...

If your child can’t sleep because of their itchy rashes, it’s not just because there’s nothing else to focus on while lying there.⁠
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Changes happen in the body at night that can make itch worse, including:⁠
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👉Skin gets leakier
👉Skin gets drier
👉Blood vessels dilate and constrict more, which increases histamine
👉Immune cytokines (other than histamine) are more active at night, increasing immune responses, including those that trigger itch symptoms
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What you can do about it:

👉Take an antihistamine before bed. There are natural options, too, like quercetin, vitamin c, and immunoglobulins⁠.
👉Moisturize before bed⁠
👉Try a therapeutic massage with that moisturizer! It’s a great bonding strategy, and it’s relaxing.⁠
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Is your child itchier at night? LMK👇️⁠

For some tips that can help, get my free guide, Ditch the Itch!

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Foods that cause leaky gut

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If you have a kid dealing with chronic skin rashes, you’re probably concerned about their gut health, too, because, if you’re here, you already know about the skin-gut connection.

I get asked VERY often about foods that actually cause leaky gut. If you're wondering too, here's what foods actually do contribute to the problem (and there’s research on this, my friends):

👉Gluten⁠

👉Food additives like:⁠

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🛑 Sugar⁠

🛑 Salt⁠

🛑 Emulsifiers (added to processed baked goods, dairy, mayonnaise, sauces, ice cream, margarine, convenience foods)⁠

🛑 Organic solvents (used to make edible oils like soy oil and are additives like stabilizers, preservatives, and flavorings)⁠

🛑 Microbial transglutaminase (in baked goods and conventionally raised/produced meat, fish, and dairy for texture, appearance, hardness, preservability, and elasticity)⁠

🛑 Nanoparticles (used to improve taste, color, uniformity, and texture of foods, used in food packaging, or to kill bacteria [silver nanoparticles])⁠

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Notice how junk in processed and conventionally prepared products is on this list. These things aren't actually food🤔?! ⁠

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This doesn't mean your kid can't or shouldn't indulge. It does mean that these so called foods shouldn't be dietary staples. ⁠

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A way to avoid these is to eat a whole, real-food diet rich in fresh vegetables (non-starchy and starchy) and fruits, herbs and spices, quality protein (grass-fed, free-range, pastured, organic, wild-caught), healthy fats, and whole/unprocessed gluten-free grains.

Avoid any sort of packaged foods whenever possible!⁠

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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568997215000245 

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Foods that help heal leaky gut

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If you’re trying to heal your kid’s gut, a great place to start is with gut-healing foods. 

Here are some to add to your kiddo’s diet if they’re not in already:

Protein (chicken, beef, fish, beans, dairy, nuts, seeds, soy) - amino acids from protein are building blocks for all structures in the body down to the cellular level, including cells in the gut lining, improve the integrity of the gut barrier, and important for mucin synthesis

FODMAPs (garlic, onions, cauliflower, celery, cassava, beans) - increase stool volume improve calcium absorption, increase production of short-chain fatty acids, and of good flora like bifidobacterium and others

Probiotic foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, fermented veggies) - anti-inflammatory, strengthen the gut mucosal barrier, lower hyperpermeability, and produce short-chain fatty acids

Vitamins A and D (orange and red veggies and fruits, cod liver oil, egg yolk, mushrooms) - positively impact mucosal barrier integrity, the immune system, and gut flora 

Fiber and short-chain fatty acids (starchy and nonstarchy veggies, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, butter, and ghee) - anti-inflammatory and regulate intestinal barrier function

Polyphenols (rainbow assortment of veggies and fruit) - antioxidant, lower intestinal permeability, and oxidative stress, and increase mucus secretion

What gut-healing foods are in your kid’s diet? LMK!

PMID: 36677677

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Can food allergies be reversed or prevented?

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When there are food allergies, the fear of reactions can cause major stress, tons of anxiety, even depression, and food fear leading to an ever shrinking diet and under nourishment for so many kids.

If your child has chronic skin rashes, they’re at greater risk for developing food allergies because they can more easily get sensitized to allergens through their leaky skin.

In fact, leaky skin associated with eczema is a known risk factor for developing food allergies.

Food allergies affect the entire family. The statistics are alarming. There’s been a 300% increase in food allergies in children over the past 20 years!

If your kid has food allergies, you might be wondering if they can be reversed. If you’re thinking about having more kids, you also might what to know if they can be prevented.

