Eczema is a skin condition that affects about 10-20% of babies and 1-3% of adults. The symptoms of eczema include itchy rashes, blisters, skin irritation, and leathery skin patches.
While we may not have a particular diet to ease eczema symptoms, certain foods contain allergens that trigger eczema in some people. Here are some foods that may trigger eczema:
1. Dairy
Dairy is the most common trigger for eczema flare ups. It especially has a big effect on children. However, you should not eliminate dairy from your child’s diet as it may lead to vitamin deficiencies. The elimination of dairy from the diet is only recommendable for acute eczema cases. Children that are allergic to milk do not always grow up with the allergy. They tend to outgrow it and eventually get to enjoy dairy without the risk of eczema flare ups.
2. Citrus fruits
While citrus fruits may be sweet and contain important nutrients such as vitamin C, they also contain Balsam of Peru or Myroxylon pereirae. That is an allergen that is responsible for eczema flare ups in people with eczema.
3. Gluten or wheat
Gluten is a component in many foods that we consume. However, for a person to have eczema, there is need to be very careful about gluten consumption. There are people that are especially gluten intolerant. They are at a higher risk of allergic reactions. If you are sensitive to gluten, you may need to go for gluten-free food to avoid eczema flare ups.
4. Tomatoes
Tomatoes have similar benefits to the body as citrus fruits. They also have a similar effect on people with eczema due to the presence of Balsam of Peru. Thus, they have the potential to cause skin irritations for people with eczema. People with eczema should be wary of eczema flare ups due to tomatoes.
5. Eggs
Eggs are a common component of our diets. However, they are also a common trigger of eczema especially in babies and young children. Given that eggs are used in preparing other different kinds of foods such as bread and cakes, it is important to check ingredients of such foods before giving it to someone that has eczema. One positive thing about reactions to eggs is that the allergies are short-time. As the child grows, he/she will outgrow the allergy and be able to eat eggs without worrying about reactions.
6. Spices
Cinnamon and cloves are the leading spices in terms of eczema triggers. While they add flavor to food, they also cause allergic reactions that trigger eczema. These spices contain Balsam of Peru, a leading allergen in foods.
Sometimes it is difficult to determine the cause of eczema flare ups. When you are unable to identify the trigger, using elimination diets can help. It involves removing a given ingredient or food from your diet while observing how your skin responds. Then slowly reintroduce the food back into the diet and see if it causes any reactions. Any reaction will confirm the food as a trigger to your eczema.
Certain foods contain allergens that trigger reactions that cause skin irritations. People with eczema should be careful with such foods as they seek to manage their eczema. Avoiding foods such as eggs, milk, some spices, citrus fruits, tomatoes and gluten may be recommendable for people with severe eczema. That would minimize the risk of flare ups.