Eczema is a genetic disease, however, what causes the condition is still not known. Many studies and research findings hint at a link between food allergies and this condition flaring up.
As the correlation between food choices and eczema is strong, dietary changes can assist this condition which causes so much discomfort.
The Common Factor
Food allergies are very common amongst a lot of people, especially eczema sufferers. When eczema sufferers consume such foods allergies occur. With eczema certain foods can cause the disease to flare up, with other foods making flare-ups worse.
Certain foods are known to cause certain problems for people with eczema. Such foods trigger flare-ups, including dairy products, particularly cow's milk, yeast, wheat, eggs, fish (namely shellfish) and nuts.
Should you be an eczema sufferer you can limit or restrict your intake of these eczema trigger foods. However, it is best to write down your reactions to each one individually to work out which ones are triggers for you. Thus you are able to adopt a diet that helps your eczema and still allows you to enjoy the foods you love.
Document Food Triggers
A food journal is highly effective to help remember which food triggers a reaction. It needs to be very detailed and has to include information about:
- exactly what you have eaten
- the quantity of food eaten
- the time you ate the suspected trigger food
By documenting what time and the quantities of food you ate, you are better able to work out if the given food or another trigger has caused you to have your next outbreak.
To be able to discern between a food-related outbreak and an outbreak triggered by something else, it is advisable to eat the same food a week after the flare-up has gone.
An outbreak which is food allergy related usually occurs within 2 - 24 hours. You can eat the suspect food, avoiding other triggers for a minimum period of 24 hours. Should the condition recur, you can be certain that the food in question is the likely trigger.
There is an alternative method of guaranteeing the success of your food journal. This way limits your experimentation to a single suspected food item at a time. So, say in the first week of your journal, just eat foods which are not dairy products. Thus you will know that should you suffer from an eczema flare-up you will know the cause was a dairy product.
A detailed food journal would also help you in any discussions of your condition with your GP. Your GP will be able to track your diet and establish which foods are best for you to keep well away from.
It may take a while for you to detail your diet and its effects on your health; a food journal can really help you to manage your condition via diet.
Healthy Skin Diet Plan
A further way of managing your eczema via diet is by adhering to a healthy skin diet plan. A healthy skin diet plan consists of nutrients, antioxidants, as well as water, enabling maximum skin function. Should your overall skin health be good, eczema outbreaks are likely to lessen.
By combining healthy choices of food and keeping a food journal you can effectively and quickly control your eczema with your diet. Making changes to your diet and using diet in place of medication should never be undertaken without professional guidance. Speak to your GP before making these changes.
