Diet is important for effective eczema care

An eczema patient's diet is an important part of his or her eczema care. It is possible to improve or worsen eczema symptoms depending on the kinds of food consumed every day. Diet is a major factor in general health and well-being. The saying "You are what you eat" is certainly true for eczema patients.

Certain kinds of food items can trigger eczema flare ups in many people. To complicate the matter, these food triggers can affect different people very differently. A process of trial and error is required to find out what specific foods act as eczema triggers for any given patient. Once this is known, it becomes relatively easy for that patient to avoid those foods. A personalized eczema care plan should include a list of foods to avoid.

How should one find out which specific foods trigger flare ups? It may be useful to start with a list of foods that are known to cause eczema symptoms for many people. If eating a food item results in adverse reactions, that item should be put on a list of things to avoid and the patient should refrain from consuming that item again.

The following foods are known to act as eczema triggers - shellfish, eggs, cow's milk, strawberries, peanuts, corn, wheat, lemons, soy and tomatoes. In addition, many food preservatives are known to cause eczema (among other possible health problems.) A substance called MSG is an example of a preservative.

If you are an eczema patient, keep a detailed food dairy for a while. Note down everything you eat along with the date and time you ate it. This will help you pinpoint the specific foods that are causing problems in your case. This is an important step for your eczema care.

Response times to various food triggers can vary from one person to another. Some people have an allergic reaction within an hour or two after eating a food that is a trigger for them. This immediate sensitivity can help them identify food triggers more easily. Others may have a reaction only six, twelve or twenty four hours after eating the food concerned.

Food triggers can cause eczema symptoms like swollen, red areas appearing on the skin, itchiness, abdominal pain of varying intensities, itchiness in the eyes, diarrhea, vomiting, sneezing and wheezing.

Some studies indicate that flaxseed oil may be useful for controlling eczema symptoms and in particular, for reducing inflammation. Take one tablespoon of flaxseed oil once a day. This oil contains many essential fats and is a good addition to the diet. For those who want to avoid consuming oil, flaxseed powder is also available; it can be sprinkled on foods.

Supplementing the diet with zinc can be beneficial for eczema. However, the dosage should be carefully monitored, because consuming an excess of zinc can lead to copper deficiency. The maximum permissible dosage of zinc is approximately thirty milligrams per day.

Certain herbs can be used as nutritional supplements to reduce eczema outbreaks. Evening primrose oil is an example. It contains a type of omega-6 fatty acid called gamma linolenic acid or GLA. It has the ability to heal eczema-affected skin and can play a useful role in eczema care. Two to four grams of evening primrose oil consumed with meals should be sufficient for most adults. The disadvantage of this food supplement is that it takes a long time to show results - as much as six months or even more.

Effective eczema care involves not only medication but attention to diet and other factors. A proper diet is an important contributor to controlling the disease.