When a baby or toddler starts to develop a red, itchy, dry, flaky rash, parents may feel at a loss. Parents often wonder how to treat the small, delicate skin and how to get rid of the problem. Atopic dermatitis has become much more common in Finland in recent decades due to urbanisation, and even medicated creams don't seem to help everyone. However, atopic skin conditions can also be alleviated by holistic treatment, which alone or in combination with the occasional use of medicated creams can be the best option for many children. Diet, the use of probiotics and proper skin care can help relieve symptoms or even get rid of the condition altogether.
Atopic dermatitis in young children is quite common in Finland, with around 20% of children suffering from it. The rash may be caused by a food allergy but there may not always be a clear single cause. When treating atopic dermatitis, it is worth taking a holistic approach to the child's body, as this will usually lead to more permanent results and support the child's health in the longer term.
Good results through holistic care
Treatment of atopic dermatitis should be planned on an individual basis. However, as a concrete example, I would like to share my middle son's atopic dermatitis treatment programme. My son was about six months old when he started to develop a dry patchy rash, mainly on his cheeks and lower limbs. As a baby, my son was very tearful and had to be held and cuddled all the time, indicating stomach problems and nervous hypersensitivity. At the child health clinic I was instructed to use a mild cortisone cream on the rash areas. However, I thought cortisone was a last resort, as my own allergies had been treated with it as a child, with bad results. I had also focused on holistic skin care in my work, so I decided to look elsewhere for help. I took my son to Silja Ballini, a naturopath, who recommended that we start a nine-month course of probiotics and a gluten-free diet. For nine months I fed him Pro Symbioflor, Symbioflor1 and Symbioflor2 alternately as directed. According to Silja, in Germany this probiotic has been used successfully in the treatment of allergies and hypersensitivities. In addition, every two weeks I gave WALA Chicorium pangreas pills based on anthroposophical medicine and Chamomilla drops if necessary. Gluten was excluded from the diet and I used natural cosmetic creams for sensitive skin. Gradually the skin started to feel better and after nine months of treatment the rash was completely gone.
Soon after this we slowly started to add grains back into the diet and after a short time my son was able to eat all foods. Although, when it came to grains, we mainly favoured oat products. The rash has not appeared since that probiotic course. It was then that it really dawned on me how gut microbes are linked to the well-being of the skin and the body as a whole. When I was treating my son with this advice in 2012, I did not yet understand what exactly was the mechanism of action of the Symbioflor probiotic treatment. It became clear to me years later when I delved deeper into new microbiome studies. 🔬
Moi Forest Baby Cream for children with skin challenges
When I started thinking about the ingredients for Moi Forest creams, it was obvious that they would contain the ingredients that I have found most useful in my own work as a holistic skincare educator. We wanted to create the perfect cream for children with skin challenges, while helping to support their wellbeing holistically. We didn't choose the cheapest processed vegetable oils to go with the forest microbial extract, but rather carbonated and cold pressed oils containing omega fatty acids and natural vitamin E to help strengthen skin suffering from sensitivity or rashes and calm the skin problem. It is also important that the raw materials are of organic quality so that they are free of impurities such as pesticide residues. Of course, we also favour organic to preserve the soil microbiota and pollinators. The pH (5) and preservative system of the products are also designed not to disturb the normal microbial balance of the skin.
High-quality plant ingredients combined with forest dust® help protect and strengthen your child's delicate skin
♡ Shea butter softens the skin and protects it from the elements. It also prevents moisture from evaporating from the skin.
♡ Birch sap effectively moisturises the skin, reduces itching and supports normal cell regeneration thanks to its magnesium content.
♡ Reconnecting Nature™ microbial extract, or forest dust®, supports the skin's microbiota. When the microbial balance is optimal, the skin is more resistant and does not become inflamed as easily. The various skin functions such as cell renewal, fat and moisture production, pigment production and the production of skin-protective peptides function normally.
♡ Thanks to blueberry seed oil, oat oil and jojoba oil, our creams contain a defensive combination of omega fatty acids (3, 6 and 9) and natural vitamin E to strengthen the skin and help it cope with fluctuations in moisture levels in the air and attacks by oxygen radicals.
♡ Our products contain only mild food-grade preservatives. The concentration of preservatives is optimised to ensure product safety, but our creams do not interfere with the normal microbial balance of the skin.If your little one suffers from atopic dermatitis or other skin challenges, we recommend a holistic approach to the problem. For practical tips, read our previous blog post Baby and toddler skincare for practical tips on how to care for your baby and toddler's skin 🐤 .