Food Allergies and Eczema

Peanuts, eggs, milk — all of these can trigger food allergies. But, for some people with atopic dermatitis (AD), these foods can also trigger a flare-up of itchy, red skin. That’s because food allergies — and their milder cousin, food sensitivities — can go hand in hand with AD.

Some evidence suggests that about 1 in 3 people with severe AD also have food allergies, although much of the research has been done in children. Some children will outgrow their allergies, while others will continue to experience them well into adulthood.

The Link Between Food Allergies, Food Sensitivities, and AD

The skin barrier weakens in people who have atopic dermatitis. Once this happens, sensitivity increases, not just to environmental allergens, but also to food allergens, says Schweta Arakali, MD, an allergist at the Center for Allergy and Asthma Care in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Even if you don’t have a food allergy — a reaction that can include breaking into hives or going into potentially life-threatening anaphylactic shock — you can still have what’s called a food sensitivity.

“If you’re sensitive to a food, you may have worsening existing eczema patches, or you may notice your skin feels itchier overall,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical Center and a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City. You may also develop a rash or have an upset stomach or diarrhea after you eat certain foods, she adds.

It can be challenging to pinpoint a food sensitivity, because unlike a true allergy, which tends to cause a reaction right away, there may be a delay before you notice any symptoms.

“Some people might get symptoms within minutes to hours,” says Danilo C. Del Campo, MD, a dermatologist at Chicago Skin Clinic in Illinois. “For other people, it might be a couple days after.” Once the immune reaction occurs, it could persist for days, or even weeks, he adds.

Something You Ate? How to Know if a Food Is Triggering Your AD Flares

Although food allergens and sensitivities can vary from one person to the next, some foods more than others tend to cause symptoms for people with AD. Some of the most common culprits include:

• Peanuts
• Eggs
• Milk and dairy products
• Shellfish
• Soy products
• Wheat

If you have a known food allergy, you should stop eating that food.

But, if you think you might have a food sensitivity and aren’t sure which food is triggering your symptoms, you may be tempted to try an elimination diet. This is a process in which you stop eating one or more possible food culprits for several weeks before slowly reintroducing those foods into your diet and noting how you feel, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Here’s the catch: Experts usually don’t recommend people with AD start a food elimination diet — at least not without the help of an allergist.

“Prolonged or strict food avoidance may lead to more severe reactions in the future with ingestion,” says Dr. Arakali. That can mean more severe eczema, as well as more stomach upset and other symptoms.

Plus, there may be many more causes of an AD flare-up besides food, says Arakali, including dust mites, dander, contact allergens, and nonallergic triggers, such as stress or infection.

Even if you are allergic or sensitive to certain foods, cutting them out of your diet is only part of treating your AD. “It’s important to know that a true elimination diet in and of itself may not be enough to cure eczema,” says Dr. Garshick.

What to Do If You Think You Have a Food Allergy or Sensitivity

If you suspect something in your diet may be setting off AD symptoms and flares, see your dermatologist. Your doctor will likely want to try traditional eczema treatments before testing for food allergies, says Garshick.

Once you are doing all you can to manage your AD with these treatments, you can try eating a diet that’s gentler on your digestive system. Dr. Del Campo recommends cutting back on spicy or acidic foods first and eating a well-balanced diet of whole foods with plenty of vegetables, fish and nuts, such as a Mediterranean diet. Adding more vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids to your diet may help improve symptoms of AD, according to some research.