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If you have eczema, you may wonder whether dairy products cause flare-ups. It’s a common question because some people with eczema believe that foods like milk and cheese make their skin feel itchy and uncomfortable. But is this true? This can be a complicated question to answer. According to experts at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), there isn’t clear medical evidence that suggests certain foods cause eczema flare-ups in everyone who has the condition. Even so, many people find that they do have problems with some foods. Learning which specific foods affect you can help you control your symptoms more effectively. And following an “elimination diet” may help you discover which food or foods are causing your eczema to flare.
Why do dairy products trigger eczema?
Dairy products contain proteins that may trigger a reaction in people who have a milk allergy: Casein – which is found in milk and cheese Whey – which is located in milk and yogurt Lactoglobulin – which is found in whey True food allergies are more common in children. But many older people will have a true allergy to milk.
Not everyone who has eczema is allergic to dairy products. And those who are may not be aware that they have a problem because they don’t become itchy and uncomfortable after eating foods containing dairy. But if you suddenly develop an itchy skin reaction after eating cheese or drinking milk, talk with your doctor about the possibility of lactose intolerance.
How do dairy products impact skin?
Not everyone is allergic to dairy products. Some people find that they do have symptoms when they eat certain foods. Symptoms can include:
- Itchy skin.
- Skin becoming red and patchy.
- A burning sensation on your skin.
There are two main problems with dairy that affect some people’s skin when they eat it or drink milk products: lactose intolerance and milk allergies. People lactose intolerant may experience symptoms like diarrhoea, cramps, bloating, nausea, or gas after eating dairy products. Most symptoms show up 30 minutes to two hours after you consume the food. Those symptoms especially diarrhoea can lead to dehydration in infants or toddlers who cannot communicate well about what is making them sick. For this reason, parents of
What do I need to know about dietary elimination?
If you have eczema, you may benefit from trying an elimination diet. This involves cutting out specific foods that could be causing your symptoms. Doing so can help you better manage your condition, but it doesn’t work for everyone because not all food allergies are the same. An elimination diet is usually not recommended for children younger than age 4. Children can become overwhelmed by trying new foods, and they may refuse to eat or overeat something else because they are so hungry. The best time to start an elimination diet is when your symptoms aren’t severe.
Elimination diets work well for some people. But you should know that there’s no medical evidence that it will help improve your skin condition if you don’t have any allergies. There’s also no way to predict whether this type of plan could help you reduce your asthma attacks or other asthma symptoms. It’s OK to try an elimination diet as long as it doesn’t interfere with taking medications prescribed by your doctor. If you’re considering starting an elimination diet, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor first.
What kinds of foods should I avoid?
You can eliminate specific foods from your diet one at a time and keep track of how you feel as you go. Here is some food that can trigger your eczema:
- Wheat
Wheat allergy is less common than other types of allergies, such as allergies to dairy products and soy. It’s also not clear whether wheat is an accurate allergen for many people. A true food allergy means your body’s immune system sees the food as harmful and tries to fight off the “invader.” This causes symptoms that can affect your skin, lungs, or other parts of your body. With a wheat allergy, you are intolerant to gluten, which is found in some grains. Gluten intolerance does not involve an immune response. Instead, it affects how well enzymes break down certain sugars in foods.
- Eggs
Egg allergies aren’t common in children under two years old. But they may occur more often in older children and adults. If you have eczema, you’re more likely also to have an allergy than someone who doesn’t have eczema.
- Soy
Soy allergies are less common in children compared to adults. If you’re allergic to soy, eating it can cause your skin to become red and itchy. It can also trigger asthma symptoms, such as wheezing.
- Peanuts
Peanuts are one of the most common triggers for children with eczema. If you have an allergy to peanuts, it means your immune system views peanuts as harmful. Eating even a tiny bit can trigger symptoms, including itchiness that covers your whole body.
- Tree Nuts
Eczema is more common in people who are allergic to tree nuts, such as pecans, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, and cashews. This may be because they’re made up of several different proteins that can cause an allergic reaction. If you have asthma, you’re also at greater risk for a nut allergy.
- Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil and other fish oils, such as shark cartilage and seal blubber, can trigger eczema flare-ups in some people. This is especially true if you’re exposed to cold temperatures after taking it because it affects how your body breaks down omega-3 fatty acids. However, not all people with a fish allergy will have a reaction that involves their skin.
7.Sea Food
It’s more likely to get an allergy to seafood if you have asthma or hay fever. This is because these conditions cause your immune system to overreact. Most fish and shellfish allergies are from eating certain types, such as tuna, salmon, and shrimp. But you can also be allergic to other kinds of fish, including cod, haddock, flounder, snapper, halibut, grouper, and orange.
