child putting eczema cream on

My oldest struggled with eczema from time to time, but when our house presented us with a toxic mold issue, he really flared up.

It was the worst we’d ever seen, and after 3 weeks of completely ditching gluten, dairy, and sugar (by his own choice and motivation), nothing had changed. It was heartbreaking!

I can only imagine how tough it is for parents of toddlers with eczema who can’t even communicate their pain.

My guest today digs DEEP into eczema and all the potential root causes, the importance of testing, and the wide variety of pathways to healing individual children might need.

She says a lot of parents do research and get really really close to the answer their kids needs…and then get stuck. That’s where she comes in.

Here is just a tiny preview of what we’ll touch on:

  • “Parasites overgrow in the body when there is a toxic burden!”
  • “Bowel movements are the primary elimination pathway in the body.”
  • “If kids are not having a bowel movement daily, figure out WHY that’s happening!”
  • “Mold impacts the way the brain functions and communicates with the GI tract.”
  • “Elimination depends on pooping, liver function, kidney function.”
  • “If kids have skin issues, it’s typically a sign that there’s a liver stagnation issue – like the body is pulling the emergency brake.”

If your little darlings are struggling with eczema or other skin issues, or you know someone who needs this podcast, don’t hesitate to hit play or pass it on!

Video or audio? For the first 5 years, this show “The Healthy Parenting Connector” was a video interview series. You can still watch the video, but NOW it’s also a podcast, renamed “Healthy Parenting Handbook.” Find all the episodes here or listen on your favorite podcast player:

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Can’t see the video? Watch Root Cause of Eczema here on YouTube!

No time for the video? Here are the notes!

The Root Cause of Eczema in Kids

  • 1:01: Today, we’re digging into eczema and toxic burden. If your child has skin issues or you’re just wondering about the toxic burden in your home, this episode is for you.
  • 2:28: I always want to start at the beginning. Deidre shares how she got into medicine and then how she moved to pediatrics. Her son began developing eczema as an infant, she kept digging until she got to the cause.
  • 5:13: Deidre couldn’t understand how her son had such a high toxic burden at such a young age. After further testing, she realized that he had been exposed in utero through her own toxic load. They discovered he had inflammation from mold exposure she had had as a child and mercury from fillings. 

The beautiful part is that kids are so resilient; they bounce back so quickly. -Deidre Bloomquist

  • 7:28: A functional nutritionist has a holistic approach. Deidre can order basically any test on the market, interpret the results, and write protocols that contain dietary, lifestyle, and supplement shifts. She doesn’t use medication, and she doesn’t diagnose disease.

one-page cheat sheets for the Healthy Parenting Handbook

Do you forget everything immediately? (My hand is raised …)

That’s why we created the one-page summaries of each podcast episode, in a simple Google Doc so there’s nothing to download.

Print them off and make yourself an actual handbook or just view online and search for what you want!

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What Causes High Toxic Burden in Kids?

  • 9:24: Parasitic issues are actually more common than parents usually think. Parasites tend to overgrow in people who have high toxic burdens already.
  • 10:22: Mold is a big source of toxic burden in children. Mold does not need to be in a filthy or older home. Any water damage can lead to mold.
  • 10:43: Heavy metal is a toxin typically passed to children in utero. Lead and aluminum are ones Deidre commonly sees. 
  • 10:54: BPA is another common toxin Deidre encounters in kids.
  • 11:10: We’re all being exposed to toxins; we can’t avoid them. But we can make sure we’re eliminating them effectively. Many kids with high toxic burdens are constipated. Bowel movements are the primary elimination pathway for the body to remove toxins. Kids should have at least one bowel movement daily.

There are toxins that kids are being exposed to. There is no way to avoid all of them. There is no point in stressing about avoiding all of them. -Deidre Bloomquist

  • 13:22: Test, don’t guess. Testing can get very expensive, but it can tell you exactly what you’re dealing with and what you need to do, so you aren’t bumbling around in the dark trying different supplements and diets with no results. 

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The Link Between Skin Issues and Liver Function

  • 14:07: Our livers detox everything we come in contact with. If a child has any skin issues, they probably have liver stagnation. 
  • 15:33: Deidre shares some of the details of detoxing a child from mold. Mold can actually begin to colonize in the body, so even if you remove yourself from the source of the mold, symptoms will continue because it’s inside you.
  • 17:56: Toxic burden is different for everyone. You can have siblings living in the same home who will have very different toxic burdens because of slight differences in their genetics. Everyone has different abilities to process toxins.
  • 20:23: Our stress and anxiety levels impact our physical health more than we might think.

Kids often don’t have the tools to regulate their nervous systems, and we have to be able to coach them on that and create those habits with them. -Deidre Bloomquist

  • 22:51: Deidre shares a story about a little boy who had full-body eczema, which cleared within 2 weeks of moving away from a moldy house. 

Chemicals in Pajamas?

Kids spend about half their time in bed and pajamas. Most kids PJs are laced with toxic flame-retardant chemicals or made with fabrics that will melt when exposed to flames and we say “No thank you!” to those in our house!

kimball family in non-toxic jammies

It’s tricky to find non-toxic pajamas, but I’ve got you covered! Some of our favorite brands of non-toxic PJs:

Read more about why to choose organic, non-toxic pajamas.

  • 25:49: Another boy Deidre worked with had severe eczema with open, weeping sores. He was exposed to mold in utero, and after a few months of healing protocols, his skin was clear.
  • 29:05: As a functional nutritionist, Deidre has two pieces of advice. First, keep blood sugar in mind. Focus on protein-rich foods and healthy fats. Second, make sure you’re getting enough fiber through fruits and vegetables. 

Kids are very intuitive. They know what their body needs. -Deidre Bloomquist

  • 33:00: Deidre works virtually if you’re interested in some of the testing she’s talked about and can’t find a practitioner to work with locally. She can do toxic load testing, stool test, and food sensitivity, among other things.
  • 34:18: We end with one practical step you can take today. Look at your air quality. If air filters are not in the budget, open your windows and doors and get outside to breathe some fresh air.

Resources We Mentioned for Eczema in Kids

Deidre BloomquistDeidre Bloomquist is a functional nutritionist and a studying naturopathic doctor who owns Always Growing Wellness, a virtual practice that serves clients across the United States. She leads a team of practitioners who work with women to resolve a wide range of digestive issues and hormone imbalances, as well as a dedicated pediatric practice focused on eczema. She specializes in addressing complex health issues, but reducing toxin burden, and she’s an advocate of assessing toxin burden in the preconception phase to not only support fertility, but to promote health and healing for generations to come. She’s the author of Toxic Infertility: Detoxification Solutions to Improve Natural Fertility.