If you’re here at Eczema Kids, that means you’re looking to improve your child’s health. On the podcast and on our site we’re dedicated to sharing unconventional yet effective and safe strategies for managing and healing eczema in children.
Our main challenge isn’t just implementing these solutions, but breaking free from the dysfunctional paradigms that often keep kids unwell.
Listen Below For The Entire Episode on The Eczema Kids Podcast
Why Conventional Eczema Treatments Fall Short
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had many conversations with guests about why conventional approaches to eczema often fall short. Treatments like steroids and bleach baths might suppress symptoms temporarily, but they don’t address the root cause: inflammation. Without tackling this inflammation, it can resurface as worse eczema or transform into other issues like allergies, hay fever, or more severe conditions. This highlights the need to question mainstream treatments in healthcare, but even more crucially, to reassess the everyday factors that mainstream norms consider normal but might actually be harming our kids.
Small, Intentional Changes Make a Difference
Focusing on small, intentional changes can make a BIG difference. It’s the accumulation of tiny habits that ultimately shapes your kids’ health, and you have the power to make those choices. Even if you have older children, what goes in your home is up to you!
Here are five common things we avoid that have significantly helped our kids heal from eczema:
Improve Your Child’s Health Habit #1 – We Never Buy Ziploc Bags, Plastic Water Bottles, or Any Single-Use Plastics
The Problem with Plastic Products:
Chemical Additives:
Plastics often contain endocrine disruptors that can alter hormone activity, affecting reproduction, growth, and cognitive function. These chemicals are linked to health issues like insulin resistance, weight gain, and cancer.
Microplastics:
Microplastics can carry pathogens into the body, increasing the risk of disease. It’s estimated that people ingest tens of thousands of microplastics annually just from drinking from a plastic up every 5 days!
Leaching:
Chemicals from plastic bottles can seep into your body, especially when they contain hot, acidic, or fatty foods. Washing plastic bottles in the dishwasher can increase this leaching.
Environmental Impact:
Every piece of plastic ever made still exists, contributing to massive environmental harm.
Our Solution:
We use these stainless steel containers for lunches—they’re more durable than plastic baggies. For leftovers, we opt for glass containers unless the food needs to travel with the kids. When necessary, we use recyclable paper bags sparingly.
“A lot of our effort isn’t even in actually doing the thing, the work is in breaking away from the dysfunctional paradigm that often keeps kids sick.”
-Andra McHugh
Improve Your Child’s Health Habit #2 – Don’t Touch Receipt Paper
We avoid touching receipt paper whenever possible because it often contains toxic chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin and enter the bloodstream within minutes. Many receipts are coated with BPA or BPS for heat-activated printing. These chemicals are endocrine disruptors linked to various health issues, including cancer.
Most retailers use these types of receipts, so we make a conscious effort to minimize contact with them. I even saw someone unconsciously rubbing a receipt over their lips the other day—yikes! It’s one of those small changes that can have a big impact once you’re aware of it. Just be mindful, and you’ll find it easy to avoid handling receipts.
Our Solution:
I try my best not to let my kids touch the receipts or give them to them to hold. If you’re conscious of it, you can limit a lot of BPA exposure!
Improve Your Child’s Health Habit #3 – No Batch Cooking
I used to stress about not finding time to batch cook for the week like so many successful people do. But then I realized it’s actually for the better! Batch cooking can cause food to lose its freshness and nutrient quality. Vitamins like B and C, as well as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and protein, can degrade over time in the fridge.
For our kids with eczema, batch cooking is particularly problematic because histamine levels in food increase each day it’s stored. To keep our sanity and health, we do eat leftovers, but only the next day. There is no way I’d be able to consistently serve my kids healthy meals if we didn’t eat last night’s dinner for lunch.
This approach is a relief, too, since I bet you don’t have a spare 4 hours for batch cooking either!
Our Solution
I prep for tomorrow’s dinner the night before by quickly taking out meat to thaw or soak a grain and/or legume. I do this, along with topping off my staples like yogurt after I put my kids to bed. This process takes me 10 minutes (maybe 5), gives me a sense of peace and no one is eating high histamine food.
Improve Your Child’s Health Habit #4 – We Do Not Use Aerosol Sunscreens
We steer clear of aerosol sunscreens because they contain benzene, a Group A carcinogen. This is particularly concerning because benzene can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin, posing significant risks to anyone, especially our sensitive kiddos.
You can often smell spray sunscreen from across the pool—that’s a clear indicator of the chemicals it contains. Instead, we opt for mineral-based lotion sunscreens. It seems like a drag to rub in sunscreen on your kiddo when your neighbor just sprays away, but the stakes are so high! Just rub it in, even if you get squiggly resistance.
Our Solution
We use Badger Sunscreen right now. If your kiddo is allergic to sunflower then you need to find a different option. I’m working on an eczema-safe sunscreen to put in the Natural Eczema Solutions Shop! Stay tuned!
Improve Your Child’s Health Habit #5 – We Don’t Use Our Microwave
I know this might be controversial, but we’ve made the decision not to use our microwave. Some studies suggest that microwaving can lead to a loss of certain nutrients in food. The rapid heating process can destroy vitamins like vitamin C and some B vitamins, which are sensitive to heat and radiation.
Additionally, health advisories caution against standing directly in front of or too close to the microwave while it’s operating due to potential health risks associated with microwave radiation. Even the FDA suggests it’s dangerous. That’s enough for me.
Our Solution
Instead, we rely on the oven and stovetop for cooking. It may take a bit more time, but it’s worth it for the health benefits. Using the stove or cooktop doesn’t take any extra hands-on time, so that works for me as a busy mom of four.
Nowadays, our microwave serves as a food drawer, particularly handy when we have baked goods.
The More You Do, The More You Can Do
It’s crucial to remember the power of small, intentional changes. These tiny adjustments can have a significant impact on your children’s health and well-being over time.
So, don’t feel overwhelmed—start with just one change and gradually incorporate others into your routine. Whether it’s switching to stainless steel containers or avoiding spray sunscreen, each step you take is a step toward better health for your kids.
If you craving some extra support from people that get it, join the Natural Eczema Solutions For Kids Facebook Group. We are here for you every step of the way on your eczema journey!
If you’re looking for more low-hanging fruit that will make a big difference in your family’s health, try The Best Eczema-Healing Diet, Reducing Screen Time For Kids, or Your New Eczema-Soothing Skincare Routine.
FAQ
Why is batch cooking not recommended?
Batch cooking can lead to a loss of freshness and nutrient quality in food. This is particularly problematic for eczema sufferers, as histamine levels in food can increase with time, potentially exacerbating symptoms. If you’re confused about what to feed your child with eczema, The Natural Eczema Solutions Course is for you! Transform from red and itchy to healthy and comfortable within just 90 days!
