Several elements can influence the intensity of your child's eczema symptoms. For some children, removing prevalent allergens like milk  and eggs from their diet may assist in alleviating symptoms or in preventing flare-ups. Managing eczema can be particularly challenging in young children, especially infants and toddlers, due to their developing immune systems and dietary restrictions. Here are seven foods that you might want to consider avoiding for babies and toddlers dealing with eczema. However, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before making any significant dietary changes for your child.

Understanding Diet's Role in Eczema Management

Eczema, often referred to as atopic dermatitis, is a prevalent skin condition characterized by red, itchy, and inflamed patches on the skin. This condition can affect individuals of all ages but is particularly frequent among young children. Studies indicate that approximately 50% of eczema cases manifest within the first year of life, highlighting its early onset. A variety of factors can exacerbate eczema flare-ups, and diet plays a significant role among them. Research has indicated that certain foods may act as triggers in around 30% of moderate to severe eczema cases, with children under the age of five being particularly susceptible to the worsening of symptoms due to dietary factors.

While foods do not cause eczema directly, making specific dietary adjustments may help alleviate symptoms, especially for individuals who have sensitivities or allergies to particular ingredients. In some instances, removing common allergenic foods from a child's diet can lead to noticeable improvements in eczema symptoms. Despite this, it is essential to note that more extensive research is required, and it might not be necessary to eliminate all the foods listed below to effectively manage eczema. Consulting a healthcare professional is crucial for personalized guidance on which foods to limit or avoid. Certain foods may aggravate eczema symptoms, particularly in infants and children. However, the impact largely depends on your child's unique allergies or sensitivities, so it's advisable to consult a healthcare provider to identify the best dietary exclusions.

Strategies for Preventing Food Allergies

Introducing common allergenic foods, such as eggs and peanuts, to infants at an early age may reduce their risk of developing food allergies. If you're contemplating the elimination of specific foods from your child's diet or are worried about potential food allergies, it’s vital to seek advice from a healthcare professional. They can assist in creating a tailored diet plan that meets your child's individual requirements.

Which Foods Can Aggravate Eczema in Babies and Children?

Studies indicate that removing certain foods from the diet can lead to a notable improvement in eczema symptoms for some children.

1. Dairy Products

Allergic reactions to cow’s milk represent the most prevalent food allergy among young children. Dairy items, including milk, yogurt, and cheese, are recognized as common triggers for eczema flare-ups. A study involving 132 children with food-induced eczema revealed that a significant portion of participants experienced immediate reactions after ingesting cow's milk.

A report highlighted that infants suffering from eczema were six times more likely to have allergies to cow's milk, eggs, or peanuts by the time they reached 12 months than those without eczema. For those seeking alternatives, various plant-based milks exist, such as soy milk, almond milk, and cashew milk (kaju ka doodh). However, it's essential to scrutinize the ingredient labels, as some alternatives may contain high levels of added sugars and calories.

2. Seafood: Fish and Shellfish

Shellfish encompasses a variety of aquatic creatures characterized by their shell-like exteriors, including crabs, lobsters, oysters, mussels, and shrimp. Conversely, types of fish, such as salmon, trout, tuna, and tilapia, possess fins and scales. Despite being highly nutritious and excellent sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, both fish and shellfish can exacerbate eczema symptoms in numerous children. Allergies to fish and shellfish are prevalent and can prompt diverse side effects, including hives, itching, and worsening of eczema.

While some children may react to all finned fish or shellfish, others might only be sensitive to specific varieties, like crustaceans (including shrimp and crab) or mollusks (including oysters and clams). Consulting a pediatrician or registered dietitian can assist in identifying which seafood types may provoke reactions in your child.

3. Soy Products

For individuals with a soy allergy, consuming soy products such as soy milk, tofu, and edamame can trigger immune responses, leading to skin reactions like eczema. Compared to other major food allergens, soy allergies are relatively uncommon, accounting for just 0.4% of food allergies in children under 18 in Canada.

If your child exhibits sensitivity to soy, remember that many processed items contain soy-based ingredients, which can also lead to eczema symptoms. Examples include:

  • soy sauce
  • tamari
  • soy protein
  • textured vegetable protein

4. Eggs

Some infants or toddlers may be allergic to proteins found in either egg whites or yolks, which can trigger eczema symptoms. Egg allergies rank among the most widespread food allergies, impacting an estimated 2-3% of children under five years old in Australia. Moreover, a review published in 2019 noted that infants with eczema are nearly four times more likely to develop an egg allergy by their first birthday compared to those without eczema. However, many egg allergies in children tend to resolve by around age 5. Additionally, certain children who are sensitive to eggs might tolerate them in specific forms, such as in baked goods.