Here are some good places to start.

If your child already has food allergies:

👉follow your doctor’s guidance about what to keep out and what is safe to keep in

Whether or not your child has food allergies, and for you if pregnant or nursing:

👉Avoid eating processed junk food

👉Increase gut microbiome diversity by eating pre and probiotic foods, and taking a probiotic supplement (kids with food allergies have lower levels of certain healthy gut bacteria)

👉Eat the broadest diet possible including common allergens that are tolerated (the broader the diet = greater gut microbiome diversity)

👉Supplement with Omega 3s (EPA and DHA)

👉Get vitamin D levels optimal and supplement if needed

👉Minimize exposure to air pollutants

👉Support skin and gut barriers. Two primary ways food allergies develop are through leaky skin and leaky gut.

What Qs do you have about your kid’s food allergies? LMK!

https://doi.org/10.3390/ nu16060838

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2024.03.010

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Will antihistamines help your child’s itchy skin?

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Will antihistamines help your child’s itchy skin?

If your child is struggling with itchy rashes, you’ve probably gone down the histamine rabbit hole.⁠
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That makes a lot of sense, because histamine can cause itch symptoms. ⁠
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But I want you to know that the itch that’s associated with eczema more often than not, has nothing to do with histamine. ⁠
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Here’s how you can tell whether or not your child’s itch is histamine related... this isn’t exactly scientific (far from it), but I find it to be a pretty good way to figure out this piece of the puzzle for your child.⁠
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If a regular, over the counter product like Claritin, Zyrtec, or Benadryl helps with itch symptoms then most likely there’s a histamine component to what’s happening.⁠
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If that’s the case, then it’s possible a natural antihistamine like quercetin, vitamin C, and immunoglobulins, will help. ⁠
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These can be great alternatives because they don’t shut off histamine like a conventional antihistamine does. Histamine is not all bad! It’s a neurotransmitter, it’s part of a normal and healthy immune response, and it’s part of the digestive process. All this makes shutting it off, especially longer term, a BIG problem. ⁠
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If these products do not help with itch, it’s likely it’s not histamine causing the problem, and that means a natural alternative most likely won’t help either.⁠
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If something like Benadryl helps with sleep, that’s different than it helping with itch (keep that in mind).⁠
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Do antihistamines help your child’s itchy skin? LMK!

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Your Child's Rash Flares And Bacteria Life Cycles Go Hand-In-Hand

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In my last post I answered a question I get asked A LOT!

WHY DOES MY CHILD FLARE, HAVE PERIODS OF CLEARING, THEN FLARE AGAIN?!

It's maddening, right?

A primary reason I see for this in my practice is microbe life cycles.

There are 4 phases in the bacteria life cycle.

  • Lag Phase: Bacteria aren't growing yet. They're getting acquainted with their new environment (i.e. your child the host), and they make nutrients so they can grow and start dividing.

  • Log Phase: Bacteria are growing and replicating. FAST. This continues until they run out of nutrients or toxic metabolites build up, slowing cell growth rates and causing some to start dying.

  • Stationary Phase: The size of a population of bacteria stays the same, even though some continue to divide and grow, and others die. Growth and death rates are about the same in this phase.

  • Death Phase: Just like it sounds! Now there are more bacteria dying then there are replicating.

When the microbes die, toxins are released. Those toxins can trigger flares.

More toxins = more flares, so at certain phases of bacterial life cycles, your child is more likely to flare.

This is why chasing external triggers (like food, environmental, etc.) isn't solving the problem, and why your child can have periods of clear skin, and then flare again with what seems like no rhyme or reason.

When the gut is leaky those toxins get into the bloodstream, trigger immune responses, and your child flares.

This is why in my practice I focus on rebalancing dysbiotic bacteria (and other microbes, they have life cycles too) in your child's gut, and work on decreasing gut permeability.

Think this is happening with your child? LMK!

https://www.britannica.com/science/bacteria/Growth-of-bacterial-populations

https://easyscienceforkids.com/life-cycle-of-bacteria/

WHY DOES MY CHILD FLARE AND THEN HAVE PERIODS OF CLEAR SKIN, THEN FLARE AGAIN?!

I get asked this question so often, and it's a great one.

"WHY DOES MY CHILD FLARE AND THEN HAVE PERIODS OF CLEAR SKIN, THEN FLARE AGAIN?!”

