Eczema is incredibly common in babies and children, but what if the skin is only showing us part of the story? In this episode, Dr. Morgan MacDermott sits down with holistic nurse, clinical herbalist, and pediatric eczema practitioner Abbie Bradford to unpack the many factors that can contribute to eczema and why there isn’t one universal cause or solution. They discuss the connection between eczema, gut health, food allergies and sensitivities, the microbiome, antibiotics, C-sections, breastfeeding, environmental exposures, and mold. Abbie also explains why the last thing that happened before a flare isn’t necessarily the root cause, when food-based topicals may be problematic for babies, how to think about probiotics and stool testing, and which practical changes parents can start with at home. They also cover mold testing, breastfeeding and elimination diets, allergy testing, topical care, red light, bathing, and why some children may eventually “grow out” of eczema without actually addressing what was happening underneath. Most importantly, this conversation gives parents a framework for thinking about eczema without getting overwhelmed by the endless list of possible triggers. Rather than chasing one cause, Abbie explains how to look at the whole picture and identify the factors that may be contributing to a child’s individual presentation.
00:00 Trailer + Introduction
02:47 Why Eczema Is More Than a Skin Problem
06:00 How Common Is Childhood Eczema?
09:40 Eczema Is a Symptom, Not the Root Cause
11:00 Can Food-Based Lotions Make Eczema Worse?
13:28 Vaccines, Immune Reactivity & the “Bucket” Analogy
19:42 Are Food Allergies Causing Eczema?
21:44 When Baby Rashes Are Normal vs. Concerning
23:09 The Gut-Eczema Connection
25:47 Mold & Environmental Triggers
32:04 How to Test Your Home for Mold
38:00 Why Indoor Mold Can Become a Problem
40:32 Can Eczema Happen Even Without Antibiotics or Medical Interventions?
42:54 Probiotics & Gut Testing for Eczema
44:16 Tiny Health vs. GI Map: What Parents Should Know
47:55 When Probiotics Can Make Eczema Worse
49:57 Gut Healing, Herbs & Why “Killing” Too Soon Can Backfire
54:44 The First Things Parents Can Do at Home
61:01 Breastfeeding, Elimination Diets & Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy
67:57 Will My Child Grow Out of Eczema?
72:17 Are Allergy Tests Helpful?
74:36 Topicals, Red Light & Caring for Eczema-Prone Skin
77:21 Bathing, Moisturizing & Why It Depends
79:23 Final Thoughts for Parents
Resources From This Episode:
- Check out Abby’s Website – https://www.myvibranthealth.net/
- Follow Abby on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/_abbiebradford/
- ERMI Mold Dust Test – https://moldtesting.com/
- IEP (Indoor Environmental Professional) List – https://iseai.org/iep-list/
- Tiny Health Stool Test – https://tinyhealth.myshopify.com/?rfsn=8737966.461e18&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=8737966.461e18
- Evivo Probiotic – https://www.evivo.com/
- ION Biome Gut Support – https://intelligenceofnature.com/products/gut-health-supplement
- Check out Free to Feed on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/free.to.feed/
- Dairy Free Breastfeeding Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/dairyfreediet.breastfeeding/
- Lumebox Red Light Therapy Device, use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER – https://thelumebox.com/pages/lb68/?_ef_transaction_id=&oid=3&affid=4336&discount=healthyasamotherpodcast
- Active Skin Repair – https://shop.bldgactive.com/discount/HEALTHYMOTHER
- Alba Un-Petroleum Jelly
- Dr. Morgan’s Pediatric Sickness Course
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