Dry, itchy, red, blistery skin, also commonly known as eczema affects nearly one-third of the U.S. population. This is according to a population-based survey conducted by the Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University. The survey found that an estimated 31.6 million Americans have met the empirical symptom criteria for eczema, that’s defined by itching/scratching and red /inflamed rashes or excessive dryness/scaling.

Furthermore, the Department of Dermatology concluded that most of these cases have not been diagnosed by a physician, indicating that the symptoms are undertreated and/or being managed by some other means.

So, what are some other means of treating eczema? Perhaps through your diet? As it turns out, diet may be a key factor in treatment. Here are some foods experts say should be avoided.

1. Dairy

  • Foods that contain dairy such as milk, cheese, yogurt and butter have been a cause for allergy symptoms for millions, and for many, those symptoms include the ones present in eczema. 
  • In fact, dairy is the most common food allergy in infants and young children, affecting approximately 2.5 percent of children under three years of age.
  • While the exact reason for dairy allergies are not completely know, if you suspect milk products may be the culprit for your or your child’s eczema, you may want to omit it from your diet to see if anything changes.


2. Foods that contain nickel

  • For years, nickel has been linked to eczema, with many sufferers being told to avoid wearing clothing or jewelry that contains this chemical element. 
  • However, nickel isn’t just something you wear or touch, it is in many of the foods we eat.
  • Foods like, cocoa, chocolate, soy beans, oatmeal, nuts, almonds and fresh and dried legumes. Even canned food that doesn’t already contain nickel can be dangerous simply due to being packed in a metal can.

3. Foods with gluten

  • Another ingredient in foods that has been under fire in recent years is gluten — so much so that there have been entire food lines created to avoid it. 
  • In fact, people with celiac disease cannot eat foods containing gluten because it has been found to cause difficulty with digestion.

There was a study conducted by the Indian Journal of Dermatology that took into account both celiac disease and eczema because it has been found that many patients with CD also have skin issues. This lead researchers to hypothesize that gluten could also be a trigger for persons with eczema.

4. Shellfish

  • Many people have cited Shellfish varieties such as barnacle, crab, crawfish, krill, lobster and shrimp for their eczema symptoms. 
  • And again, like most of the foods on this list, it hasn’t been determined really why these things could cause symptoms. Numerous studies have been conducted to find the prevalence of the correlation with promising findings.

British researchers conducted study of  3421 pregnant women in an effort to find the effects of shellfish on the body. Findings suggested tha  shellfish consumption may increase the risk of food allergies including eczema.

5. Eggs

  • Eggs are on nearly every food list noted as something to be added to your diet. 
  • After all, it has potassium, Vitamins A, D and B, as well as calcium, iron and magnesium. 
  • However, for many eczema sufferers, eggs are a trigger for skin-filled misery.

Several studies published in the National Library of Medicine have linked eggs to eczema. In fact, a randomized controlled trial of 55 children with eczema and possible egg sensitivity demonstrated a significant reduction in eczema surface area four weeks after eliminating eggs from their diets.

There are several other foods that can be found on this list like soy, citrus, chocolate, many nut varieties, sodas and other sugary foods. Find your own unique triggers so that you can continue to live your life eczema free.

Sources : Manukafeed