When Steroids Stop Working: How Lane Healed Severe Eczema

Learn how Lane improved severe eczema without going on Dupixent by addressing mold exposure, gut health, and chronic inflammation.

When Lane’s eczema stopped responding to steroid creams at just eighteen months old, Felicia knew she had reached a turning point.

Doctors told her the next step was Dupixent. But even as a nurse anesthetist with a doctorate in nursing, Felicia couldn’t shake the feeling that she needed to take a different approach for her son.

Together, Felicia and I uncovered the root causes of Lane’s eczema, and today, he;s completely eczema free (no Dupixent needed!). Here’s how we did it:

Lane’s healing journey

Lane’s eczema appeared when he was four months old. It started as a small patch on his back, but eventually worsened to full body flares on his face, arms, and legs.

At eighteen months old, Lane stopped responding to steroids completely, and doctors said his only option was Dupixent.

As a certified registered nurse anesthetist with a doctorate in nursing, Felicia understood conventional medicine very well. But despite her medical background, she felt frustrated by how little attention was being given to the reason behind Lane’s eczema.

Every appointment seemed to focus on stronger medications and symptom management rather than investigating the underlying imbalances contributing to his flares. Felicia realized she needed a different framework for understanding her son’s eczema. One that focused on healing from the inside out rather than suppressing symptoms.

“I had a mom gut feeling that I was ready to do whatever it took. If I took him back to the dermatologist, they were just going to inject him for $4,000 a month, and I’d have to come up with that [money]. I’d rather spend that money figuring out what’s actually wrong with him.”

Rebuilding Lane’s health from the inside out

When Felicia joined my Ex-zema™ Coaching Program, we started by strengthening the foundational systems that are often disrupted in children with eczema.

We focused on repairing Lane’s skin barrier with a gentle, holistic skincare routine, replenishing nutrient deficiencies, and improving his digestion so that his immune system could become less reactive over time.

As Lane’s body became more supported, his skin slowly started to improve. But then his healing journey took an unexpected turn, and Lane experienced his worst flare yet.

We soon discovered that Lane was reacting to one of the digestive enzymes he was taking to support his gut. This told me that his immune system was likely reacting to yeast overgrowth, like candida, fungi, and mold. Once we had that piece of the puzzle, Felicia started looking at their home environment more closely. With the help of an expert, she discovered mold growing in the HVAC unit right next to Lane’s bedroom.

The mold, candida, and eczema cycle

Many people don’t realize how closely mold exposure, candida overgrowth, and eczema can be connected.

Mold releases toxins called mycotoxins that disrupt the gut microbiome and weaken beneficial bacteria. As beneficial bacteria decrease, candida and other fungi have more opportunity to grow. This creates a vicious cycle of chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, food sensitivities, histamine overload, and increased skin reactivity.

Unfortunately, mold exposure can be incredibly difficult to identify because it often hides in places families would never think to check.

Once Felicia removed the mold, all of Felicia and Lane’s hard work started paying off. Just three months after working together, Felicia woke up one day and realized that his eczema was nearly gone.

“Around Christmas, we woke up one day and said, ‘Look at him. Look how good he looks.’ He was happy. He wasn’t incessantly scratching. He wasn’t waking up at night. And he finally let me touch his face.”

How to think like a detective when it comes to your health

As a functional medicine practitioner, the most important part of my job isn’t telling you what to eat or which triggers to avoid. It’s helping you think like a detective when it comes to your health.

It’s hard to evaluate your own lifestyle, environment, and daily choices—especially when you’re a parent trying to care for your child’s flares. When your child is hurting, itching, and uncomfortable, it’s natural to feel reactive instead of proactive.

But often, it’s the willingness to dig deeper that leads to answers you never would have thought to look for on your own.

That’s why getting an outside perspective is so important. A practitioner can help you dig deeper, identify blindspots, and point out patterns you can’t see on your own.

If you’re ready for targeted support to heal your eczema, here’s how I can help:

The Ex-zema™ Root Cause Solution: Get access to my 10-step proven method for identifying and addressing the root causes of your eczema—at an affordable price. Inside the membership, you’ll find structured guidance, expert-led trainings, and a supportive community to help you heal every step of the way.

Ex-zema™ 1-1 Coaching: For those ready to fast-track their healing with personalized support, my one-on-one coaching offers a tailored approach to overcoming eczema based on your individual situation. We’ll work closely together to uncover your unique root causes, create a customized healing plan, and make adjustments along the way so you can see real, lasting results.