Is There A Relationship Between Eczema And Food?
Although the exact cause of eczema is unknown, many doctors, dermatologists and eczema sufferers feel that there is a strong link between eczema and food. Since there seems to be a strong correlation between eczema and those with seasonal allergies or hay fever, some think eczema may be the body's way of showing it is allergic to certain foods. The foods in question differ depending upon the individual.
You Need To Go To The Doctor
No matter if there is a correlation between eczema and food in your particular case, you still need to go see your doctor if you have a stubborn and maddening case of eczema. This annoying skin condition often hits children in families with a history of seasonal allergies or hay fever. If you are an adult and never had eczema before, then eczema and food allergies could be a cause.
The Usual Suspects
In order to discover if there is a relationship between eczema and food in your case, you need to keep a food journal. Just write down what you eat and how you feel afterwards. You might want to do this for a couple of weeks so you don't feel self conscious the first week worrying about every single bite you take.
Diary products are one of the most mentioned culprits that can intensify eczema. Food allergies often result in some sort of itching or hives, but milk allergies often have other symptoms, including bloating, asthma, vomiting, watery eyes or hyperactive behavior. You can also get black circles around the eyes (called "allergic shiners") as well as asthma. Foods with cow's milk in them will also trigger these reactions.
Other common foods allergies that can bring on eczema include wheat, peanuts, mushrooms, shellfish and eggs. The symptoms are similar to those of people with cow's milk allergies. They differ in severity for each person. For some, it's a mild annoyance, but for others it can be life-threatening.
Any Proof?
For each clinical study that proves a link between eczema and fool allergies, you'll find another that doesn't find any conclusive link between eczema and food allergies. There is also a controversy in modern medical circles that food allergies are over-diagnosed, leading to panic more than anything else.
However, many people who suffer from eczema report that cutting out a certain food helped reduce their eczema. Some people who have eczema in relation to seasonal allergies, when cutting out dairy products, also feel a lot of relief. Whether this is just a placebo effect or shows a solid relationship between eczema and food allergies is still a matter of debate. But it can't hurt to try.
