The Challenges of Parenting a Child With Eczema

Meghan Elliott, a busy mother of two from Kankakee, Illinois, was taken aback when her newborn son, Charlie, was diagnosed with eczema. Determined to help him, Elliott immersed herself in research to ensure he received the best care possible.

“Charlie had rough, scaly, bumpy skin,” says Elliott, an operations manager at the marketing company Mayhill Moon. Initially, the inflammation was confined to his cheeks and thighs but later spread to his elbows. “My son’s pediatrician diagnosed him with moderate to severe eczema and recommended seeing a pediatric dermatologist.” However, Elliott faced a lengthy waitlist, which she found “extremely frustrating.”

Taking matters into her own hands, Elliott learned that many children with eczema also have moderate to severe food allergies. “Given the delay in seeing a dermatologist, I decided to consult a pediatric allergist. Thankfully, they saw him quickly, and we discovered Charlie is severely allergic to all forms of eggs and has a lactose intolerance.”

This discovery was pivotal. “Now, we apply CeraVe Healing Ointment to his cheeks and chin before and after meals to prevent skin irritation,” Elliott explains. “The ointment acts as a barrier to any food that could trigger a flare-up.”

The emotional strain of worry and constant care is significant. “Parenting a child with eczema and food allergies is exhausting and frustrating,” Elliott admits. “But it’s crucial to push for the help your child needs. My advice to other parents in similar situations is to always be your child’s advocate. They can’t advocate for themselves, so it’s our responsibility to do it for them.”

Karen Fischer is an award-winning nutritionist and author based on Australia’s Gold Coast. She is dedicated to helping people with eczema through her online support network and is the owner of Skin Friend, a skin care company. Her commitment to eczema relief is driven by her personal experience and that of her daughter, Ayva, now 22.

“I have lived the pain of head-to-toe eczema,” Fischer explains. “I have health practitioner qualifications, but I didn’t truly understand eczema until I experienced it myself.”

Fischer began dealing with eczema before becoming pregnant with Ayva. “My eczema started as a tiny patch,” she recalls. “After a bout of work stress, it suddenly spread to my entire body. Every time I ate, it would spread. Some nights, the itch was so bad I couldn’t sleep. I had to constantly wash my sheets, couldn’t eat out with friends, and was socially isolated. No one understood, and I spent a lot of time at home crying.”

Recognizing the connection between food and her flare-ups, Fischer closely examined her diet. “Your skin is literally made from the foods you eat, so it made sense to change my diet,” she says. “Genetics play a role, but I believe that eating healthy, low-chemical foods can compensate for these genetic defects.” By identifying and eliminating trigger foods, Fischer was able to improve her condition.

Today, both mother and daughter are happy and healthy. “Eczema is a complicated skin disorder and everyone is quick to give you advice,” Fischer says. However, she offers some of her own: “Healthy eating is the long-term, permanent solution.”