Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is an itchy rash that occurs in 10 to 20 percent of children and in 1 to 3 percent of adults, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. This rash typically comes and goes, completely resolving at times and becoming extremely symptomatic at other times. Many factors are thought to exacerbate eczema, including irritating fabrics, detergents, soaps and food sensitivity.
Background
Eczema often starts as itchy, red plaques which may be localized to a few areas or widespread. These patches are dry and scaly, and are typically discolored. Scratching these patches can cause swelling, increased redness and skin breakdown, which can lead to infection. The rash can be disfiguring and may cause sleep disturbances. In children, the patches may be present anywhere, but in older individuals they're often localized to the elbows and knees.
Soy Allergy
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 37 percent of children with moderate atopic dermatitis have a food allergy, while 6 to 8 percent of children in the general population have a food allergy. While soy allergy does not cause eczema, it can worsen symptoms and cause flares in which the patches spread or get larger. Soy allergy is one of the most common food allergies and typically causes systemic reactions such as hives, difficulty breathing, vomiting and dizziness. Some people with eczema have evidence of allergy on testing, but develop worsening of eczema as their only symptom.
Diagnosis of Soy Allergy
Many physicians will ask that you keep a food diary to determine which foods seem to worsen your eczema symptoms. You then mark down days when your eczema is worse and any foods that you eat on those days. If certain foods seem to continually make your eczema worse, you can have allergy testing performed to determine whether you have evidence of allergy to the specific food. When testing for soy allergy, your physician will scratch the surface of your skin with a small amount of the allergenic protein in soy and then measure the resultant reaction.
Treatment
Avoiding soy and soy-containing products may help to reduce your flares of eczema if you have evidence of soy allergy. Soy, tofu, edamame, miso and many types of sauces and vegetable broths contain soy protein. Food labels state whether the product contains soy protein, and even some breads and cereals contain soy, so careful analysis of labels is needed. In addition to avoiding foods that worsen your eczema, moisturizing creams, good skin care and topical steroids can help to reduce your eczema symptoms. Your dermatologist can help you with recommendations specific to your particular situation.
