Eczema blog part 2 – What role does diet play in eczema?

Herbalists have made the link between diet and skin health for some time but it’s taking modern research a little while to catch up.

Dairy products, are they bad for eczema?

As far as I am aware (please send me the link if I’m incorrect), there isn’t currently a published study can shows the link between dairy products and an increase in eczema symptoms. However, some doctors think there is a link and some are recommending that it is removed from the diet.

I always recommend that people with eczema may find that switching to a nut, oat or goat milk may find a reduction in their skin inflammation. It’s important not to use soya milk however, as that can have the same inflammatory action as cow’s milk.

Are pro inflammatory foods a problem in eczema?

The simple answer is yes. While each person is different, eczema is an inflammatory condition and therefore foods that increase an inflammatory state in the body may well increase the symptoms of eczema.

Foods to reduce
  • Soya
  • Alcohol
  • Refined sugars
  • Preservatives
Foods to add in

Just as there are inflammatory foods, there are also anti-inflammatory foods. I recommend my patients increase these in their diet if at all possible.

  • Oily fish
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Fruits and vegetables (as many different colours as you can)
  • Wholegrains
  • Beans and pulses

Don’t forget external irritants for eczema, as the skin is the body’s barrier it has to be strong to avoid infection. In the case of eczema that barrier is damaged and broken.

Where possible try to get the most natural form of the following products to avoid reactions:

  • Washing powder/liquid
  • Soaps and shower gels
  • Shampoos and conditioners
  • Any beauty products that may come in contact with the area affected e.g. make up or perfume
Laura Carpenter
Laura Carpenter

If you or a member of your family suffers from eczema and you are interested in finding out if herbs could help, give your local herbalist a call.

If you’re in the Wellington area (in Somerset) feel free to give me a call or email to find out how herbal medicine could help.