Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe ConnectionIs Any Dairy OK?Foods Causing EczemaFermented DairyFermented Dairy and Your DietFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Connection
Is Any Dairy OK?
Foods Causing Eczema
Fermented Dairy
Fermented Dairy and Your Diet
Frequently Asked Questions
Eczema(sometimes referred to as atopic dermatitis) is a complex skin condition that causes an itchy rash and swelling. An estimated one out of 10 people will develop eczema at some point in their lifetime. Although it typically starts in early childhood, eczema can occur at any age.
One of the first things a person with eczema is often told to do is to avoiddairy. While it is true that some people may experience flare-ups (times when symptoms increase) after consuming dairy, there’s research that certain types of dairy may actually help the condition.
This article will explore the connection between dairy and eczema and the latest research to help determine which types of dairy may be beneficial.
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What’s the Connection Between Eczema and Dairy?
Up to 30% of people with eczema also have afood allergy. When a person with eczema consumes something they’re allergic to, it can trigger or worsen an eczema flare.
Dairy is a commonallergen, so consuming it may worsen symptoms if you’re allergic. As a result, many people choose to exclude dairy from their diet before an allergy or intolerance is confirmed.
However, new research suggests dairy and milk proteins do not cause inflammation and can be included in ananti-inflammatory diet.
Is All Dairy Off-Limits for Eczema?
Foods like dairy should only be removed from a child’s diet if it causes a severe or immediate reaction.
Moreover, foods in the dairy group are important because they provide vital nutrients for a person’s overall health. Dairy foods are rich in calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.
For example, vitamin D is important to help your body absorb calcium, which is needed for strong bones. Although once considered rare, vitamin D deficiency is common in the United States.
Because many dairy products are fortified with vitamin D, those who avoid or restrict fortified dairy products are at a higher risk forvitamin D deficiency.
However, if you feel dairy is contributing to eczema flares, address your concerns with a primary care provider or adermatologist(specialist in conditions of the skin, hair, and nails) who can evaluate the need for allergy testing or an elimination diet.
Food Allergies in Young ChildrenDiagnosing food allergies, including a dairy allergy, in children under age 3 is based mainly on a history of symptoms. Treatment involves eliminating suspicious foods from the diet and gradually reintroducing them. This should always be done under close medical supervision.
Food Allergies in Young Children
Diagnosing food allergies, including a dairy allergy, in children under age 3 is based mainly on a history of symptoms. Treatment involves eliminating suspicious foods from the diet and gradually reintroducing them. This should always be done under close medical supervision.
Foods That Cause Eczema
It doesn’t appear that any particular foods cause eczema. However, when a person with eczema eats a food they are allergic to, it triggers an immune reaction that causes inflammation. This can trigger an eczema flare-up.
Food allergens that tend to cause eczema flare-ups include:
Some experts also believe foods that cause inflammation, such as sugar, processed foods, and simple carbohydrates, may trigger eczema flare-ups.
Fermented Dairy for Eczema
While some may experience flare-ups after consuming dairy, recent studies show thatfermented(or cultured) dairy may actually improve symptoms.
Additionally, some research shows that yogurt consumption during pregnancy decreases the risk of atopic dermatitis in offspring.
Other studies suggest eating yogurt daily can reduce markers of inflammation, especially in people who are overweight.
Fermented dairy also has other health benefits. For example, one study found that men who eat greater quantities of fermented dairy products like milk and cheese had a decreased risk of coronary heart disease compared to those who eat lesser amounts.
Types of Fermented Dairy
Various fermented dairy products may be beneficial for your eczema and overall health. Different types include:
How to Incorporate Fermented Dairy Into Your Diet
If you’re feeling creative, you can also make your own fermented dairy products at home, including kefir, sour cream, and yogurt.
Both kefir and yogurt are good, easy-to-digest fermented dairy foods for babies.
Summary
As long as you don’t have an intolerance or allergy, you should be able to enjoy dairy without it triggering eczema flare-ups. You may actually notice improvements in your condition after eating more fermented dairy products. Good sources of fermented dairy products include kefir, yogurt, fermented cottage cheese, and cultured sour cream.
A Word From Verywell
Foods from the dairy group provide many important nutrients. Because restricting food groups can lead to nutrient deficiencies, most experts do not recommend removing dairy from diets unless an allergy or intolerance exists. In fact, fermented dairy is rich in probiotics and may actually help improve symptoms of eczema.
If you believe dairy is the cause of your flare-ups, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider who can determine if food allergy testing or an elimination diet is appropriate.
Some experts believe that dairy and milk products may cause inflammation in certain people, which can make them more prone to an eczema flare.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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National Eczema Association.Everything you need to know about eczema and food allergies.
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American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Food allergy and eczema.
Harvard Medical School.Vitamin D and your health: Breaking old rules, raising new hopes.
National Eczema Society.Babies and eczema.
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Celik V, Beken B, Yazicioglu M, Ozdemir PG, Sut N.Do traditional fermented foods protect against infantile atopic dermatitis.Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2019;30(5):540-546. doi:10.1111/pai.13045
Mousavi SN, Saboori S, Asbaghi O.Effect of daily probiotic yogurt consumption on inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized Controlled Clinical trials.Obesity Medicine. 2020;18:100221. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obmed.2020.100221
Koskinen TT, Virtanen HEK, Voutilainen S, et al.Intake of fermented and non-fermented dairy products and risk of incident chd: the kuopio ischaemic heart disease risk factor study.British Journal of Nutrition. 2018;120(11):1288-1297. doi: 10.1017/S0007114518002830
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