59: Getting to the Root Cause of Eczema With Dr. Sheila Kilbane

In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews integrative pediatrician Dr. Sheila Kilbane, who guided Izabella to get her son 100% eczema free, about the often-overlooked root causes of childhood eczema. Dr. Kilbane shares how a combination of gut-focused strategies and targeted topical therapies can transform the lives of children suffering from chronic eczema without extreme elimination diets.

Listeners will gain insights into the link between eczema, histamine, food allergies, and the skin microbiome, as well as the importance of supporting detox, digestion, and the immune system as a whole.

We’ll discuss:

• How Dr. Kilbane helped Izabella’s son become 100% eczema free. Izabella’s son developed eczema around age 1. She consulted with numerous experts to no avail, until working with Dr. Kilbane. Within weeks, her son’s eczema improved by 80% and after completing recommended tests/treatment, the eczema vanished within days. 

• Why eczema needs a “both/and” approach. Eczema healing often requires both external skin support and internal gut healing. Combining gentle topical treatments (including a compounded antimicrobial cream with diluted steroids) with targeted nutrition and gut support can reduce symptoms and prevent flare-ups. Relying solely on diet or creams can lead to frustration, while this integrative strategy supports faster, more lasting healing.

• Histamine overload may be at the root. Beyond itchy skin, excess histamine can cause sleep issues, irritability, poor appetite, and mood swings, especially in kids with eczema. Environmental allergies, gut dysbiosis, and Staph on the skin can all increase histamine levels. Short-term antihistamines, quercetin, or vitamin C can offer fast relief while deeper root causes are addressed.

• Why elimination diets alone aren’t the answer. While food sensitivities can play a role in eczema, extreme elimination diets, especially for picky eaters, often backfire, leading to nutrient deficiencies/stress. In many cases, kids actually tolerate more foods once the skin barrier and gut are healed. Rather than removing more foods, Dr. Kilbane’s protocol focuses on restoring gut integrity and calming inflammation.

• How the Aron Protocol can stop flare-ups in their tracks. This compounded topical can reduce Staph bacteria and inflammation on the skin, calming eczema flares without the rebound many parents fear. Used alongside gut healing, it allows for longer-term remission and more resilient skin.

• Gentle changes can make a big difference. Simple tools, like filtered bath water, dye-free detergents, probiotics, enzymes, and nutrient-rich fats, can reduce inflammation and restore the skin barrier. Even changing how and when kids bathe can make a difference. Her protocols emphasize layering small changes rather than overwhelming families with a massive overhaul.

• Food allergies may fade when the skin heals. A damaged skin barrier can actually trigger food sensitivities, especially when children scratch food particles into open eczema patches. Once the skin is healed and histamine levels drop, kids often become more tolerant to foods that previously caused issues. In some cases, even anaphylactic food allergies can be re-evaluated safely under medical supervision.

Tune in to learn more about treating eczema from the inside out!

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For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, including Dr. Kilbane’s Eczema Jumpstart Guide, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/

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