Eczema, which is also known as dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that's often triggered by allergens or substances that irritate the skin. If you've ever suffered the red, itchy rashes that accompany an eczema breakout, you know the pain and inconvenience that eczema can cause. Getting enough of certain vitamins may help you prevent or alleviate an eczema breakout, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. To avoid possible medical complications, consult your doctor before introducing any supplement into your diet.
Vitamin B6
Because a vitamin B6 deficiency may cause an eczema breakout, it's crucial to make sure that you're consuming enough vitamin B6, reports Merck Manuals.com. Vitamin B6 plays an important role in keeping your skin healthy, the University of Maryland Medical Center says, and it often works with other B vitamins to do so.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C may reduce the symptoms of an eczema breakout by acting as an antihistamine, combating the histamine released in your body during an allergic reaction that may trigger an eczema flareup, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Also, many vegetables contain vitamin C, and the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends eating fresh vegetables to reduce inflammation in your body that may contribute to an eczema breakout.
Amounts
If you're trying to combat an eczema breakout, you should make sure that you meet the recommended daily amount of vitamin B6, says Merck Manuals.com. The daily recommended amount of vitamin B6 is 1.3 mg for ages 19 to 50, 1.5 mg for women age 51 and older, and 1.7 mg for men age 51 and older, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. As for vitamin C, the daily recommended amount is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men, says the University of Maryland Medical Center, which recommends taking much more --- a supplement of 1,000 mg of vitamin C between two and four times daily --- if using vitamin C as an antihistamine to fight an eczema breakout.
Sources
You can get both vitamin B6 and vitamin C in many daily multivitamins. Some good dietary sources of vitamin B6 are brown rice, whole grain bread, beans, milk, cheese, carrots, spinach, salmon, chicken, and turkey, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Fruits like oranges and strawberries, and vegetables like broccoli and peppers are the best dietary sources of vitamin C, but because citrus fruits commonly cause food allergies, and food allergies may trigger an eczema breakout, you may want to avoid eating oranges and other citrus fruits if you have eczema.
