PLEASE NOTE: Sections of this article may not be appropriate for those who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, suspect they may have an eating disorder, or are engaging in disordered eating behaviors. This article is provided as informational content only, not as medical advice.
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After day in and day out of itchy, painful skin, it's no wonder that many people start asking about the connection between eczema and food.
What foods cause eczema? What are the best eczema foods to eat? Which are the foods that help eczema go away? The short answer is that there is no one-size-fits-all diet that will help everyone who is struggling with eczema.
However, the research increasingly demonstrates a connection between food, gut health, and eczema. That means that, for many people, certain foods tend to cause eczema, and other foods can help eczema go away. The trick is to identify which of these foods are helping or hurting you individually, or how to improve your gut health reduce your eczema.
By using the below list of foods that cause eczema and foods that help eczema go away, you can begin to sort through them to understand if they can help or are actively hurting you.
Work with a licensed dietitian to help you navigate this process and identify which foods to eat for your eczema, and which ones to avoid.
While there is absolutely a connection between our eczema and nutrition, it's important to avoid engaging in any type of restrictive diet. This is a common but dangerous and unfounded strategy often used in an attempt to identify food sensitivities. An example of a restrictive diet is the autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet.
The research demonstrates that people living with autoimmune disease, including eczema, are more likely to suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders are extremely serious medical conditions. Attempting any type of restrictive diet may trigger an eating disorder.
Additionally, restrictive diets are stressful. Stress is a well known trigger for autoimmune diseases, including eczema. Adding stress by attempting a diet may make your symptoms worse from the stress of dieting alone.
It is unwise, and actually dangerous, to attempt a restrictive diet, like the AIP diet, in an attempt to understand which foods are causing your eczema.
Foods that can cause eczema include:
Nutrients and foods that can help eczema go away:
This article contains information on the foods to eat for eczema, including foods that cause eczema and foods that help eczema go away.
Unfortunately, people living with autoimmune diseases like eczema are more likely to suffer from eating disorders (PLOS One, 2014; J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 2019; American Academy of Pediatrics, 2017).
Eating disorders are extremely serious medical conditions with a low recovery rate and a high death rate (Beat Eating Disorders; Eating Recovery Center, 2026; National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders).
Going on a diet alone can trigger an eating disorder. In fact, people assigned female at birth who engage in "moderate" dieting are 5 times more likely to develop an eating disorder. Those who engage in "extreme" dieting are 18 times more likely to develop an eating disorder (National Eating Disorders Association).
People suffering from eczema are no exception to this phenomenon. A retrospective study in Finland of 70,584 individuals with the atopic dermatitis type of eczema found that these “patients are at particular risk of concomitant [eating disorders]”.
The highest association was found between the atopic dermatitis and bulimia nervosa, followed by binge eating disorder. The researchers also noted that the “high prevalence of food allergies in the [atopic dermatitis] population did not seem to explain the co-occurrence of [atopic dermatitis] and [eating disorders]” (American Academy of Dermatology, 2022).
Furthermore, following a restrictive diet is stressful. Stress is a well-known trigger for eczema and other autoimmune diseases. The stress of a diet may make our eczema worse instead of better.
How can we proceed knowing that some foods cause eczema, and other foods help eczema go away, yet going on a diet is not the right approach?
The trick is to eat in a way that helps our eczema that does not damage our relationship with our bodies and still allows us to enjoy our relationship with food. Distinguishing between restrictive diets versus our everyday diets can be helpful.
It is always appropriate to seek help from knowledgable healthcare providers, such as anti-diet licensed dietitians, who are experts at walking this thin line.
The next section reviews how to safely identify food sensitivities without dieting.
Elimination diets, such as the autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet are often recommended to the autoimmune community. Elimination diets require the dieter to stop eating a long list of foods for many weeks, then slowly reintroduce these foods over time to see what they react to.
However, with the prevalence of dangerous eating disorders in our community, these restrictive diets are simply not a safe way to identify food sensitivities. Furthermore, these diets are stressful and rarely seen through to the end because of their sheer difficulty.