It's soooo frustrating.

Your child's skin clears up, looks great, then boom, back to square 1.

And nothing has changed. Diet is the same, no environmental triggers you can pinpoint, it just doesn't make sense, and comes out of nowhere.

AMIRITE?

Here's the deal, aside from coming into contact with external triggers, there are internal [normal] biochemical/hormonal changes that can happen and trigger flares.

Also, in my experience the primary reason especially when you can't ID a trigger, are changes in the skin and gut microbiomes.

  • Microbes, especially dysbiotic ones, on the skin and in the gut have life cycles.

  • When they die they release toxins.

  • Those toxins trigger flares.

Does this help? LMK what you think!

Histamine: is it a problem for your child? Here’s what you should know!

Olive oil for dry, rashy skin? Hard pass.

Have you used olive oil on your skin?

Hi, I'm Jennifer and I USED to use olive oil on my skin.

It's a healthy fat, right? Yep!

It's in a ton of products we use on our skin, right? Yep!

So, olive oil is made up mostly of oleic acid, which is a fatty acid. And, topical use of olive oil does have some beneficial effects on wound healing.

But long-term use of oleic acid has negative effects on the integrity of the skin’s outermost layer (the stratum corneum), and on skin barrier function.

It also increased moisture loss from the skin in people with and without eczema.

If you’re struggling with rashes, you may want to steer clear of olive oil and products that contain it.

PS. this is not the same as eating it, it’s a healthy fat and absolutely can be included in a whole, real foods diet for people with rashes.

And now you know!

This was mindblowing for me when I learned it.

What do you think?

Resources

  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22995032/ 

  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12113324/ 

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/

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What it's like working with me

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Wondering what it's like teaming up with me on this journey to help your kiddo? 🌈

❤️ You've got backup: We totally get the struggle of seeing your little one dealing with their chronic skin rashes. It's like a constant battle, right? We know the drill – the frustration, the worry, and the endless cycle of trying everything under the sun. It's a maze, and you're not alone in feeling overwhelmed. But here, you've got support. No more guessing games with your kid's skin – we're here to guide you through.

❤️ Keep the hope alive: After what feels like forever in the trenches, it's kind of hard to believe relief is on the horizon. We'll dig deep, find the root causes, and set you on a path to real healing. A day when your family isn't all about your kiddo's skin is just around the corner.

❤️ This is your safe space: Watching your kiddo go through chronic skin struggles is tough. It's an emotional rollercoaster, and sometimes you might feel like you've lost control. But guess what? You've stumbled upon a safe haven right here. Ask away and share your worries – we're here to genuinely listen.

❤️ You're not flying solo: We're a bunch of parents, caregivers, and families all on similar healing journeys with our little ones. We get it. We're committed to helping your kiddo not just get by but thrive. You're not alone – we've got your back, and we're holding your hand every step of the way.

Ready to kickstart this journey?

For private support and guidance, BOOK NOW! Let’s talk about the best next steps for your child to heal their skin! 

If you’re more of a DIY enthusiast, join Conquer Your Child’s Rashesᵀᴹ (CYCRᵀᴹ) Online:⁠

👉Ongoing access to my full step-by-step process to heal your child’s skin

👉The option to access a private community membership for ongoing support and to take advantage of Live Monthly Q&A coaching events

👉The ability to get a personalized plan for your child based on their comprehensive digestive stool test results and unique health history, and a private session to walk you through it all!

With CYCRᵀᴹ Online, you can start your child’s journey to healthy skin literally right now!

Environmental factors influencing the development of eczema

A study conducted in China found that a number of environmental factors could influence the development of eczema in children. On that list are:

  • New furniture and furnishings

  • Mold or dampness in mom's home before and during pregnancy, and during baby’s first year of life

  • Air conditioning

  • Keeping windows open while sleeping

  • Pest exposure (cockroaches, flies, mosquitoes) in the home and during baby’s first year of life

  • Pets and flowering plants in the home

  • Passive smoking in the home currently, during baby's first year of life, and during mom's pregnancy

  • Frequency of cleaning

I find that while we are working on addressing internal imbalances at the root of the problem, environmental triggers continue to throw fuel on the fire.

It makes it really hard to put it out.

The good news is that we can make changes to prevent or limit exposures. What do you think? Could any of these be triggers for your child's rash flares?

Reference

  • https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-021-02819-5