Hot weather tips to keep skin rash symptoms in check!

When the weather warms up, if you’re like many of my clients, your child’s skin gets worse.

It’s not a coincidence, unfortunately.

Sweat, heat, and sun can trigger rashes like eczema and even cause hives.

Sweat: Sweat cools the skin, contains properties that naturally moisturize the skin, that are antimicrobial, and help maintain the skin microbiome in a healthy balance.

But sweat is a common skin irritant.

People with eczema have a different composition of sweat than those without eczema and may have lower levels of certain substances in their sweat, meaning it contains less natural moisturizing and antimicrobial properties. This may mean an increase in drier skin after sweating and a higher likelihood of skin infections. Which can cause more itching.

People with eczema also may sweat less than those without eczema. With less sweating, the skin retains more heat, becomes dry, and is more prone to itching and infection.

Heat: Hot temperatures can worsen skin symptoms because it leads to the dilation of blood vessels which happens to help the body cool down, but this also triggers inflammation, leading to itching (skin inflammation is a driver of itch).

Hot weather also leads to more sweating, another common skin irritant, especially in people with eczema.

Sun: Generally speaking, the sun is your friend if you have eczema (hello, VITAMIN D! We need sunlight on our skin to make this powerhouse vitamin, and there are some significant correlations between low levels of vitamin D and worsening of chronic skin rashes like eczema). For some, though, the sun isn’t tolerated, it’s hot, and can cause sweating, which then leads to itching or, in some people, photosensitivity and hives, which is an immune system reaction that is triggered by sunlight.

For dealing with flares during hot weather, here are some of my favorite strategies:

• Play outside during cooler times of day (avoid 10 am - 2 pm when it's usually the hottest out).

• Keep dry/wipe off sweat.

• Bathe/shower after getting sweaty.

• Use a thinner lotion or oil for moisture during hot weather.

• Use cool wash clothes/towels on the skin.

• Use AC, fans, etc., indoors to keep the environment cool.

• Drink lots of cool water and add ice.

• Wear loose cotton clothing.

The BEST strategy, however, is getting to the root cause of the problem.

If you need help doing that, I've got you covered, whether you're more of a DIY enthusiast or are looking for private support and guidance!

CLICK HERE to see how we can work together to help your child.

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Is low filaggrin contributing to your child’s rashes?

Filaggrin is a protein in the skin critical for maintaining your child's skin barrier, and preventing leaky skin. 

The FLG gene makes this protein. Genetic mutations in it can lead to low filaggrin levels.⁠

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Inflammation and environmental factors like irritating substances, low humidity, chilly weather, and pollution can also cause low filaggrin. ⁠

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Low filaggrin can really mess with your child's skin. 

It increases skin pH, making it more alkaline. Skin pH needs to be acidic. 

It causes leaky skin. 

It increases the risk of allergen exposure (through leaky skin), and the development of food and environmental allergies.

It leads to dry skin. 

It's a big contributor to itchy skin.  

It’s a key factor in the development of eczema.⁠

It’s also associated with asthma.

There isn’t an easy way to diagnose low filaggrin but if your child has super dry elephant/alligator skin, eczema, asthma, and is irritated by water (like plain old bath/shower water) they likely have low levels.

If you need help, I've got you covered. With Conquer Your Child's Rashesᵀᴹ (CYCRᵀᴹ) Online, we dive super deep into what's going on with your child's skin from the outside in, and what you can do to best support what's happening ON your child's skin, while we work on those internal root causes for the problem. The first module of the course is dedicated to this! To learn more and get started RIGHT NOW --> CLICK HERE

If you’re struggling to figure out where to even start getting to the bottom of this for your child and need some direction, I can help you determine the best next steps. BOOK YOUR STRATEGY SESSION!

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Water-Based Moisturizers, Yay Or Nay?

The problem with water-based moisturizers for eczema…

Trying to find a product to use on your child’s rashy skin can feel like throwing darts in the dark. I bet you have tried more lotions, creams, and ointments than you can count, am I right??

