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Food & Eczema

The Mayo Clinic describes eczema as a chronic skin condition that is itchy and causes inflammation. Eczema mainly affects infants and young children. Most people with eczema grow out of the condition as they develop into adults. Eczema is not contagious but is genetically passed down family lines. Eczema is an allergic reaction commonly triggered by seasonal allergies, household allergies or food allergies.

  1. Symptoms

    • After eating particular foods you may experience an eczema flare-up. Common symptoms of an eczema flare-up are red spots that can turn into brownish spots on the skin that become itchy, and cause swelling of the skin that can leak clear or yellowish fluid, thick, leathery skin or raw, sensitive skin. If the condition is left untreated and worsens, it can lead to permanent scaring.

    Causes

    • The actual cause of eczema is unknown, according to the Mayo Clinic. A person with a food allergy has an over-reactive immune system. When the immune system doesn't recognize food as safe for the body, it attacks the substance with histamine. Histamine causes allergic reactions in the body, such as water eyes, nasal itch and skin rashes.

    Eczema Related Foods

    • Teenshealth.org states that the most common food triggers for eczema are cow's milk, soy, eggs, fish and wheat. Other foods that can cause an eczema flare-up are nuts, tropical fruits, citrus fruits and tomatoes, according to familyeducation.com. Every person is different, reacting to different foods. Keep a log of when you or your child experiences eczema outbreaks in relation to the foods that were consumed around the episode.

    Avoidance

    • The best treatment for eczema related to a food allergy is to avoid the triggering foods all together. Educate yourself on the different forms a particular food can take and read food labels before ingesting a food. For example, peanut byproducts may be found in foods that are not made with peanuts if the food was processed in a facility where peanuts are handled.

    Treatment

    • Aside from avoiding food triggers, if you experience an eczema outbreak, you can use natural and medical approaches to treat the irritated skin. Corticosteroid creams are one of the most commonly prescribed medical treatments for eczema. If the skin is infected, your doctor may recommend an oral antibiotic to kill the infection. The Mayo Clinic says that you can apply a cold compress, avoid scratching the itch, take a warm bath with a half cup of bleach, and use hypo-allergenic soaps and detergents.

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