The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole Beurkens

Episode 52: Addressing The Root Cause of Skin Issues in Children and Teens

Mar 4, 2020

43:55

My guest this week is Dr. Raja Sivamani, a board-certified dermatologist who practices as an integrated dermatologist at Pacific Skin Institute. Dr. Sivamani holds the roles of Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the University of California Davis and Director of Clinical Research in the Clinical Trials Unit. He's also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the California State University, Sacramento, and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at California North State University, College of Medicine. He engages in clinical practice, as well as, both clinical and translational research that integrates bio-engineering, nutrition, cosmetics, and skin biology. With training in both allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine, Dr. Sivamani takes an integrative approach to his patients and in his research. He's published over 100-peer reviewed research manuscripts, 10 textbook chapters, and a textbook entitled Cosmeceuticals and Active Cosmetics, Third Edition with a passion for expanding the evidence and boundaries of integrative medicine for skincare.

In this episode, Dr. Sivamani and I discuss ways parents can address finding the root cause of chronic skin issues in their children and teens. Dr. Sivamani explains how nutrition, lifestyle habits, environmental factors, and product use can affect the skin’s microbiome and what types of ingredients and irritants to avoid. Children and teens suffering from severe and chronic skin conditions like eczema and acne may struggle psychologically with issues such as anxiety, stress, and depression. Dr. Sivamani shows how a healthy balanced lifestyle can ease these symptoms while treating skin outbreaks and recurring issues. To learn more about Dr. Raja Sivamani click here.

Episode Highlights

Psychological Impact With Skin Issues

Depression, anxiety, social isolation
Sometimes children hold back and hide these feelings
- Engaging children in the conversation is essential to the treatment process

Health and Environment in Relation To Skin Issues

Eczema for example
- The more soap you use the more natural oils you strip from the skin that are needed as they are typically deficient in those with eczema
- Testing foods to eliminate one at a time to see what causes flare-ups
- Bathing habits count
Nutritional choices matter
- Avoiding high refined sugars, sodas, sweetened teas, low dairy, processed junk foods

Steroids and antibiotics
- In this way, these treatments are not used as a lifetime bandaid issue to the problem, rather an aid to alleviate symptoms more quickly to begin a less painful integrative treatment
- Often resistance is not discussed broadly in order to manage and use these treatments

Lifestyle Relations to Chronic Skin Conditions

Mind-body connections
- High levels of stress impact cortisol levels in the body and stimulate a higher inflammatory response
- It can affect our mood, anxiety, sleep

Skin Microbiome

Every hair follicle is full of microbes
We have oxygen-rich environments on the skin
- Within the hair follicle, the environment is oxygen-poor known as an anaerobic environment
Different bacteria, yeast, and supernatural mites live on symbiotically on the skin
We have natural bacteria that are good that we want to remain in balance

What to Avoid

Dermveda - free site investing ingredients and the best routines for your skin profile and ideal ingredients to use and to avoid
Eczema tends to present super dry symptoms and it is important to keep your skin or your child's skin hydrated
- Apply moisturizers within 3 minutes of bathing to lock in the moisture
- Lean towards occlusive, humectant products versus those full of emulsifiers
- Avoiding fragrances and sometimes even essential oil-based fragrance

Where to learn more about Dr. Raja Sivamani...

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