Children’s Skin Health & Eczema by Joy Wisdom

What Parents Need to Know - The Scope of the Problem

Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) is one of the most common chronic childhood conditions. Global prevalence: Eczema affects approximately 10% to 20% of children and 2% to 10% of adults worldwide. (National Eczema Association). |

Around 1 in 5 children in the UK (and globally up to 20% under age 11) are affected.

·  It often begins before age 5, with 60% of cases starting in infancy.

· Symptoms include red, itchy, inflamed skin, which can flare with food triggers, allergens, and a big factor is anxiety or stress that the condition brings.

· Children with eczema are 2–3 times more likely to experience asthma, hay fever, or allergies (the “atopic march”).

The Hidden Impacts society don’t see

Sleep disruption: Up to 60% of children with eczema have disturbed sleep, which affects concentration, learning and mood. Influences behaviour and unhappy not satisfied child. Sleep deprivation ripples to other siblings and parents too.

Emotional and Psychological effects: Children may feel embarrassed, anxious, or withdrawn. Feel different and isolated in their condition. Underlying feelings of abandonment and rejected in their condition.  No solutions brings helplessness and hopelessness. Research shows children with eczema have higher risks of low self-esteem, bullying and social anxiety.

The ripple effects are enormous with family and sibling stress: Studies reveal parents of children with eczema experience higher levels of stress, fatigue and even depression, due to ongoing care demands. Siblings miss out due to Eczema and skin disorder restrictions on the family. Siblings can feel left out with eczema condition demands upon parents taking priority over the rest of the family.

Beyond genetics and allergens, emotional and unseen factors can play a role:

· Stress responses: Even very young children produce higher cortisol levels under stress, which worsens inflammation and skin sensitivity.

· Emotional climate at home: Children are highly sensitive to parental stress, conflict, or emotional tension. Skin, being the body’s largest sensory organ, often mirrors what’s happening inside emotionally.

· Unseen trauma: Difficult birth, early separation, or medical interventions can leave imprints that surface as physical symptoms such as eczema, asthma, or gut issues.

Attachment & security plays a big role when feeling unwell: When children feel emotionally safe, their nervous system and immune system are calmer. Eczema flare-ups are often less frequent in low-stress environments.

The Bigger Picture in Children’s Health

Skin is not just a barrier;  it’s a messenger a sign post of what’s happening inside. It is the ‘result of’ and the cause or reason is elsewhere. Parental health and lack of good bacteria is an underlying factor in their children and future generations.  Transgenerational dominance or weak areas are passed down through lineage and families. The historical picture is paramount in solution innovation.  Constipation and poor excretion is an underlying factor (see article).

Underlying imbalances can include:

Ø  Nutritional gaps (iron, zinc, vitamin D, essential fatty acids).

Ø  Gut microbiome disruption (antibiotics, food intolerances).

Ø  Emotional stressors (school, friendships, family changes).

Ø  Intergenerational health patterns (eczema, asthma, allergies running in families).

Ø  Poor digestion and constipation acerbates the condition

Helping Parents Support Their Child – the JWT health treatment plan

Eczema is more than skin-deep. It reflects a child’s inner microbe gut balance, affecting body, mind, and emotions. Supporting children holistically with active intervention with nutrition, and emotional stress relief therapy, helps reduce internal sensitivities and domino reactions.  Actively reducing flare-ups, improve skin and gut resilience, and ease family stress.

Some children are affected by Eczema within days of birth. While others a slow decline internally and arrives in patches. Either way children live in distress with Eczema. Unhappy, miserable, irritable. Enormous amounts of patience and TLC are required. It isn’t their fault.  An internal reaction to a cocktail of dysfunctions requiring correcting. From experience it will take a few weeks for the health plan of correction to kick in. Symptoms will lessen with the programme of combination approaches. 

Benefits of Eczema health plan is bespoken to the child /individual :

There is no doubt eczema has a ripple effect upon all the family, by using JWT tried and tested plan the whole family can benefit.

A tested and successful approach that works, bringing relief all round.

Child will feel less distressed. Disruptive sleep patterns for child and parents reduce.

Family restrictions and stress, concerns ease.

Ø  Vitamin and mineral supplements 

Ø  Emotional release D.A.R.E methods

Ø  Diet changes

Ø  Digestive system improvements

Ø  Fractious sleep reduction

Ø  Skin irritation elimination

Practical Steps: Parents often feel out of their depth with their child’s distress and unhappiness with Eczema.

1.  Keep a flare diary (foods, stress events, environment).

2. Use gentle, non-irritant skin care and avoid harsh soaps.

3. Laundry - use gentle detergents

4. Buying clothes - avoid synthetics, buy cotton or bamboo based products.

5. Ensure balanced diet with omega-3 fats, probiotics and iron-rich foods.

6. Cool environment

7. Zinc and Vitamin C is essential to help repair and strengthen skin

8. Avoid fizzy drinks, cut down on sugar

9. Increase water intake to help toxin excretion

10.  Encourage relaxation routines (bedtime wind-down, storytelling, play).

Children need Emotional Support from parent and/or care giver:

11. Vlidate your child’s feelings about their skin, don’t dismiss the itch or embarrassment.

12.  If old enough talk them through the different aspects of their condition and why this is happening. Understanding can help to reduce the hopelessness and helplessness they may be feeling.

13.  Separation anxiety and feelings of abandonment may be felt when dropped off at nursery or school. Ensure nursery assistants/school staff understand child’s distress.

14.  Home environment – a calm, secure home environment helps to bring security and safety. Play soothing music, classical music such as Beethoven has proved to lower stress levels.

15.  Watch for signs of withdrawn behaviour, anxiety, sadness, or bullying.

Remember it’s not their fault they live with the skin result of.. yet cause can be a mix of factors.

Eczema is more than skin-deep. It reflects a child’s inner microbe gut balance, affecting body, mind, and emotions. Supporting children holistically with active intervention with nutrition, and emotional stress relief therapy, helps reduce internal sensitivities and domino reactions.  Actively reducing flare-ups, improve skin and gut resilience and ease family stress.

JWT offers a new combination approach that gets to the core of the problem. At the Joy Wisdom Trust, we address the hidden influences through D.A.R.E. - Dissolve And Resolve Emotions Therapy, reduces emotional and transitional trauma, restores calm to the nervous system, and supports the body’s natural repair. By working with both emotional imprints and physical outcomes, families gain more restful sleep, improved skin stability, and relief from constant restrictions.

💜 Eczema isn’t just skin deep — healing the inside changes everything.

Read more in Joys Pregnancy & Birth book with successful case studies on Eczema.