What Teaching My Daughter to Read Taught Me About Eczema Healing
When I was deep in the eczema trenches with my kids, I needed an eczema healing plan—not another cream, not more guesswork, but a real, workable path forward. I never imagined that teaching one of them to read would bring it all rushing back. But recently, while helping my third daughter Barbara learn to read, I realized something huge: healing eczema and teaching a child to read both demand the same things—the right plan, consistency, and a whole lot of trust in the process.
In this post, I want to walk you through that parallel journey—and help you see how choosing the right eczema healing plan can make all the difference.
Listen Below For The Entire Episode on The Eczema Kids Podcast
The Long Game of Learning (and Healing)
We homeschool, and while I’d love to say we have a solid routine, the reality is… we’re often catching up in July. That might sound late to some, but honestly? It works for us. We stay in rhythm. We don’t lose momentum. And I’ve realized that this kind of intentional consistency—even when imperfect—is exactly what eczema healing requires too.
Just like taking a long break from phonics makes it harder to return, pausing or scrambling through eczema protocols without a real plan makes the healing process feel endless, disjointed, and frustrating.
“You can’t will your child into healing any more than you can wish them into reading. It’s not about trying harder—it’s about finding the right curriculum.” -Andra McHugh
When It’s Not Clicking, And You Start to Doubt Everything
Teaching my third daughter Barbara to read was not like it was with my first two. My older daughters picked it up quickly. One even gave me the exact answers the curriculum predicted—every teacher’s dream, right?
But Barbara? Barbara gave me a run for it. She resisted. She avoided. And day after day, it just didn’t click.
I kept asking myself:
“Am I doing something wrong?”
“Shouldn’t she be further along by now?”
“Is there something wrong with her… or with me?”
And I know you’ve had those exact thoughts if you’re trying to heal your child’s eczema.
Clean Eating, Detox Baths, and Still No Progress?
You’re doing it all:
✔️ Cutting inflammatory foods
✔️ Ditching chemicals
✔️ Following specialists’ advice
✔️ Using “the good” creams
✔️ Googling ingredients at 11:00 p.m.
✔️ Waking up every night to itching and crying
And still—your child’s skin isn’t clear.
Still—you feel like you’re failing.
But friend, I promise: you’re not the problem.
The problem is the plan. Or rather, the lack of one.
Stop Piecing Together Your Own Curriculum
Back to Barbara—after months of frustration, I finally tried a different reading curriculum. One that actually aligned with how her brain works. It wasn’t about memorizing sight words or forcing her through the same lessons her sisters did.
And you know what happened?
Progress. Real, visible, steady progress.
That pit in my stomach loosened. I could exhale. Not because everything was perfect—but because I knew we were finally on the right track.
Eczema healing is the same. You don’t need to try harder—you need to stop following the wrong “curriculum” or patching together 14 different ones from Instagram posts and random practitioner visits.
What the Right Eczema Healing Plan Looks Like
A good eczema healing plan isn’t just a list of things to avoid.
It’s:
- A clear framework that works with your child’s body—not against it
- A plan that gives you confidence that you’re doing the right things, even when progress feels slow
- Tools that reduce symptoms gently while the deeper healing happens
- The right sequence—because giving supplements without gut prep, or detoxing without drainage support, can backfire
- Support from someone who’s lived it and understands your values
And that’s what I built into the Eczema Elimination Method—a roadmap I wish I had when I was waking up every night with bleeding, itchy babies.
You Can’t Will Your Child into Healing
This might be hard to hear, but I say it with love:
You can’t force eczema to go away with effort alone.
Just like I couldn’t will Barbara into reading fluently no matter how many hours I logged or tears I cried. I needed the right structure.
The same is true for your child’s skin. You can’t detox and cream and supplement your way out without a plan that actually works.
And if you’ve been managing eczema with prescriptions, appointments, and crossed fingers—it’s time to try something better.
What’s NOT an Eczema Healing Plan (But We Keep Being Told It Is)
“They’ll grow out of it.”
“Just use the steroid.”
“Have you tried cutting dairy?”
“Let’s run $3,000 worth of testing on your 14-month-old.”
“Maybe they have ADHD.”
“It’s just something you’ll have to manage.”
Sound familiar?
This kind of advice is well-meaning, but it’s passive. It’s reactive. And it doesn’t solve the root of the problem.
What Actually Helped Us Heal Eczema
We needed an approach that addressed our kids as whole people—not a set of symptoms. And we needed something that was gentle, effective, and doable from home.
That’s what finally brought our kids back to calm, clear skin—and sleep.
Here’s what we used as the foundation:
🌿 The Skin Comfort Trio
- Herbal Oil to deeply nourish and soothe inflammation
- Comfort Spray (our anti-itch, anti-staph superhero)
- Soothing Cream to lock in moisture and repair the skin barrier
These products helped us create consistency and comfort while we worked on gut healing and detox from the inside out.
The Healing Plan That Works, Because It’s Built for Families Like Yours
The Eczema Elimination Method walks you through every piece:
- Food protocols and healing meal plans
- Home detox strategies
- Supplement guides tailored by age and sensitivity
- Skincare routines that work with—not against—the skin’s natural function
- Coaching and community so you’re never left guessing
And no, it doesn’t require you to go broke on fancy labs or be a chef-level meal prepper.
You get lifetime access and the ability to go at your pace. Whether that’s slow and steady or full steam ahead—the method meets you where you are.
A Curriculum for Healing
When Barbara finally started reading, it didn’t feel like fireworks—it felt like alignment.
Like clarity. Like finally turning the page after months stuck on the same one.
That’s what I want for you, too.
Healing eczema doesn’t have to feel like a forever project.
You just need a plan that works.
Want 30% Off the Healing Tools?
Write a quick review for the Eczema Kids Podcast, send a screenshot to support@eczemakids.com, and I’ll send you a 30% off code—good for everything in the Eczema Kids Shop, including the Eczema Elimination Method.
Exhausted and Overwhelmed By Your Child’s Eczema?
If you’re in the thick of it—if the flare-ups keep coming and the exhaustion is real—please know this: I see you. I was you.
There is a way forward. There is an eczema healing plan that works.
And I’d be honored to walk that road with you.
These articles will help you implement your eczema healing plan; Eczema Healing Through a Staycation, Eczema Safe Snacks and Your 911 Plan for an Eczema Flare.
FAQ
What makes your eczema healing plan different from what we’ve already tried?
Most eczema advice focuses on temporary relief—creams, steroids, or random elimination diets. The Eczema Elimination Method is different because it addresses the root causes of eczema with a step-by-step plan that supports gut healing, immune balance, and detoxification. It’s not just about what to avoid—it’s about what your child’s body actually needs to heal.
My child’s eczema is severe. Will this plan still work?
Yes. In fact, the method was built during the most severe eczema flare of my life—when my daughter’s skin was falling off head to toe and no one was sleeping. The plan is gentle, proven, and customizable to meet your child where they are, whether they’re flaring constantly or just can’t seem to get fully clear.
