Healing From The Inside Out: A Closer Look At Childhood Skin Conditions
Each Wednesday throughout January, we will be publishing an article by Dr. Ayla Wilson, ND, who will be providing us with a naturopathic perspective on some of our most common questions. Today, she covers how to treat common skin conditions in young children.
Many frustrated parents enter my office with little ones covered in itchy, red, flakey, irritated skin. Cradle cap, eczema, and psoriasis are among the most common skin conditions that present in infancy and early childhood.
Conventional treatment
Conventional treatment usually includes a corticosteroid or petroleum-based cream. However, many parents aren’t satisfied with the results from these treatments or aren’t comfortable starting their child on prescription medication.
Corticosteroids are known to thin the skin and cause suppression of the immune system and the underlying disease process. This may improve the eczema, but can lead to new problems such as asthma and allergies.
Petroleum-based creams, such as Vaseline, are used topically to mask the symptoms of itchiness and flaking. Many children are, in fact, sensitive to petroleum and these creams can worsen the problem.
Neither corticosteroids nor petroleum creams treat the underlying cause of the skin condition.
Cradle cap
Cradle cap is commonly seen in infants and shouldn’t persist after the first 3 months. This time of dermatitis is usually due to a biotin deficiency. Biotin is a B vitamin produced by the good bacteria in your child’s digestive tract. Many infants do not have sufficient good bacteria to produce enough biotin in the early weeks of their life, especially if they were not breastfed or were not delivered vaginally. Moms who are breastfeeding their children can supplement with biotin which will be transferred through the breast milk to the infant.
A probiotic supplement consisting of good bacteria (Lactobacilis acidophilus, Lactobacilis casei, and Bifidobacterium infantis) that belong in your child’s digestive tract will help your infant produce more biotin. Probiotics also support the immune system and reduce allergies and dermatitis by aiding with digestion. Only a probiotic specifically formulated for infants or children should be used.
Coconut oil or olive oil can be rubbed on the child’s head if a topical treatment in necessary to ease the flaking and irritation, although many infants don’t seem to mind their cradle cap.
Eczema and psoriasis
Although eczema and psoriasis are different conditions, the first-line treatment for them is the same, especially in children who usually respond well to little intervention.
Eczema usually manifests as red, itchy, pustular patches on the face, hands, and flexor creases of the wrists, elbows and knees. Psoriasis is easy to identify as it causes flakey, silvery plaques on the extensor surfaces of the knees, elbows, neck and back.
Nursing moms should avoid wheat, dairy and sugar in their diet. If the skin condition persists in her breastfed infant, Mom can have her food sensitivities tested by her naturopathic doctor to identify other foods that may be causing a reaction. A child on solid foods should also have his food sensitivities tested and follow a delayed food introduction schedule, avoiding the more allergenic foods until his immune system is more developed.
Probiotics are also beneficial in cases of eczema and psoriasis as they modulate the immune system activity and improve food digestion. Omega 3 oils can also be used in young children. EPA and DHA are omega 3 fats that are anti-inflammatory, support normal immune system function, and help build the cell membranes for healthy skin cells. A nursing mom can supply EPA and DHA to her child through her breast milk by fortifying her diet with omega 3 oils and wild coldwater fish such as salmon and mackerel.
Parents should consult with a naturopathic doctor before starting any supplement or dietary program with their child to ensure suitable application, administration and dosage. A nursing mom should always consult with her naturopathic doctor or healthcare practitioner before starting any supplements or making dietary alterations as these changes may affect her newborn.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Dr Ayla Wilson attended the University of British Columbia for her pre-med education before attending the Naturopathic Medicine program at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster.
Photo courtesy of www.draylawilson.com
