Childhood Eczema Rates Are Climbing: What Parents Should Know
This month marks the one-year anniversary of my TEDx talk, “Why Childhood Eczema Rates Are a Universal Alarm.” When I first prepared for that talk, I knew I wanted to speak about eczema. But not just eczema as an itchy skin condition. I wanted to talk about eczema as a signal. A signal that children’s […]
When Eczema Keeps Your Child Up: How to Stop the Scratching
When eczema keeps your child up at night, it affects far more than just their skin. Unfortunately, this is a scenario I’ve seen play out far too many times in my twenty years of pediatrics. A child with eczema can’t sleep because the itching is relentless. They wake up multiple times throughout the night, scratching, […]
Itchy Skin After Swimming? Natural Ways to Soothe Sensitive Skin
Does your child get itchy skin after swimming in pools, ponds, lakes, or the ocean? For kids with sensitive skin, eczema, or allergies, summer activities can sometimes lead to itchy skin after swimming, along with irritation, red bumps, and uncomfortable flare-ups. In fact, chlorine, algae, sand, sunscreen, and sun exposure can all contribute to skin […]
Easy Summer Eczema Prevention Tips for Kids: Swimming Edition
Summer should be filled with beach days, pool parties, vacations, and time outside—not worrying about eczema flare-ups. That’s why summer eczema prevention tips are so important for families who want their children to enjoy the season comfortably. One of our patients recently came in for a follow-up, and her mom shared something that made me […]
Winter Eczema Flare: Why It Happens and How to Calm It
It’s not uncommon for eczema to flare in January. Right after the holidays—post heavy meals and extra sugar that can deplete the microbiome—and the air is cold and dry. It’s the perfect storm to wreak havoc on our skin. Winter skin hydration and maintaining a healthy skin barrier are more important than ever to prevent […]
Eczema-Friendly Skincare Routine: Easy At-Home Guide
Previously, I took a deep dive into the relationship between the gut microbiome and eczema (you can read more about that in my other blog post). However, I often get asked about the best eczema-friendly skincare routine, especially in the colder, drier winter months. Let’s explore the skin microbiome and how it impacts eczema. While […]
How to Limit Sugar on Halloween
I always recommend to limit sugar on Halloween as an integrative pediatrician. Despite this, Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. My elementary school in Avon Lake, Ohio, circa 1980, had a big Halloween costume contest each year. One year, I decided early on that I was going to win. The preparation for my witch costume started […]
Household Triggers of Eczema: How to Reduce Irritants
Is your home making your child’s eczema worse? Let’s explore the hidden household triggers of eczema. I’ve talked a lot about how both the skin and the gut microbiome affect eczema. While these do have a profound impact on eczema, I want to shine a light on something that we often see fly under the radar: the environment inside your […]
How to Avoid Post-Pool Day Meltdowns
Have you ever Googled: “Why is my child losing it after swimming?” Your child is sobbing over a soggy Goldfish cracker. You’re gripping the steering wheel like it’s a stress ball. Sound familiar? Let’s talk about why pool days often end in total emotional chaos, and, more importantly, how to stop the meltdowns before they start. Here are three surprising […]
How to Treat Mosquito Bites: Our Body’s Histamine Response
Camping season is here… which means s’mores, swims, and… swarms of mosquitos (and their bites, unfortunately). So if you’re wondering how to treat mosquito bites, then you’ll want to keep reading. What is a mosquito bite, anyway? When a mosquito bites, it injects a tiny bit of saliva into the skin. This saliva contains proteins […]
