How My Daughter’s Skin Led Me to Gut Health—and a Whole New Purpose

I never expected that my daughter’s skin issues would completely change the course of my life—but that’s exactly what happened.

Back then, I was working full-time as a science teacher, navigating the exhausting rhythm of motherhood and professional life, trying to do it all. On the outside, things looked fine. But on the inside, I was completely burned out—physically, emotionally, and energetically.

Then came my daughter’s skin struggles: eczema patches that just wouldn’t go away, food sensitivities, and constant discomfort. We did what most parents do—we saw allergy specialists, tried prescription creams, eliminated foods, and followed every piece of advice.
But nothing gave us long-term answers or lasting relief.

I remember feeling helpless. Frustrated. I was doing everything I was told to do, but nothing was truly helping her heal.
And deep down, I had this gut feeling (no pun intended) that we were missing something bigger.

That’s when I turned to holistic health. Working with a naturopath opened up a whole new world. I started learning how gut health impacts the skin, and how the body is deeply interconnected—that what shows up externally—on our skin, in our mood, in our energy—is often a signal from within.

We began to heal her from the inside out by focusing on a few key areas:

• Strengthening her immune system naturally
  
• Lowering inflammation through diet and lifestyle changes
  
• Strengthening and repairing her gut lining
• Increasing the diversity and strength of her gut microbiome with targeted probiotics
  
• Focusing on nourishing, whole foods to help her body rebuild
  
• Using natural remedies to soothe and support her system without simply suppressing symptoms
  

Slowly but surely, her skin began to calm. And so did I.
It was the lightbulb moment I didn’t even realize I had been waiting for.

That experience planted a seed I couldn’t ignore.

I enrolled at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition, studying part-time while still teaching and raising a young child. It wasn’t easy—but it felt right.
My original focus was on skin and food sensitivities in children, but the deeper I went into my studies, the more I saw just how central gut health was to everything: digestion, skin, immunity, hormones, and even mental health.

I also realized something else—moms are often the last ones on their own to-do lists.
We prioritize our kids, our jobs, our families… but when it comes to our own health, we push through, self-sacrifice, and settle for “fine.”

That’s why I do the work I do now.

As a Certified Nutrition Practitioner, I help moms who are tired of feeling bloated, exhausted, foggy, or off track.
My goal isn’t just symptom relief—it’s helping women get to the root cause of what’s going on so they can feel good in their bodies again.

Because when moms feel empowered in their health, they pass that knowledge down to their children.
They model what it means to listen to their body, nourish it, and care for it.
That’s how wellness becomes generational.

This is also why I agreed to collaborate with Sugar Plum Scrubs.
Their mission to support women through thoughtful, plant-based care aligns with my deeper goal: bridging the gap between surface-level self-care and true, inside-out healing. Whether it’s through creating moments of calm with a body scrub or working together on a gut-healing protocol, it all matters—and it all contributes to wellness.

Healing isn’t just about the supplements we take or the food we eat.
It’s also about how we care for ourselves—through rest, rituals, and small moments that refill our cup.

If you’ve been dealing with low energy, bloating, skin issues, or just feeling like your body isn’t working the way it used to, know that you’re not alone.
You don’t have to figure it out by yourself, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.

I’d love to support you in reconnecting with your health, your body, and your own version of balance.

✨ You can find me at www.rachelholisticwellness.com or on Instagram at @rachel.holisticwellness.

Let’s chat about what’s going on and explore how I can help you feel like you again—from the inside out.

With Happy Gut Vibes,
Rachel 💜