How Does Stress Trigger Eczema?

Parental stress contributes to eczema flares in your child. This post points out some stress management tips.

Eczema is a complex inflammatory skin disorder that has multiple systemic drivers and varying and unique triggers to the sufferer. Stress is one of the triggers common to everyone who has eczema but especially to children.

Stress triggers the release of cortisol through the HPA Axis. What is the HPA Axis?

We often wonder how a child can be emotionally stressed when they appear perfectly fine outwardly. However, it isn't always obvious when a child is experiencing stress.

Children are extremely sensitive and rely on these heightened senses to navigate the vulnerable years of childhood safely. Some children are more sensitive than others but more often than not what I see in clinic is the child wears the stress of the parent.

This is a very bold and possibly uncomfortable statement to say as it brings the responsibility back onto the parent and makes you, the parent have to consider your own stress levels and how that might be impacting your child’s.

What you do as a parent emotionally or mentally has as much if not more impact on your child. So if you address your own stress or anxiety, you will see an almost immediate benefit to your child.

Some ways to help yourself to help your child

Body work

Including but not limited to acupuncture, massage, kinesiology, craniosacral therapy, yoga. Seeing a qualified therapist has profound ways to improve your own stress management.

Time in Nature

Time spent outdoors is your cheapest stress management tool. Parks, ponds, beaches, forests or reserves all help regulate your nervous system.

Creativity

Regular creative work in any medium is an enjoyable way to release and regular stress by using your fine motor skills. Crochet, painting, drawing, pottery, journalling as some suggestions.

Reading

If not creative, reading a paper novel with a cup of tea can do wonders.

Sport

For those not creative but prefer more active style stress management. Time at the gym or playing your preferred sport will help keep the stress levels low.

Your chosen stress management hobby or therapy has to be regular. At least once a week or every few days. Unfortunately, large amount of social media usage has shown to increase stress levels so best to reduce this habit.

Something we all agree on is parenting isn't easy and no one is perfect. Stress is a natural part of life and parenting is a stressful but wonderful stage of life. In a clinical setting if the parents stress is noted I will often use flower essences for both child and mother and this tends to ease the disharmony or emotional pattern.

This website is dedicated to teaching parents how to help treat their child’s eczema naturally using nutrition and naturopathic principles.

If you are ready to consider treating the root cause of your child’s eczema using naturopathic methods book in your virtual appointment here.

Otherwise, consider getting your child’s free skin report to learn more.

Categories: : Stress Management