Does Diet Trigger Eczema?

A lot of controversy and arguments surround the belief that foods may play an important role in triggering eczema. Only in recent years have doctors and health professionals become aware of the impact of diet on eczema.

It's now pretty much acknowledged throughout the medical community that some 10–25 percent of those people with eczema are affected by food sensitivity. It has also become widely accepted that food intolerance may well play a big part in eczema as well. For many people, a change in diet is a critical factor in successfully controlling eczema. The old adage "you are what you eat" can be very true for those who are suffering from eczema.

By paying careful attention to the foods you eat and planning a careful diet, you may be able to reduce your eczema flare-ups considerably. Rubbing soothing creams and oils on your skin, and avoiding contact with chemicals, dust, and other irritants is a good way of approaching your eczema from the outside of the body. But this simply suppresses the symptoms and doesn't address the cause of your eczema. Although simply saying a diet change may seem like a simple and obvious approach to controlling eczema, in reality it's a lot more complicated than that.

Since eczema is a multi-factorial condition, there is no single treatment that works effectively for everyone. One of the easiest things you can do to remain healthy and help your body heal itself is to eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet. But if you believe food may be a factor in your eczema, what foods should you eat and avoid?

The first thing to consider before deciding on what approach to take will depend upon whether you're an adult with eczema or the parent of a child who has eczema. The severe diets often used to treat adult eczema can be very unsafe for children and they should never be used without qualified medical advice.

Since there's no single reliable test for sensitivity to food, one of the most important tools in identifying potential eczema triggers is your own power of observation. Faithfully keeping a food diary in which you write down everything you consume is a great way to detect whether there is a pattern of eczema reaction to certain foods.In addition to writing down what you eat, you should also note any symptoms, such as itching, redness, etc that occurs after eating a particular food. Over a 4-6 week period you may begin to notice a definite pattern emerging. Focusing on your meals and trying to identify what foods you react to can often be a long and difficult process. It will require patience and willpower, but if you can identify a definite food intolerance, the subsequent relief from eczema provided by avoiding this food will be well worth it.

Mel Sinclair is a Registered Nurse and the owner of the Eczema Site contributed this article.