Eczema is a skin problem which causes redness, itchiness and dryness of the skin. It can also progress to blistering and oozing. Eczema or atopic dermatitis is closely associated with food allergies. In fact, eczema is one of the early signs of an allergic reaction. Recognizing the allergy —causing foods and avoiding them can help in preventing the eczema.
Studies show that one-third eczema patients have food allergies as their triggers. So, a person with moderate to severe eczema might actually be showing signs of food allergies. The top 8 foods which can cause eczema food allergies are — milk or dairy products, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, shellfish, soy, and wheat.
How to Know If Your Eczema is Caused by Food Allergies?
To know if the eczema is caused by food allergies, one has to undergo allergy tests such as skin prick tests and blood tests. Skin test involves pricking the skin with a small amount of allergen to see if the skin reacts to it. Blood test (RAST) involves measuring the antibodies present against the particular allergen.
If the allergy test is positive, that does not prove that you are allergic to the food. Further tests such as food challenge tests are required to confirm your allergy. However, if the test result is negative, you can rule out the particular food allergy.
Getting yourself tested can help you to avoid the food allergens and prevent the eczema.
Eczema Food Allergies Treatment:
Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams or prescription based topical corticosteroid to treat the eczema. Oral corticosteroids are also effective in treating the eczema.
Since, the eczema triggered by food allergies can progress to other symptoms such as breathlessness, low blood pressure etc. using an epinephrine can avoid an anaphylactic reaction (a severe allergic reaction). To manage food allergies eczema, one has to avoid the allergy-causing foods completely.
