One in every ten Americans will develop a form of eczema. Eczema, commonly referred to as atopic dermatitis, is a common skin disorder caused by inflammation. Health experts are still trying to pinpoint the exact cause of eczema, but a number of them believe it’s genetic.
Eczema flare ups have a dry, flaky appearance that are worsened by factors including allergens, soap, and certain fabrics. Eczema flare ups also appear as painful red cysts and boils with a yellowish pus. Not only do they hurt, they often make sufferers feel sick and fatigued. In severe cases, eczema sufferers experience fevers, chills, and extreme aches.
To avoid the risk of secondary infections, it's a good idea to make adjustments to your diet. Here's a list of popular eczema-friendly foods.
Fatty fish like salmon, cod, sardines, and herring are great for eczema sufferers. This is because they have omega-3 fatty acids, which contain anti-inflammatory properties. If you’re concerned with mercury intake, you can also take fish oil supplements. Fish oil contains similar benefits, so pregnant women and mercury-sensitive people can take them.
Fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids, which are beneficial for overall health and inflammation. Quercetin are the flavonoids responsible for giving plants their color. These plant-based molecules assist in balancing the immune system, which helps with skin conditions like eczema.
To increase your quercetin intake, consume more fruits like apples, cherries, and blueberries. Greens including broccoli, kale, spinach also reduce eczema symptoms.
Fruits and vegetables with vitamin C also help with eczema symptoms. Vitamin C contains antioxidants, which minimize your vulnerability to allergens. Produce including strawberries, pineapples, cauliflower, and bell peppers are great foods to incorporate into your health regimen, especially if you have moderate to severe flare ups.
Since eczema is an immune system response, it’s a good idea to work on building a stronger immune system. Eating foods with probiotics are good because they contain live cultures. Live cultures work with the immune system to control irregular responses.
Live cultures are healthy bacteria. Oftentimes, when the bacteria in the digestive system is unbalanced, you experience adverse side effects like inflammation. Probiotics minimize the chances of a digestive system imbalance.
Probiotics are typically found in fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and kombucha. Additional foods include miso, tempeh, dark chocolate, raw cheese, and apple cider vinegar. If you aren’t fond of these foods, there are probiotic supplements available.
Potassium is great for eczema because it helps your kidneys eliminate excess sodium. When sodium levels raise, it increases inflammatory disorder symptoms. Avocado, bananas, acorn squash, white beans, and sweet potatoes all have a high amount of potassium.
Many eczema sufferers often aggravate their symptoms because of their food choices. Depending on the severity of your eczema, you’ll need to alter your diet. Some health experts recommend an elimination diet. Elimination diets involve eliminating specific foods for days or weeks before reintroducing them. Common foods known to encourage inflammation and flare ups include:
-Peanuts
-Milk
-Eggs
-Soy
-Gluten
-Citrus fruits
This diet is especially great for eczema sufferers diagnosed with food allergies. If possible, cut out specific food groups at a time so you can make sure they aren’t triggering your skin conditions.
In addition to the elimination diet, it’s a good idea to try the dyshidrotic diet. This diet best serves people with dyshidrotic eczema, which appears as tiny hand and foot blisters. The dyshidrotic diet means avoiding foods that otherwise aggravate this condition, including nickel and cobalt-rich foods. Common foods with high nickel and cobalt levels include dried fruit, baking soda, rye, oats, and certain canned goods.
If you do eat foods containing either cobalt or nickel, consuming more vitamin C can help your body absorb them and reduce eczema symptoms.
While no diet is 100% effective for clearing eczema, there are some diet regimens that minimize the risk of developing symptoms. In fact, some popular diet plans reduce inflammation and eczema symptoms, including:
Foods in the Mediterranean diet have a number of skin benefits. For one, they have a high water content, which assists with hydration. Fruits and vegetables contain around 80 percent water. This diet also improves gut health, which improves skin conditions like eczema. This diet requires cutting back on refined sugar and processed foods, which would otherwise aggravate your eczema.
Essentially, the Mediterranean diet is plant and healthy fat-based with a small amount of lean meats. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, breads, seafood, and fish are allowed on this diet. Herbs and spices are also allowed on the Mediterranean diet. If you’re used to cooking with margarine or saturated fats, you can replace them with vegetable-based oils like olive oil. You can also drink red wine in moderation.
The anti-inflammatory diet created by Harvard graduate Dr. Andrew Weil is a slightly modified version of the Mediterranean diet. However, Dr. Weil's diet has a specific daily calorie intake between 2,000 and 3,000. These calories are separated into approximate percentages for certain food groups. For instance, between 40 and 50% of the calories are carbohydrates, 20 to 30% protein, and 30% healthy fats.
Dr. Weil’s diet plan is easier to follow because it's not as restricting as the Mediterranean diet. If you need ideas, Dr. Weil has a website full of diet-friendly recipes. Depending on what you choose to eat, Dr. Weil's diet may also be slightly more affordable.
If you’re busy, a good way to stay on this anti-inflammatory diet is meal prep. For example, if you’re planning to try a five-day diet plan, you can pre-make your breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals. Pre-portioned meals also make it difficult to binge eat throughout the day.
Keep in mind, eating certain foods are not a replacement for taking prescribed eczema medication. Eating eczema-friendly foods combined with medication should keep your flare ups at bay. Whether you have moderate or severe symptoms, speak to your healthcare provider before trying these diet plans. Increased water intake, minimizing stress levels, and getting enough sleep also help keep eczema symptoms under control.
If you also suffer from food allergies, you should also speak to your healthcare provider. Even if they’re included in one of these diet plans, consuming foods that trigger allergic responses are counterproductive. If you are unaware of potential food allergens, it’s best to get a food allergy test and adjust your diet accordingly.
Most of all, give your body a chance to adjust to your new diet. It's common for people to give up on dieting because they don't see immediate results. Therefore, give your body at least a couple of weeks to adapt to your new diet and show results. However, if you begin to notice more flare ups or inflammatory responses when you eat certain foods, discontinue and contact your healthcare provider immediately to avoid infection.
If necessary, you can take supplements to ensure your body gets the necessary nutrients. If you’re pregnant, or if the previously mentioned diets cause adverse side effects, talk to your healthcare provider about dietary supplements. Since this skin condition may be genetic, your doctor can also make recommendations to minimize the risk of your unborn child developing eczema.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.