Any parent of a child with eczema knows that it’s brutal to watch your child suffer with itching, scratching, and discomfort. It’s also difficult for children to have eczema patches in visible locations such as around the mouth, around the eyes, and on their hands. As parents, we worry that our children will be treated differently or viewed as sick if they have red patches so clearly visible. Genetics, microbiome disturbances, and food allergies are three of the most common causes of eczema. While genetics cannot be altered, support can be given to address any microbiome disruptions as well as any food allergies to ensure that the child’s overall system is as healthy and robust as possible to decrease flares. Acupuncture can help! Acupuncture helps to strengthen the digestive system and over time can help reduce the intensity and number of food allergies that a child has. Furthermore, acupuncture is known for its ability to reduce stress. Stress is not only a common trigger for eczema flares, but stress negatively affects the microbial diversity of the gut microbiome. By keeping your child’s stress under control with acupuncture, you can both reduce the likelihood of flares and help to keep his or her gut microbiome in proper balance. Not infrequently, children also build up extra heat in their body due to an imbalanced diet or an excess of frustration, anger, or stress. Acupuncture can help release this heat so it doesn’t become expressed as a flare of eczema. Skin conditions are notoriously difficult to treat, so many children need to combine good hygiene and home care with a safe topical ointment and acupuncture in to achieve results. However, finding the right balance of treatments to reduce flares and allow your child to run free is priceless! Call me if you’d like to discuss whether acupuncture treatment is right for you!