To Eat or Not to Eat: Eczema Edition

More often than not, if you have eczema (atopic dermatitis), you’d also have food allergies. It’s helpful to know which ones are eczema-friendly and which ones trigger your immune response; after all, they may be the reason behind your eczema flare-ups.

Here's a list of food you can EAT:

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

For those who love eating fish, it's a win for you! You can satisfy your cravings while taking care of your skin! These fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties. They maintain the skin's barrier functions, promote the skin's healing, and improve the skin's moisture levels. They're usually found in salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna. Aside from these, Omega-3 is also in chia seeds and walnuts.

Probiotics

Not all bacteria are bad for your health. In fact, probiotics help strengthen your immune system to fight against inflammation. Adding more "good" bacteria into your body helps reduce flare-ups, too. You can try eating yogurt, miso soup, sourdough bread, soft cheeses, kimchi, and fermented pickles. Dark chocolates and apple cider vinegar are also rich in probiotics.

Flavonoids

Flavonoids, specifically quercetin, are antioxidants that help fight inflammation. They're found in fruits and vegetables, so make sure to have adequate amounts for your daily meals. For fruits, you can try apples, cherries, blueberries, grapes, and bananas. For vegetables, you can try broccoli, spinach, onions, and kale. Flavonoids are also found in grains, dark chocolates, red wine, and black and green teas.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is your best friend when it comes to strengthening your immune system. More than that, Vitamin C also helps in the formation of the skin barrier and reduction of eczema (atopic dermatitis) symptoms. A lot of food contains Vitamin C, like bell peppers, oranges, strawberries, cauliflowers, pineapples, and mangoes.

Potassium

Banana's the first thing that comes to mind whenever you hear the word "potassium". But aside from preventing cramps, it also helps fight inflammation and reduce other eczema symptoms. To mix it up, you can also try avocados and sweet potatoes.

Other food with anti-inflammatory properties:

Whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, whole-wheat bread)
Green tea
Turmeric
Ginger
Olive oil
Coconut oil

Here's a list of food you should LIMIT:

Common food allergies are usually associated with worsening eczema (atopic dermatitis) symptoms like flare-ups. Here are some of the common food allergens:

Eggs
Soy
Gluten (wheat)
Nuts
Other fishes
Shellfishes
Dairy products (cow’s milk, cheese)
Preservatives/artificial ingredients
Trans fat (margarine, processed food, fast food)
Saturated fats (red meat, butter, poultry skin, junk food)

While further studies are still being conducted to know more about the link between certain food and eczema (atopic dermatitis), it still pays to be cautious about the food you eat. Either way, everyone still needs to be mindful of maintaining a well-rounded diet. Talk to your doctor to see if you need to schedule an allergy test to know which food is good or bad for your condition.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) has no cure. You can only manage its symptoms. In the meantime, you can apply medication to help ease your discomfort. Mometasone furoate (Elica®) products help stop itching, reduce redness, ease swelling, and provide relief within 24 hours. Mometasone furoate (Elica®) cream is applied on thin skin (like on the face) and moist lesions while Mometasone furoate (Elica®) ointment is applied on dry lesions and thickened skin. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

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