FOOD AND ATOPIC DERMATITIS

Food allergens can trigger atopic dermatitis.^1-3

It is possible to have both food allergies and atopic dermatitis.^1-3 Some of the more common food allergens that can trigger a flare-up include milk and milk products, eggs, soy, wheat, seafood and shellfish.^2,3

However, atopic dermatitis is a complex disease and flare-ups can be triggered by many different things. There are some people with atopic dermatitis who have no food allergies at all.^1-3 So while certain foods can trigger flare-ups in some people, not all flare-ups are caused by food.

It’s important to have a doctor diagnose food allergies.^1-4

If you notice that you get flare-ups after eating one particular kind of food, don’t just take that food out of your diet.^1-4 Food contains important nutrients and avoiding certain foods can lead to malnutrition.^1-4

Consult a health care professional who can perform tests to confirm if you do have allergies to certain foods.^1,4 Doctors can help you find out if your food allergies are contributing to your atopic dermatitis flare-ups, or if there are other factors that need to be taken into consideration.^1-4

These are a few common thoughts among people with atopic dermatitis. Do they sound familiar?

Avoiding foods that cause allergic reactions to prevent flare-ups only works in a patient who has food allergies.⁴ This does not work for all patients with atopic dermatitis,⁴ an immunological disease that requires appropriate treatment. You should only remove a food from your diet if it causes flare-ups in spite of getting the right atopic dermatitis treatment, or if that food triggers allergic reactions.^1,4

Some patients discover that the foods that used to trigger flare-ups stop giving them trouble after their atopic dermatitis has been controlled.¹

Studies show that certain diets can help manage atopic dermatitis.⁵ Vegetarian diets have been shown to decrease inflammation, while people with diets high in meat and processed food had a higher risk.⁵

However, while some people claim that diets can cure atopic dermatitis, this has been not been proven by scientific research.¹ Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition and so far, no permanent cure has been discovered.^4,5 If you decide that you want to try a particular diet, always do this under your doctor’s supervision.

There are several food supplements that claim to help reduce atopic dermatitis symptoms and prevent flare-ups. While a few studies seem to show promising results for certain supplements like probiotics and prebiotics, overall, there is not enough proof to definitely say that any food supplement is effective.^4,5

In general, recommendations for a healthy diet for the general public hold true for people with atopic dermatitis. Being overweight or obese has been linked to a higher risk of the disease, so maintaining a healthy body weight may be of potential benefit.⁵

Some foods, like dairy products, simple carbohydrates and processed foods seem to contribute to inflammation in some people, so it might be a good idea to eat less of these types of food.⁵ This means choosing a diet rich in whole foods, more fresh vegetables, lean sources of proteins and good fats.⁴

The best advice is to discuss nutrition with your doctor. Your doctor can help you identify food allergies, recommend a diet that fits your lifestyle and culture, make sure you are getting enough nutrients, and guide you on how to best manage atopic dermatitis.