The inflammatory skin condition eczema appears to result from an improper immune response that triggers allergies. It can appear on various parts of the body, including the face. Heredity and environment might also play a factor. No cure exists for this condition, but diet might complement standard treatments by helping to mitigate the immune system factors that contribute to this condition.
Link Between Eczema and Diet
When you injure yourself or get sick, the inflammatory process helps alert your immune system of a problem. It can then carry immune system cells to the area and facilitate the healing process. Sometimes, however, this inflammatory response occurs frequently and without cause, resulting in chronic inflammation that can trigger a variety of conditions, like skin problems. While you cannot completely control the inflammatory process on your own, diet can serve as a strong ally. The foods you eat contain substances that can either trigger inflammation or quell it. Making certain dietary choices can help avoid the inflammation and improper immune response that contributes to a problem like eczema.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fats
When it comes to quelling inflammation through diet, fats take on particular importance. Your body uses fats to produce hormones called prostaglandins, which play a role in the inflammatory process, explains the dietitian-created website Dietchannel.com. Certain fats help produce "good" prostaglandins while others promote "bad" ones. The typical Western diet contains an abundance of omega-6 fatty acids and not enough omega-3 fatty acids. The former, in excess, promote inflammation, while the latter reduces it.
Increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids entails eating more fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna, walnuts, flax seed and oil and hemp seed and oil. Many health foods have also been fortified with these fats, such as granola bars. You can also find eggs fortified with omega-3 fatty acids. Other beneficial fats include those found in avocados, nuts and seeds.
As for cutting back on omega-6 fats, you need to reduce your intake of vegetable oils like corn, sunflower and safflower oil. Cook with olive and canola oil instead. Read food labels carefully, as most commercially produced snack foods use these oils.
Other Considerations for Inflammatory Foods
Other foods can also play a role in inflammation. Saturated fats like those found in animal products can also cause problems. Same goes for white flour foods and sugar-rich foods. Choose whole grains instead of white breads and pastas, and reduce your intake of cookies, cakes, candies and the like.
Avoiding Common Food Allergens
Many people with eczema also have food allergies, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC); the negative response your immune system mounts against these foods probably triggers the eczema as well. UMMC explains the most common allergens include dairy, soy, citrus, peanuts, wheat, corn, tomatoes, fish and eggs.
If you want to manage your eczema while avoiding the least amount of foods possible, consider trying an elimination diet where you eliminate one type of food or group of foods at a time. This can help you pinpoint specific triggers. Consider working with a doctor or other health care professional for guidance to ensure you do the diet properly and obtain the most accurate results.
Other Dietary Considerations
While what you do not eat appears to take center stage in managing this condition, you want to make sure to include some important foods. In addition to beneficial fatty acids and whole grains instead of white flour, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables across the color spectrum. They contain the richest sources of inflammation-fighting antioxidants and other important nutrients for the skin as well as overall health. The United Kingdom website Skin Health, written by skin care experts, also stresses the importance of adequate hydration. Water benefits overall skin health and prevents the dryness that can sometimes trigger an eczema flareup.
