Why Childhood Eczema Starts in the Gut — with Andra McHugh
Wed Feb 04 2026
In this episode of The Functional Edge, I’m joined by Andra McHugh, founder of Eczema Kids and a passionate advocate for natural, root-cause healing of childhood eczema. As a mother of four, Andra’s journey into this work began when two of her children developed severe, debilitating eczema that conventional medicine couldn’t resolve.
In our conversation, Andra explains why eczema is not just a skin condition—but a visible sign of deeper gut dysbiosis and impaired detoxification. We discuss the major misconceptions around food triggers, steroids, probiotics, and elimination diets, and why these approaches often suppress symptoms without addressing the true cause.
Andra walks us through her holistic framework for healing eczema from the inside out, including external skin barrier repair, rebuilding the gut microbiome, supporting detox pathways, and reducing environmental inflammatory triggers. She also shares practical insights on histamine sensitivity, mold exposure, EMFs, and why consistency—not perfection—is the key to lasting healing.
If you’re a parent navigating childhood eczema and feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or stuck in symptom management, this episode offers clarity, hope, and a grounded roadmap forward.
Dr. Julia Ward interviews Andra McHugh, founder of Eczema Kids, about reversing childhood eczema naturally by healing gut dysbiosis, restoring the skin barrier, reducing environmental triggers, and addressing root causes instead of symptoms.
🎧 Eczema Kids Podcast
Eczema Kids Podcast features Andra McHugh, founder of Eczema Kids and a leading voice in natural childhood eczema healing. After successfully reversing severe eczema in her own children, Andra now helps families address root causes through gut health, detoxification, skin barrier repair, and environmental support, empowering parents with practical, sustainable tools for lasting healing.
Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsWebsite: eczemakids.comInstagram: @eczema.kidsFacebook Group: Eczema Kids Podcast
Connect with me:
Check out my website:
https://drjuliaward.com/
Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drjuliaward/?hl=en
Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-ward-md-55b7672a/
Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/balancedbodyfunctionalmed/
Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPz2YJi8Lw43i6XwNQiS6wg
PODCAST
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This podcast is produced by DrTalks.
https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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In this episode of The Functional Edge, I’m joined by Andra McHugh, founder of Eczema Kids and a passionate advocate for natural, root-cause healing of childhood eczema. As a mother of four, Andra’s journey into this work began when two of her children developed severe, debilitating eczema that conventional medicine couldn’t resolve. In our conversation, Andra explains why eczema is not just a skin condition—but a visible sign of deeper gut dysbiosis and impaired detoxification. We discuss the major misconceptions around food triggers, steroids, probiotics, and elimination diets, and why these approaches often suppress symptoms without addressing the true cause. Andra walks us through her holistic framework for healing eczema from the inside out, including external skin barrier repair, rebuilding the gut microbiome, supporting detox pathways, and reducing environmental inflammatory triggers. She also shares practical insights on histamine sensitivity, mold exposure, EMFs, and why consistency—not perfection—is the key to lasting healing. If you’re a parent navigating childhood eczema and feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or stuck in symptom management, this episode offers clarity, hope, and a grounded roadmap forward. Dr. Julia Ward interviews Andra McHugh, founder of Eczema Kids, about reversing childhood eczema naturally by healing gut dysbiosis, restoring the skin barrier, reducing environmental triggers, and addressing root causes instead of symptoms. 🎧 Eczema Kids Podcast Eczema Kids Podcast features Andra McHugh, founder of Eczema Kids and a leading voice in natural childhood eczema healing. After successfully reversing severe eczema in her own children, Andra now helps families address root causes through gut health, detoxification, skin barrier repair, and environmental support, empowering parents with practical, sustainable tools for lasting healing. Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsWebsite: eczemakids.comInstagram: @eczema.kidsFacebook Group: Eczema Kids Podcast Connect with me: Check out my website: https://drjuliaward.com/ Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjuliaward/?hl=en Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-ward-md-55b7672a/ Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balancedbodyfunctionalmed/ Follow Dr. Julia Ward, MD, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPz2YJi8Lw43i6XwNQiS6wg PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks. https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/