According to nutritional therapy, certain foods can be one of the triggers of dermatitis, especially in children. Removing the perpetrators from the diet can give the body more tolerance for other triggers, such as stress, dust mites, or animal dander. Dairy products, eggs, and wheat are common culprits.
Dermatitis patients may not necessarily test allergic to the foods whose elimination helps their skin condition. For this reason, some practitioners prefer to use the terms "food intolerance" or "food sensitivities" instead of "food allergies."
Dermatitis sufferers may also benefit from adding essential fatty acids, which promote healthy skin. In one study, a group of Italian researchers treated two- to four-year-old children suffering from atopic eczema with daily doses of evening primrose oil (rich in essential fatty acids). After four weeks, the children's symptoms dramatically improved. These young patients continued the treatment for 20 weeks with the same results and experienced no adverse side effects. Other studies have also confirmed these positive findings.
Supplementation with vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc can also be useful in some cases of atopic dermatitis.
To see if any foods are related to your skin reaction, a nutritional practitioner may suggest an elimination diet. Cut the following items from your diet for two to three weeks:
- milk
- cheese
- eggs
- pork
- fish
- shellfish
- nuts
- all fruit (including tomatoes)
- wheat
- yeast
Keep note of the changes in your skin condition. If there's been an improvement after two to three weeks, the practitioner may suggest a food challenge: Reintroduce the foods one at time, starting with the one you used to eat most often. If none of your symptoms return in a day or two, keep that food in your diet. Naturally, if the redness and inflammation resurface, eliminate the culprit from your diet for good. Continue to reintroduce other foods every two to three days and keep track of the results.