Exploring the Eczema & Food Allergy Risk Link with Rebecca Hartman, MD MPH

#129: If your baby has eczema, you may have heard that it could increase their risk of developing a food allergy. But what does the research actually say, and what should you do when you’re introducing allergenic foods?

In this episode, I sit down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rebecca Hartman to unpack the connection between eczema and food allergy risk. We talk about why the skin barrier matters, how eczema severity affects risk, what signs of an allergic reaction parents should watch for, and practical ways to care for your baby’s skin while starting solid foods.

If you’re feeling nervous about introducing foods like peanut or egg because your baby has eczema, this episode will help you better understand the evidence and leave you feeling more confident about your next steps.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How eczema may affect your baby’s risk of developing food allergies and what the latest research says

2. What the difference is between mild, moderate, and severe eczema and why that matters when starting allergenic foods

3. How to recognize signs of an allergic reaction and support your baby’s skin barrier during the transition to solid foods

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/129

Links from This Episode:

• Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program and save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

• Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners