Please be aware that we are not doctors, and this is purely informational, not advice. Even better, we are parents, armed with both anecdotal evidence and holistic health research (BrightAnswers.AI).
Our son spent his first 37 days of life in the NICU (to learn more about this experience, along with other great holistic parenting information, read our book – Pure Bloods). While there, we noticed small rashes on occasion and began managing it using breastmilk and coconut oil. It was not concerning enough for the doctors and nurses to intervene at the time.
After being at home for a month or so, his skin worsened and we became more concerned. It was obvious that he was uncomfortable and itchy.
When we consulted with our direct primary care family doctor, his advice fell right in line with mainstream medical care: steroid creams and antibiotics. He also mentioned a possible food allergy, such as dairy or gluten. We will discuss why this approach is the standard advice, as well as the holistic solutions that address the underlying issues rather than simply suppress the symptoms.
What causes eczema?
Eczema issues are commonly misconstrued as primarily a skin condition. However, more often, the skin condition is a symptom of underlying issues within the body. Eczema is often a manifestation of gut dysbiosis, food sensitivities, or exposure to environmental toxins. The foundational step is to clean up the infant’s environment and diet.
Based on our research, the cause of our son’s eczema was two-fold. First, being in the NICU, he was not able to breastfeed immediately after birth, thus not receiving the beneficial breastmilk (called colostrum) right away. Colostrum offers many beneficial nutrients that are important for the development of the gut and immune system. Second, a 10-day dose of antibiotics given during his NICU stay most likely disrupted the initial gut flora. A combination of these events also caused immune system dysregulation.
Why choose a holistic approach?
In general, natural medicine, nutrition, and holistic strategies are superior to pharmaceutical interventions for treating health conditions. From this perspective, addressing eczema in a baby requires a holistic approach that focuses on the root causes rather than simply suppressing symptoms.
It is important to understand why you have likely never heard the holistic solutions (listed below) from your doctor. The pharmaceutical industry has no incentive to promote natural remedies. There is no patent on turmeric or chamomile. Huge profits come from steroid creams and immunosuppressant drugs, which only manage symptoms without addressing the cause. As author Sheena Meredith explains in her book Eczema, many effective natural treatments are ignored or dismissed because they do not fit the conventional medical model that prioritizes drugs over healing. The truth is that herbs and supplements can be just as effective, if not more so, without the side effects.
Holistic solutions to infant eczema
When using natural remedies, it is often recommended to attack the problem from multiple angles. Approaching issues holistically means that you are viewing the entire body as a whole and working toward complete health. Showing symptoms, especially on the skin (as the skin is a detox organ), can be a result of several underlying issues. Therefore, consider choosing several of these solutions to help your infant.
The benefit of using natural remedies with a holistic approach is there are fewer (if any) risks to their use, unlike pharmaceutical drugs which often come with many risks and unwanted side effects.
PROBIOTICS
For a baby, the most critical source of probiotics comes from the mother if she is breastfeeding. A nursing mother should prioritize a whole-foods diet rich in fermented foods like raw sauerkraut, kimchi, and unsweetened yogurt, or a high-quality probiotic supplement herself to pass beneficial bacteria through her milk.
For the baby directly, probiotics should be introduced with extreme caution. Look for a high-quality, multi-strain probiotic liquid or powder specifically formulated for infants, free from synthetic fillers, sugars, and common allergens like dairy or soy. The strains most commonly associated with skin and immune health, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis, are often recommended, but a diverse blend is generally superior.
However, supplementing with probiotics alone is insufficient. The baby’s diet must be free from processed foods, sugars, and inflammatory oils, which feed pathogenic gut bacteria and promote systemic inflammation.
NUTRITION (AKA FOOD AS MEDICINE)
- Baby Formulas
In the event your baby is formula-fed, consider a clean, organic, goat-milk-based formula or a homemade formula from a trusted source, as these are often easier to digest and less allergenic than conventional cow-milk formulas.
- Vitamin D, Zinc, and Quercetin
Some naturopaths and researchers have suggested that more time spent outdoors with exposure to natural microbes are a great start to healing baby’s skin and any underlying conditions.
Vitamin D is essential for immune regulation. Many people with eczema are deficient in this sunshine vitamin. Safe sun exposure is the best source, but supplementation can help during darker months.
Zinc is another mineral that supports immune function and skin healing. Quercetin, a natural antihistamine found in onions, apples, and capers, can stabilize mast cells and reduce the release of histamine, which drives itching. These nutrients work together, not as a magic bullet, but as a team to rebuild the body’s natural balance.
- Anti-Inflammatory Foods
To heal, you must first heal your gut. Anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, berries, and healthy fats help calm this immune overreaction, allowing your gut to repair and your skin to follow suit. This is not a theory; it’s a well-documented strategy used by natural healers for decades.
Greens like kale, collards, and spinach are rich in antioxidants and fiber, which feed beneficial gut bacteria and lower inflammatory markers.
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts also support detoxification pathways, helping your liver clear toxins that can exacerbate eczema.
Start with a simple goal: fill half your plate with vegetables at every meal or make a smoothie daily with berries, kale/spinach, and flax seeds.
Turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon contain compounds that block inflammatory pathways in the body. Turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, has been extensively studied for its ability to reduce inflammation without side effects. Bryce Wylde, in “The antioxidant prescription how to use the power of antioxidants to prevent disease and stay healthy for life,” describes how antioxidants in spices protect cells from damage and lower oxidative stress. You can easily add turmeric to soups, stir-fries, or warm milk. A pinch of black pepper enhances curcumin absorption. Ginger tea is soothing and helps calm digestive inflammation, which is especially helpful if your eczema is linked to food sensitivities.
Try this delicious Anti-Inflammatory Spiced Hot Cocoa!
