Eczema and Delayed Food Allergies

The link between delayed food allergies and eczema remains quite controversial. The suggestion that a child could be eating something regularly in their diet, which is worsening their eczema, is still not taken seriously by some doctors. Whilst most children with eczema will not be suffering from  delayed food allergies, correctly identifying problem foods in the right children can lead to significant improvements in eczema and thus reduce the reliance on steroid creams to keep the skin under control. Research in this area has suggested that it is milk, egg, soya and wheat that are the most likely culprits and again it is those children whose eczema starts early in infancy and is severe that are most likely to respond to dietary changes. However, the allergy tests used to dignaoe immediate allergies (such as skin prick tests or blood test known as Specific IgE) are of much less value in delayed allergies. Many companies offer  food testing over the internet to identify foods which may worsen eczema but there is no research to support these and often lead to completely pointless food exclusions.  Such tests are not used by allergists or dermatologists. Whilst these tests appear to offer a quick and easy solution, there is currently no substitute for evaluation by an experienced doctor or dietician. After taking a detailed history, they may advise the complete elimination of specific foods and carefully evaluate the results. Even if excluding a particular food does appear to help, it is essential that an attempt to reintroduce the food is made (which would be expected to lead to a worsening of the eczema) in order to confirm that the food is a problem.