Loading... Eczema can be related to:
- food intolerance (sensitivity to food chemicals such as salicylates, sulphites or other food additives)
- food allergies (a reaction to the proteins in foods)
- environmental allergies e.g. grass, dustmites
- chemical sensitivities, e.g. latex, formaldehyde in building materials and wrinkle-free fabrics, irritants in washing powders, soaps, perfumes, cleaners and many others
If you come from a family with migraines, irritable bowel symptoms or behaviour problems, your eczema might be a reaction to certain food chemicals such as additives and salicylates. Sulphite preservatives can be a big problem with rashes, especially for children and big beer and wine drinkers, and there are other preservatives, colours and flavour enhancers that can cause problems. Salicylates (in most fruit and some vegetables) are another big suspect in this type of eczema. If cutting down on additives is not enough to clear up your skin, a low chemical elimination diet - free of additives, low in salicylates, amines and flavour enhancers - supervised by a dietitian can pinpoint exactly what is affecting you (ask for our list of supportive dietitians, see below). Salicylates are natural pesticides that are present in varying amounts in most fruit and some vegetables and are particularly high in tomatoes, broccoli, citrus and all juice. These chemicals can pass through breastmilk to affect babies. Note that the new A2 milk from selected Jersey cows with a different protein is helpful for some eczema cases. Others may need to switch to goat’s, soy or rice milk.
For adults, if your eczema has only developed since you started your current job, and particularly if it gets better during long holidays, you need to consider occupational eczema - that is, related to latex gloves or other chemicals at work.
The side-effects of prescription or over the counter medication can cause a sudden new rash.
People who improve when they avoid wheat products may need to consider the bread preservative (282) or a particular type of rash associated with gluten called dermatitis herpetiformis that often remains undiagnosed. It can take a lot of detective work, so please feel welcome to ask questions - people with skin rashes often need some extra help.
