Only 30% of the people with atopic dermatitis have certain food triggers. There are many researchers who have proved that there are certain foods that produce immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity and can produce eczematous eruptions. The rapid reactions occur within some minutes of the exposure while eczematous eruptions take some hours to days to develop. The diet can exacerbate or cause dermatitis as per the research.
Also, not all types of patients have the same food sensitivity. If you have such triggers to any of the food, remove them immediately from the diet and you’ll see the improvement in a few weeks.
What are the major food triggers for Atopic Dermatitis?
Most food triggers are:
- Cow’s milk
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Soy
- Wheat
- Fish
- Seafood
Are sugar-rich foods dangerous?
Foods rich in sugar may act as a triggering factor for eczema as the sugar causes your insulin levels to shoot up and that may cause inflammation. So, you should avoid having high-sugar food items like:
- Cakes
- Carbonated drinks
- Coffee drinks
- Smoothies
- Fast foods like burgers
How to differentiate between food allergies and atopic dermatitis?
Most of the time people have a rash after eating certain food and say it is a food allergy. It is important to understand both and differentiate between them.
In food allergies, you usually have hives that are not present in atopic dermatitis. It may also cause an anaphylactic reaction that might be life-threatening as it can cause a stoppage of breathing. If you have food allergies, you’ll get hives, and you need to avoid those food items.
In atopic dermatitis, you do not face life-threatening symptoms, but it may cause general discomforts like hampering your daily activities and disturbing sleep.
What exactly happens?
The food you’re sensitive to may not always cause atopic dermatitis but can trigger your symptoms. When you eat something, the immediate reactions are IgE mediated (Immune response) and may consist of a wide spectrum. They may occur within minutes of ingestion or may take some hours to days to develop. The reactions may involve a single part of multiple systems like the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, and cardiovascular system.
Sometimes the immediate reactions can be severe and life-threatening, called anaphylaxis with sudden onset and fatal to the patient. It may cause a stoppage of respiration.
What is dyshidrotic diet?
The dyshidrotic diet is recommended in cases of dyshidrotic eczema. Its cause is unknown and is characterized by tiny blisters on the palms of hands and feet. Nickel and Cobalt are considered the main triggering factors in this condition. The dyshidrotic diet means to avoiding those food substances that contain these elements. Some of the examples are:
- Whole grain
- Whole wheat
- Soy products
- Oat
- Dried fruits
- Canned foods
- Rye
- Cocoa
- Chickpeas
- Baking powder
Also, foods rich in Vitamin C help to reduce the absorption of these elements. So, you need to start taking fresh fruits and vegetables like:
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Cauliflower
- Pineapple
- Mango
What about eliminating diet?
When you aren’t sure about the triggering foods but have been diagnosed with food allergies, the eliminating diet is recommended. In this method, you need to avoid a specific food or a group of food for at least 3 days and observe the improvement. This way you must select different food items or a group of foods and try this method over them.
Should you take a gluten-free diet?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley and may cause many health derangements, but it is not a common cause of any food allergies or atopic dermatitis. You can avoid it if you specifically feel any discomfort after having gluten in your diet. In that case, you need to confirm that by eliminating diet.
Many doctors recommend taking all the possible food items containing a variety of nutrients needed for your body. This will allow you to develop tolerance to maximum food allergens.
For more information, you can visit WebMD and Healthline.
