Eczema is a condition whereby patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, red, cracked, and rough. Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) is the most common form of eczema, affecting up to one in 10 adults and two in 10 children in the UK. It causes the skin to become itchy, dry, cracked and sore.
According to the NHS, some people only have small patches of dry skin, but others may experience widespread inflamed skin all over the body.
Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for the skin condition, but steps can be taken to help to ease the symptoms.
One of the most effective countermeasures is to establish what might trigger the eczema flare-ups, although it may get better or worse for no obvious reason, says the NHS.
There are a number of things that may trigger your eczema symptoms and one trigger you may be overlooking is your diet.
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Examples include:
- Fruit, including dried fruit and unsweetened fruit juice
- Dairy products
- Certain vegetables
- Certain grains
What does Dr Lio recommend?
“I think that eliminating dairy and carbs, processed foods in general, and eating mostly vegetables/plant-based foods with some meat and fish is probably very healthy for many people,” he said.
Though there isn’t much conclusive evidence to show a strong connection between a plant-based diet and an eczema cure, some pilot studies have shown that a diet without animal products can be hugely beneficial.
In fact, one eczema sufferer found that a raw, vegan diet worked wonders for her eczema.
As the NHS explains, eczema is often itchy, and it can be very tempting to scratch the affected areas of skin.
“But scratching usually damages the skin, which can itself cause more eczema to occur,” notes the health body.
Try to reduce scratching whenever possible, advises the health site.
“You could try gently rubbing your skin with your fingers instead,” it says.