When my son was two months old his entire body was covered in a sandpaper rash. He was a fussy baby—he never really appeared comfortable, and looking at his skin you could imagine why. When I took him to the pediatrician to help troubleshoot his skin issues, we were given steroid cream and told to eliminate body washes and lotions with artificial fragrances and additives. The steroid cream took the edge off temporarily, but his skin didn’t completely heal, and he continued to struggle. It wasn’t until eighteen months later that we were finally able to heal his skin, by putting great attention into healing his gut. We found out that he had an overgrowth of yeast in his intestinal tract, which was causing numerous physical and emotional discomforts. When we were able to rebalance his gut flora and support intestinal healing through a clean and healthy diet his skin healed—and he became a content and happy toddler.
As my family learned firsthand, gut health and the microbiome (the balance of beneficial versus harmful microbes in our body) is a powerful factor in our health - and the microbial communities in our gut and on our skin are intimately connected. Our naturopath, who has supported the health of my whole family, has taught us that skin health is a manifestation of gut health and that irritating environmental triggers can exacerbate or worsen skin symptoms.
Here are some resources that helped our family:
- How to Nourish Sensitive Skin
- How My Family Discovered Renewed Health By Cleaning Up Our Diet
- 5 Tips to Support Your Body’s Natural Detoxification Process
- Microbiome: Could the Answers to Your Health Concerns Simply Live in Your Gut?
- 8 Ways to Support A Healthy Gut—and Take Control of Your Health
When my kiddos’ skin is as soft as a baby’s bottom, I am reassured that their outer and inner ecosystem is being nurtured well by the foods they are consuming and the products that are touching their skin. I know what it is like to deal with rough skin and cranky kids, and I’m eager to share what I’ve learned about how to heal skin at a root level.
Sarah Kolman is the mom of three boys, a Registered Nurse, an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and has a master's degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy. Her private practice as a health coach blends her experience and career as a nurse with her passion for nutrition and holistic wellness. She is the author of Full Plate: Nourishing Your Family's Whole Health in a Busy World.