Foods to Stay Away From if you Have Eczema

What you put inside your body, affects the outward appearance and health as well. Certain types of foods you eat make your skin healthier and can make you lose or gain weight. You have to be careful what you put in your body because of food allergies as well which can cause upset stomachs or external reactions such as rashes. People who suffer from eczema should pay extra attention to their diet, because certain foods can cause flare ups or reduce the amount of flare ups they are experiencing. Not all types of eczema are the same, and some foods for one person may not cause a flare up for a different person. It is trial and error and it can be helpful to keep a food journal of your diet and make a note of what caused a flare up.

Studies have found there are common triggers by certain foods that can affect your eczema flare ups. Keep in mind, however, that you may not have a problem with the food listed. Allergies are unique to individuals and not everyone with eczema will be allergic to apples for example. This is why a food journal comes in handy because you can keep track of what makes your flare ups worse. Some common triggers for most people with eczema are: milk, shellfish, wheat, peanut butter and peanut products, corn, soy, eggs, acidic fruits, food preservatives, and artificial sweeteners.

Because milk is a common trigger for allergies and eczema, you will have to avoid a lot of dairy products if you find that it does affect you. Dairy products that contain milk are foods like cheese and yogurt. You can find some great tasting cheese made from goat's milk. Acidic fruits you should avoid are strawberries, oranges, and lemons. Another fruit, that is often mistaken for a vegetable, which you should stay away from, is tomatoes. You should try eating bananas, apples, or pears instead and see if they don't cause a reaction. Soy products can be harmful because most are not fermented which makes them hard to digest.

Having a restricted diet can be hard to maintain and may require you to take supplements, vitamins, or super foods to stay healthy. Flaxseed has proven to be a healing power for flare ups. It reduces inflammation, a side effect of eczema. Flaxseed comes in the natural seed form, oil, and powder. You can add flaxseed oil or powder to most foods you cook or can be added to your drinks. In addition to having a healthy diet and using flaxseed or other types of supplements, you should also use natural skin care products to manage your flare ups and skin irritation.