Some products burn or sting, some seem to make the problem worse, and others don’t do anything at all.

Everyone is different, so unfortunately, there isn’t a particular product that I can say, “Here, this will help!”

But what I can tell you is that there are certain things you want to avoid.

One is water-based products. Lotions, for example, tend to be primarily made of water. That means they evaporate fast and might also contain preservatives that burn sensitive, broken skin. 

Water is also alkaline, which is not good for the skin. Skin is acidic, and making it alkaline dries it out even more, leading to… you guessed it, a worsening of your child’s skin problems.

Look for products that are oil-based instead. The more oil, the better it tends to be for eczema-prone skin. Moisturizers that feel greasy (like creams and ointments) are more effective for keeping skin hydrated, and for keeping irritants out.

If you need help, I've got you covered. With Conquer Your Child's Rashesᵀᴹ (CYCRᵀᴹ) Online, we dive super deep into what's going on with your child's skin from the outside in, and what you can do to best support what's happening ON your child's skin, while we work on those internal root causes for the problem. The first module of the course is dedicated to this! To learn more and get started RIGHT NOW --> CLICK HERE

Your child's skin biome + their itchy rashes

Let's dive right into an often overlooked aspect of your child's skin rash struggles... their skin microbiome!

Ever wonder about the community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses living on your child's skin?

If not, I bet you do now 

Let's talk skin flora - the heroes (and sometimes villains) of those tiny ecosystems we call kids!

What's the Deal with Skin Flora?

Your child's skin is an active ecosystem of millions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses – collectively known as the skin microbiome. When these guys (and gals) are harmoniously balanced, life is good!

They work together to create a protective shield, guarding against unwanted invaders from the outside world.

But When the Balance Tips... Houston, We Have a Problem

When the skin flora gets out of balance, it can get itchy.   A dysbiotic situation (when the flora is out of whack) can break down the skin barrier, making it leaky and, you guessed it, itchy.

Different Strokes for Different Folks (and Body Parts!)

Interestingly, the makeup of skin flora varies in different locations!

Moist spots (hello, elbow and knee creases!) might get overrun with Staphylococcus, the uninvited guest known to worsen eczema and itch.

On the other hand, fungal flora, like Malassezia, is more likely to cause problems on the core, armpits, feet, and even the scalp (cue cradle cap).

And those viruses 

Viruses like Molluscum and hand, foot, and mouth disease can add their own flavor to the mix. These party crashers are more about the person than the location on the body.

What you can do about it

One of my all-time favorite strategies for helping to balance the skin microbiome is using probiotics on the skin.

MegaSporeBiotic can be used on the skin! Open a capsule, use a moisturizer of choice on the skin, sprinkle on a little MegaSpore, massage it in, and leave it on.

Raw fermented sauerkraut juice can be used on the skin, too. Dab a cotton ball moistened with kraut juice on rashes.

There are also a variety of commercially available products that contain probiotics and even prebiotics for the skin.

Respond to this email and LMK...

Have you tried probiotics on your child's skin? 

Your guide to healthy skin, 

Jennifer

PS. I'll be totally transparent here, this is one of the hardest parts of the journey. That's for two reasons:

1) Everyone is different, and

2) Skin problems are more than skin deep, and an “inside-out” approach can be necessary to get to the root cause of the problem

If you need help, I've got you covered. With Conquer Your Child's Rashesᵀᴹ (CYCRᵀᴹ) Online, we dive super deep into what's going on with your child's skin from the outside in! The first module is dedicated to this, and we start there because when I've asked what your biggest challenge is, for most, it's managing your child's skin symptoms.

*Always read labels to make sure it’s safe for your child. Try options one at a time, and spot-check before using broadly.

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!

Foods that cause leaky gut

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 

Foods that help heal leaky gut

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

Can food allergies be reversed or prevented?

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

Will antihistamines help your child’s itchy skin?

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!

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

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!