Fermented foods play a critical role in restoring gut health and reducing inflammation. Foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt (if you tolerate dairy), and kefir are rich in probiotics that replenish beneficial bacteria in your gut. Coconut yogurt, also rich in probiotics, is a great non-dairy yogurt alternative.
A healthy gut microbiome prevents the immune system from overreacting to harmless triggers. In “Eat Fat Get Thin,” Mark Hyman discusses how comparing a vegan diet of processed foods to a diet of healthy vegetables and grass-fed meat is not helpful, but he stresses that the quality of food matters enormously. Fermented foods help break down toxins and reduce the leaky gut that drives eczema. Start with a small serving of sauerkraut or kimchi each day, and soon you may notice less itching and calmer skin.
More anecdotal evidence: There was noticeable improvement of our son’s skin and overall itchiness, after just one week of adding homemade sauerkraut and kimchi (using locally grown, organic produce) to mom’s diet.
Low-glycemic fruits like berries, cherries, and apples are excellent choices for long-term relief. They provide fiber and antioxidants without spiking blood sugar. High blood sugar promotes inflammation by increasing insulin and oxidative stress. By choosing berries over sugary snacks, you support stable blood sugar levels.
The dark color of blueberries and blackberries comes from anthocyanins, powerful anti-inflammatory compounds. Liana Werner Gray’s “Cancer Free with Food” emphasizes the importance of eating organic fruits to avoid pesticide residues that can trigger eczema flare-ups.
Aim for a handful of berries as a daily snack or add them to smoothies.
- Essential Fatty Acids
Essential fatty acids are another critical piece. Many eczema patients lack the ability to properly convert omega-6 fatty acids into anti-inflammatory compounds like gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Patrick Holford, in “The Family Nutrition Workbook”, points out that not everyone is good at converting linoleic acid into GLA. This is why taking evening primrose oil or borage oil, both rich in GLA, can be so effective. They provide the body with the ready-made GLA it needs to cool inflammation. Omega-3s from fish oil also help, by reducing the production of inflammatory signals.
See black currant seed oil below for a topical solution for GLA.
Foods like wild-caught salmon, sardines, and flaxseeds are excellent sources of omega-3s. These fats not only calm skin inflammation but also support the integrity of your cell membranes, making your skin more resilient.
- Herbs & Supplements
When choosing herbs and supplements, quality matters greatly. Many commercial products have fillers and low-quality extracts. Look for organic, full-spectrum extracts from reputable sources.
Prepare herbs yourself when possible — a simple chamomile tea or a turmeric milk can be very effective. Remember, your body is not a machine to be forcibly controlled. It is a living garden that needs proper nourishment and gentle care. Immune-modulating herbs and supplements are tools to help restore the garden’s natural health.
Chamomile and calendula are wonderful, as they can be used internally as teas or applied topically in creams to soothe irritated skin.
Herbs like basil, rosemary, and oregano also offer anti-inflammatory benefits beyond flavor. They contain essential oils that calm immune responses. You can use fresh herbs generously in cooking or drink them as teas. Nettle tea, in particular, has been used traditionally to soothe allergic reactions and skin conditions.
TOPICAL SOLUTIONS
Avoid commercial lotions and creams loaded with toxic chemicals and artificial fragrances. The skin is a major organ of elimination, and applying harsh chemicals can worsen the condition.
Instead, use natural, unrefined coconut oil, shea butter, or calendula-infused oils to soothe and moisturize the skin without introducing toxins.
- Black currant seed oil
Applying pure Black Currant Seed Oil directly to the skin is a natural option for addressing an eczema outbreak. Watch this video from Dr. Eric Berg to learn more.
Anecdotally, we noticed a reduction of skin irritation on our son after about a week of implementing this solution.
- Frankincense
Boswellia, also known as frankincense, is a resin that has been used in traditional medicine for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It works by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme that triggers inflammation. This makes it especially useful for chronic inflammatory conditions like eczema. You can take Boswellia in capsule form or use the essential oil topically. Shirley Price and Len Price, in their comprehensive text ‘Aromatherapy for Health Professionals’, note that frankincense oil has strong anti-inflammatory effects on the skin and can help reduce the redness and swelling associated with eczema. It is also safe for long-term use when properly diluted, unlike corticosteroids which cause skin thinning and adrenal suppression.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETOX
Ensuring the baby is not exposed to environmental pollutants, synthetic fragrances in laundry detergents, or electromagnetic fields (EMFs) is also crucial, as these stressors can weaken the immune system and trigger inflammatory skin responses. As a bonus, an environmental detox is beneficial for the whole family!
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Conclusion
While this may seem like simple advice, it aligns with the wisdom of natural medicine that has been suppressed by a medical system that profits from chronic illness instead of curing it. When you choose herbs and whole foods, you take back control of your health from institutions that often prioritize drugs over healing.
Long-term relief from eczema is not found in a tube of steroid cream but in the daily choices you make at the grocery store and in your kitchen. By focusing on anti-inflammatory foods — vegetables, healthy fats, spices, fermented foods, and low-glycemic fruits — you address the root causes of inflammation and gut dysfunction.
Some people find that turmeric aggravates their skin if they are sensitive to nightshades, while others thrive on ginger tea. The beauty of natural medicine is that it honors your individual biochemistry and allows you to become your own healer. Start with one herb at a time, use high-quality sources, and be patient.
This approach respects your body’s innate ability to heal when given the right tools. It empowers you as an individual to make decisions based on truth and transparency, not on marketing from pharmaceutical companies. Start small. Add one new food this week. Over time, these changes accumulate into a lifestyle that naturally reduces eczema flare-ups and supports vibrant health. Your skin is a mirror of your internal terrain. Feed it well, and it will thank you.
To continue learning, check out this free book from Brightlearn.AI.