Supporting eczema with nutrition
Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause patches of
dry, itchy, cracked and sore skin. Eczema can affect anywhere on the
body but most commonly occurs on the neck, hands, feet, elbows and
on the back of the legs. Eczema usually affects people with dry skin
and often occurs in people with allergies such as asthma and hayfever.
Eczema is also linked to reduced gut microbiome diversity. 70% of our
immune system is in our gut, and eczema is an immune response triggered by otherwise harmless substances.
Possible eczema diet and lifestyle triggers
Eczema can have many potential diet and lifestyle triggers. As a nutritionist, I take a comprehensive health history to help identify these triggers and may use functional testing to uncover the root cause.
Some possible triggers include:
- Foods such as milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat & soya
- Clothing detergent
- Certain soaps, moisturisers and suncreams
- Stress
- Dust mites, fur, pollen or mould
- Wearing wool or synthetic fabrics
- Household cleaning products
- Vitamin D deficiency