- Chocolate
chocolate can cause eczema flare-ups, especially if you’re exposed to cold temperatures after eating or drinking it because this affects the way your body breaks down cocoa butter. Solid chocolate is less likely to trigger an allergic reaction than hot chocolate, containing whey and casein proteins. If you notice that you get an itch around your mouth after eating chocolate, it may be due to lactose intolerance rather than allergies. Milk products are used as ingredients for making chocolate, so some lactose could remain even after manufacturing. People with lactase deficiency can’t break down all lactose, causing symptoms such as bloating, gas, and diarrhoea after eating milk products.
- Sugar
Sugar isn’t likely to cause eczema flare-ups on its own. But if you use a topical steroid on your skin, this may lead to addiction or dependency on the steroid. You may also notice a worsening of your symptoms when you eat foods high in sugar because these foods lower the amount of glucose in your blood. Glucose is essential for helping keep inflammation down in your body. Overeating sugar can also lead to other health problems like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
- Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits can cause an allergic reaction if you have a citrus fruit allergy. This is due to the chemicals found in citrus, such as a class of proteins called allergens. If you’re not sure if it’s a true allergy, avoid eating citrus for at least two weeks and see if it reduces your symptoms. You may also notice that your symptoms flare up when you go outside on a windy day because this increases the amount of pollen in the air.
How to prevent eczema flare-ups?
- Avoid Triggers
If you know what substances trigger your eczema to come back, avoid them at all costs. For example, if you know that dust mites cause your skin to become itchy and inflamed, seal up any cracks in your home so that the microorganism cannot enter. If you’re allergic to pollen, try to stay indoors when the weather is warm and opt for low-pollen times of day (early morning or late night). The same goes if certain foods make your skin flare up—avoiding these can help reduce itching and redness.
- Cool It Down
Eczema makes the skin extremely sensitive. When this happens, people with eczema may experience even more discomfort when they’re exposed to hot water during baths and showers. Heat can aggravate the skin, leading to itchiness, redness, flaking, and even bacterial infection. Try using lukewarm or cold water instead. Also, avoid hot moist compresses that are too hot for your skin.
- Moisturize Immediately
Even if you don’t take a bath or shower, applying moisturizer immediately after washing your hands can help keep your skin hydrated. The outermost layer of our skin contains lipids (fats), which help to lock in moisture. However, when our hands are washed with soap, this strips away these naturally occurring fats. Hand sanitizer gel doesn’t have this stripping effect on the hands, but it still removes some moisture. Applying an emollient (moisturizer) locks in what little residual water is left on our hands and forms a protective layer over the skin. Even better, choose one that contains urea to help soften and smooth your skin.
- Choose the Right Soap
Use gentle soaps with moisturizing properties. Washing your hands frequently can leave them dry and itchy, which may make you want to itch them even more. However, this makes eczema worse! This is because scrubbing too vigorously at the skin can strip away its natural oils, vital to keeping it moist. It’s best to wash your hands with cool water and apply moisturizer immediately afterward. Also, use soap with a low pH level (5.5-6.5), which will help better retain moisture in the skin. You can also try using non-soap cleansers that are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, dye-free, and alcohol-free.
- Get enough sleep
We all know that getting enough sleep helps us function properly during the day, but did you know it can also help keep your skin healthy? When people don’t get enough sleep, they produce more cortisol. This is a hormone associated with stress, which can reduce our immune response. Therefore, not getting enough shut-eye can leave you feeling stressed out and tired while also increasing inflammation in the body, including your skin. Also, try adding other calming activities into your bedtime routines, such as meditation or yoga, to relax before sleeping.
- Beware of what you wear
The clothes that are worn next to your skin can affect how itchy you feel. The fabric’s weave, thickness, tightness, and cut all determine the extent to which they irritate your sensitive skin. Loose-fitting cotton clothing is best. It also helps to avoid buying new clothes before washing them to remove chemicals used in production and increase softness overall. If wearing synthetic fabrics, look for ones labeled as “breathable” — this wicks away moisture from the body and will help prevent irritation (although not completely). Also, make sure you buy and wear only 100% cotton clothes.
- Use homeopathic treatment for eczema
.In homeopathy treatment for eczema, several remedies are effective. However, the exact therapy depends on the individual’s symptoms. Homeopathic treatment for eczema will help you to control your symptoms without any side effects. A homeopathy doctor will help you to provide holistic treatment for your eczema.
If you want to avoid taking steroid creams or antifungal tablets, then homeopathic treatment for eczema is the best option. Homeopathy will be effective in reducing your itching and inflammation without any side effects. The remedies used in homeopathy can help regenerate new healthy skin cells, which will make your skin look smooth and silky again.
You can book an appointment through OHO Homeopathy or directly contact any homeopathy disorders specialist or Homeopath near you.