Baby eczema flare-ups in babies are often a sign of underlying issues within their digestive and immune systems. While food sensitivities can trigger these flare-ups, the root cause is usually deeper, stemming from an imbalance in the baby’s gut microbiome.
Food isn't the problem
Contrary to popular belief, it's not the specific foods that are the main problem. Instead, the state of the baby's gut health plays a crucial role. An unhealthy gut can lead to inflammation and a compromised immune system, which in turn can cause or exacerbate eczema.
Immediate steps you can take now
Here are three things you can start doing right away to help manage eczema and improve your baby's gut health:
1. Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is a major factor in eczema flare-ups. When the intestinal wall is compromised, the food particles and toxins entering the bloodstream can lead to widespread inflammation throughout the whole body. Focus on reducing overall inflammation in your baby’s body*. This can involve eliminating common inflammatory triggers such as processed foods, sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), artificial trans fats (such as vegan butter spreads, margarine, hydrogenated oil), industrial seed oils (such as vegetable oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, etc) and certain allergens.
Whilst reducing inflammatory foods from babies diet, a key focus also needs to be on increasing anti-inflammatory foods. Anti-inflammatory which are rich in antioxidants and help balance the immune system. This can help calm the inflammation associated with eczema*. Try incorporating as many colour vegetables, dar leafy greens (mix them into other foods or blend into smoothies and pancakes), blueberries, pineapple (raw on an empty stomach), beets, celery, coconut oil and wild salmon.
2. Ease Digestion
Food sensitivities occur from undigested food particles entering the bloodstream. Offer foods that are easier for your baby to digest. Thoroughly cooked and warm vegetables are gentler on the digestive system compared to raw and hard-to-digest foods. This helps take the pressure off your baby’s digestive system, allowing it to function more efficiently and with less stress.
Consider blended foods to also help ease digestion. This very simple act has an enormous impact on digestion. We start digesting food in the mouth so the more our teeth do, the less work the stomach and intestines have to do. For a child with a complicated digestive tract, chewing food completely helps enormously.
3. Support Gut Health
Implement a gut support protocol. This involves healing and repairing the gut lining and introducing healthy bacteria to create a balanced microbiome. A Certified Nutrition Consultant, (like myself), can guide you through this process. The goal is to fix the gut from the inside out, which can significantly improve your baby’s overall health and reduce eczema flare-ups.
My top 3 favourite ways to support gut health:
Glutamine specifically (which liver (as a food source) is high in), is a supportive amino acid, that aids in both digestion and immunity. Glutamine specifically has been recognised as the key amino acid for successfully preventing inflammation in the intestinal wall and repairing leaky gut*. My favourite way to add liver to the diet is with freeze-dried liver powder. I like these liver capsules from Cell Squared, simply open a capsule and sprinkle on to meals and/or purees. (Use code FIONA10 for a discount)
Bone broth is a rich source of gelatin, which contains collagen. And bone broth (collagen in particular) helps build connective tissue making it a key component in supporting tissue repair and sealing the intestinal wall. This is particularly important for a child that experiences food sensitivities or eczema, as a weakened intestinal barrier is one of the major causes of eczema. I love and always recommend the Norish Bone Broth - it's a powder so can be easily added to baby purees and meals.
Naturally fermented foods help diversify and populate the microbiome with good bacteria. This is essential in helping to restore and repair the gut. The naturally fermented tonics from Clover Ferments are my top picks and can be offered to babies from starting solids (use code NURTURED10 for 10% off).
The gut support protocol has been specifically created to support those with food sensitivities and eczema by — removing, rebalancing, repairing and restoring. This involves identifying food sensitivities and reducing exposure to triggers, building and diversifying the beneficial gut bacteria to rebalance the gut microbiome.
Eczema in babies is often a sign of internal issues related to gut health. By focusing on reducing inflammation, easing digestion, and supporting gut health, you can help manage and alleviate your baby’s eczema flare-ups symptoms. Remember, it’s not just about what foods to avoid but how to create a healthy, balanced gut environment for your baby.
Book a FREE discovery call to discuss your baby's eczema.
Fiona Agius
Holistic Nutrition Consultant
@mothernurtured_
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References:
*https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26400429/
[1] Oh Baby School of Holistic Nutrition 2024
[2] Oh Baby School of Holistic Nutrition 2024