5. Tree Nuts

For many young children, tree nuts can trigger or worsen eczema symptoms. Common examples of tree nuts include:

  • almonds
  • cashews
  • walnuts
  • pecans

Tree nut allergies may affect up to 1.2% of children in Japan. Severe reactions to tree nuts can lead to serious health issues, and studies indicate that these reactions are often linked with severe eczema, asthma, and seasonal allergies. In addition to avoiding tree nuts, it may be necessary for your child to steer clear of foods that include them, such as pesto, nut butter, coconut products, and specific cereals, cookies, crackers, and candies.

6. Wheat or Gluten

Wheat is a cereal grain that serves as a fundamental ingredient in various foods, including bread, pasta, and baked items. Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, is responsible for giving dough its structure and elasticity. For individuals with a wheat allergy, consuming wheat-containing products can trigger allergic reactions and cause additional symptoms such as hives, asthma, and digestive problems. Eczema and skin rashes may arise due to gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, an autoimmune condition that elicits an immune response upon consuming gluten-containing foods. Although there is no definitive test for non-celiac gluten sensitivity, your child’s healthcare provider can conduct skin or blood tests to help ascertain whether your child suffers from celiac disease or a wheat allergy.

7. Peanuts

Peanuts are a common allergen and have been linked to various skin reactions, including rashes, hives, itching, and eczema. Peanut allergies are prevalent among infants and toddlers, with most cases emerging within the first two years of life. Additionally, research indicates that peanut allergies are more frequent among infants who have moderate to severe eczema. If peanuts trigger eczema flare-ups in your child, consider using alternatives like seeds and seed butter in your favorite recipes. Some of the most common foods that provoke allergies in infants and toddlers include dairy products, fish, shellfish, soy products, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, and eggs.

Which Foods Can Alleviate Eczema Symptoms in Babies and Children?

A variety of foods can contribute positively to the management of eczema, potentially alleviating symptoms such as itching and inflammation. For instance, an abundant selection of fruits and vegetables is loaded with antioxidants—compounds known for their ability to combat oxidative stress and mitigate cell damage and inflammation. While research involving human subjects is still emerging, some studies indicate that decreasing oxidative stress may be crucial in controlling eczema flare-ups.

Moreover, boosting your child's intake of probiotics through fermented products or dietary supplements might prove advantageous. Research has shown that specific probiotic strains, such as Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus salivarius, can significantly diminish the severity of eczema in children. However, it’s important to note that additional studies are necessary, as some investigations have suggested that probiotics might not substantially influence symptom severity or the overall quality of life for those affected by eczema.

Incorporating a greater variety of antioxidant-rich and probiotic-laden foods into your child's diet may offer some benefits for managing eczema, but further research is warranted to solidify these findings.

Commonly Asked Questions

What are additional triggers for eczema in infants?

Several factors can contribute to the development of eczema in babies, including their own sweat and saliva, exposure to dry environments, cigarette smoke, pet dander, and pollen. Infants may also aggravate their condition by scratching, which can exacerbate the symptoms. Moreover, certain materials and products such as clothing, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, baby powders, wipes, and scented shampoos or soaps can serve as potential triggers for eczema flare-ups.

Which foods might cause eczema in breastfed infants?

It is believed that many of the same food allergens responsible for triggering eczema in older children and adults could similarly affect infants through breast milk. However, the connection between eczema in infants and the dietary choices of breastfeeding parents is not strongly established, just as the evidence suggesting that eliminating specific foods from the parent's diet results in clear improvements in the infant's eczema symptoms is limited.

The Essential Takeaway

For numerous infants and young children, nutrition can significantly impact the management of eczema symptoms. While certain foods might exacerbate eczema, others can help decrease inflammation and oxidative stress, potentially alleviating discomfort. It is crucial to consult with a pediatrician or dietitian prior to altering your child’s diet, as removing specific foods could hinder their ability to obtain essential nutrients. Furthermore, remember that various other factors may influence eczema, and some children might require additional treatments to effectively manage their symptoms.