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How does your diet play a role in eczema?

Posted on Mar 27th 2007 9:24PM by Martha Edwards

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health

If you suffer from eczema, I don't envy you. It runs in my family and while I've been lucky with my skin, several relatives of mine struggle with the dreaded condition that leaves them itchy and uncomfortable and prevents them from using so many products on their sensitive skin. But according to this, eczema might not simply be a skin disorder -- it may be symptomatic of something bigger such as a food sensitivity or allergy. That leads to the question: just what role does one's diet play in eczema? Exclusion diets can often give answers as to what foods, if any, trigger or improve the skin condition, but in the meantime, it's best to talk to your doctor. Of course, maintaining a healthy, well-rounded lifestyle should help if you don't already.

I'm interested in hearing from Eczema suffers -- have you found that certain foods have contributed to your symptoms?

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7 Comment

Tags: eczema, food allergies, food sensitivities, FoodAllergies, FoodSensitivities, skin condition, SkinCondition

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

andre 3-28-2007 @ 12:07PM

I have a pretty good diet and I am very careful with what I eat and do not really know what causes my eczema.

I think the hard part is that the environment still plays a larger role (assuming I'm healthy)... and I get the feeling that eczema is a build up of bad conditions for days, not something that happens instantly.

For example, alchohol does not always seem to badly affect my skin/eczema... actually, in some instances a binge night will have the opposite effect. Why? I have no idea... you would think the opposite. I do think that working in an air conditioned environment is really bad for eczema and skin. My skin in general improves when I'm outside for a long time.

David 3-28-2007 @ 9:40AM

I struggle with this awful skin condition, and while I have not found the source of it, a considerable increase in daily water intake has helped me immensely.

Paula Caray 3-29-2007 @ 1:22PM

I have eczema occaisonally, seems to appear when under a lot of stress. However I must add that I`m also gluten intolerant ( celiac desease ) & when I follow my diet to perfection I have NO problem with it. This means no items from grains except for the ones accepted for gluten intolerant people. Check it out I think you`ll be very pleased & surprised. In the beginning it`s difficult to follow but as you understand it, then you realize it`s quite simple.

Stacie 3-29-2007 @ 2:50PM

I have eczema problems but what many people do not know is this eczema is a connected problem with asthma. As an asthmatic, when my asthma is worse so is my eczema.

After many many trials with different allergy tests and pills I found out the hard way that I have a salicylate sensitivity. The hard way being an asthma attack so bad I nearly died. Well, the good news is this, I have cut back my salicylate intake majorly and my eczema is gone. So, for me, it was a lot of trial and error but I finally got something that works.

No doctor told me this. In fact, it was a lot of personal research that led me to this discovery of the effects of salicyates. Check it out for yourselves. It may help.

Erika 4-02-2007 @ 3:07PM

I've found that my eczema gets worse when I eat oranges and grapefruits.

Wojtek 4-10-2007 @ 4:23PM

My wife just recently began to experience really itchy skin. We are just begining to try to find out what it is, and so far we cut out a lof of food allergy items (nuts, milk, eggs, berries etc) We hope we cab figure out what it is soon. She's never been sick in her life, but the stress of a new job has cuased her many medical issues including infections and now this.

Fiona Brown 5-28-2007 @ 9:32AM

There are many foods that eczema sufferers should avoid. Unfortunately the most commonly mentioned ones - cow's milk, eggs, fish and nuts - are not enough. You should also avoid pork, tomatoes, bananas, strawberries, oranges, lemons, spicy foods e.g. curries, garlic, fried foods, cream, ice cream, processed foods eg sausages, tinned foods, sauces, gravies. Eat fresh food, when cooking steam it, when flavouring use a little salt, fresh herbs. What to eat - grains, veal and lamb, salad greens, yoghurt (plain/natural), green vegetables, potato, green apples, watermelon, pears. My son had severe eczema and now has beautiful skin. Diet is central to treatment.