Eczema, or atopic dermatitis is a skin condition characterized by red, dry and itchy patches that appear on the skin’s surface. These patches can appear anywhere on the body. Although children are more likely than adults to develop eczema, the condition can occur at any age. There is no cure for eczema, but using skin moisturizers and medicated ointments can help relieve symptoms. Sometimes lifestyle changes, such as adhering to an eczema diet, are necessary.

Eczema-friendly foods to soothe atopic dermatitis symptoms and flare ups may include the following:

1. Fish

Fish are high in omega 3 fatty acids which helps with inflammation. The types of fish that contain the most omega 3 fatty acids are salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring and sardines. If vegetarian, there are alternatives to eating fish in order to take in omega 3 fatty acids. Some of these choices include tofu, walnuts, edamame and certain types of beans and seeds.

2. Probiotics

Probiotics is the name given to helpful bacteria that assist in proper food digestion. Some probiotics occur naturally in food products. Food products that are high in natural probiotics are sauerkraut, yogurt, miso, tempeh, kefir and kombucha.

3. Anti-Inflammatory foods

In addition to eating lots of fish and seafood to help with inflammation, adding other anti-inflammatory foods can help too. Many foods have naturally occurring flavonoids, which are great for reducing inflammation. Some of these foods include leafy greens like kale or spinach, cherries, apples and broccoli.

4. Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 helps the body to grow healthy skin cells and replace damaged cells. Since atopic dermatitis damages skin cells by causing patients to scratch, this vitamin is an eczema diet essential. Patients can get vitamin B12 naturally from a number of food products including shellfish, seafood, poultry, lean meat, eggs and dairy products like milk and cheese.

5. Calcium

Patients suffering from eczema could be experiencing symptoms due to a calcium deficiency. Calcium deficiency can cause the skin to become dry and itchy. Eating foods rich in calcium can help to combat both conditions. Foods rich in calcium include beans, seeds, fish, yogurt, huts and leafy greens.

6. Supplementation

Many people don’t like seafood or are vegetarian or vegan, but still suffer from atopic dermatitis. If either is the case, patients can take supplements in pill form that are available over the counter. Supplements exist for vitamin B12 and fish oil supplements can be taken for omega 3 fatty acids. In addition, there are also many supplements available in the market today to help reduce inflammation also including ginger, curcumin, alpha-lipoic acid and resveratrol. Before adding any supplements, patients should always consult their physicians.

7. Foods to void

Many patients suffer from worse eczema because of certain foods. Therefore, it is necessary to know what foods to avoid to keep your condition under control. Common foods that induce atopic dermatitis flares may include certain nuts and spices, gluten, dairy products, tomatoes, soy, eggs and citrus fruits. Some of these are foods recommended to include, but if they are trigger foods they should be avoided and replaced with other foods or supplements. If suffering from eczema that is triggered by food products, patients will be put on an elimination diet where known foods are removed from the diet entirely and then reintroduced individually to see which foods are causing symptoms.