If you have eczema (atopic dermatitis), it's hard enough to prevent outbreaks as the weather gets colder and drier. But just as you need to adapt to environmental changes, you also need to consider what you're putting into your body.

Believe it or not, what you eat and drink can greatly contribute to its emergence. It's all about inflammation. Nothing you eat (or don't eat) will cure your eczema. This, unfortunately, will stay with you throughout your adult life. However, you can make smart eczema choices in your daily diet to reduce uncomfortable, itchy flare-ups.

Foods to Avoid If You Have Eczema

Certain foods, including nuts, milk, and wheat, can trigger the release of inflammation-causing T cells and immunoglobulin-E. Other foods that commonly cause eczema flare-ups include eggs, dairy, soy, citrus fruits, tomatoes, gluten, and even some spices such as cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla.

For those with dyshidrotic eczema (eczema of the hands and feet), foods that contain nickel make symptoms worse. This includes canned meats, chocolate, seeds, beans (including soybeans), peas, shellfish and even some black teas.

Try an elimination diet

How do you know if what you're eating or drinking is causing your eczema flare-up? Typically, if you have any food sensitivities, you will have a reaction somewhere between 30 minutes to more than a few days after ingesting it. This can make it difficult to identify the source of the problem.

If you're not sure what's causing the flare-ups, you can try an elimination diet. Add one of these common culprits to your diet and monitor your reaction over the course of a few weeks. Track your body's response, if any. If you don't find any noticeable effects, add the next ingredient and test again. If you discover an ingredient that is causing your symptoms, it's time to completely remove it from your diet.

what should you eat

If you suffer from food sensitivities, it's best to swap the above offenders for anti-inflammatory foods. This will reduce the immune system response. Adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet is a great start. Fatty fish, including sardines, salmon, tuna and mackerel are good options. Foods rich in flavonoids like cherries, apples, broccoli, vegetables and fruits also work wonders in fighting inflammation. You can also add foods with live active cultures found in probiotics to your diet, such as yogurt. Sometimes, simply by changing your diet, you can greatly reduce the suffering that comes with eczema flare-ups. If you're not sure what would work best for you, ask a dermatologist. 

Dr. Milvelena