Additionally, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommends against elimination diets. This is because elimination diets are unlikely to provide benefit, they promote malnutrition, and can actually increase the risk of developing food allergies, especially in children (American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2023).
Instead, there is a better way to identify food sensitivities.
First, choose only one food group that you suspect is causing you problems. Many people with autoimmune disease find that they are sensitive to gluten, dairy, or nightshade vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, etc.). A 2017 survey of patients living with the atopic dermatitis type of eczema found very similar results (Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2018).
Next, identify all sources of this potential sensitivity in what you normally eat, then find acceptable alternatives to those foods (for example, if you often eat bread, then find a gluten free bread that you like).
Then, try to avoid consuming your suspected food sensitivity as much as possible for one month, using your acceptable alternatives to help you continue to enjoy eating. After one month, reintroduce your food sensitivity. Monitor your symptom severity to determine if you are reacting to this food.
For more details on this process, refer to the chapter on food sensitivities in Gain Control Over Your Psoriasis, which can be used for any autoimmune disease.
For further support with which foods that cause your eczema and which foods to eat instead, consider scheduling an appointment with an autoimmune dietitan to help you through the process (we provide a free insurance coverage check, and most of our clients pay $0 out of pocket).
Identifying which foods cause your eczema may require some guessing and self-experimentation. However, we can use the below information to make educated guesses and reduce the length of experimentation.
Food allergies and eczema are strongly connected. About 30% of people with eczema have food allergies (National Eczema Association, 2018). The most common foods that contribute to eczema are milk, egg, and peanuts (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2015).
If a food allergy is suspected, meet with an allergist or dermatologist to test for any allergies. While these tests can be helpful, be aware that they are not perfect and false readings are possible. A second round of testing may be indicated in some cases.
Food sensitivities are foods that can cause eczema for you individually. Successfully identifying and then reducing or avoiding these foods may help your eczema go away or improve, plus help steer you towards better foods to eat for you personally.
Food sensitivities will not show up on food allergy tests. In fact, no test can identify food sensitivities. Therefore, regardless of any food allergy results, it can be helpful to determine if you have a food sensitivity.
The above section covers this topic in more detail. Know that this can be a tricky process, and it may be best to involve a licensed dietitian.
Especially for those struggling with itching, learning more about foods high in histamine may be helpful. Histamine is a signaling chemical that serves several functions. It is known for its role in causing allergies (Cleveland Clinic, 2023) and allergic diseases, such as eczema (Frontiers in Immunology, 2018).
It appears that there is a subgroup — accounting for about 30% of people living with eczema — where histamines are a significant contributing factor to their symptoms.
A 2006 study of 360 individuals with eczema found a subgroup with high rates of histamine intolerance symptoms when compared to controls. This subgroup also experienced symptoms such as chronic headaches, painful periods, flushing, gastrointestinal symptoms, and intolerance of histamine-rich food and alcohol.
The study found that this subgroup had reduced serum diamine oxidase (DAO) levels, where DAO is the primary enzyme responsible for reducing histamine levels. In this subgroup with low DAO levels, a histamine-free diet reduced both the above symptoms and eczema severity. The researchers concluded that a diet lower in histamine may be beneficial for this subgroup (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2006).
Another smaller study of 36 patients found similar results (Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 2009).
Foods high in histamine include alcohol, yogurt, sauerkraut, dried fruits, avocados, eggplant, spinach, processed or smoked meats, aged cheese, and more (Healthline, 2024).
However, limiting high histamines foods is only indicated for this subgroup, not the general eczema population.
Some highly processed foods contain questionable ingredients that are poorly regulated by the United States government, leaving us vulnerable to consuming ingredients that are known to be harmful for our health.
Instead of attempting to sort through each of these ingredients individually, it's simpler to reduce our intake of highly processed foods. Consuming more home cooked foods is one of the easiest ways to do this.
People who are sensitive to birch pollen may react to certain foods, which can worsen eczema for some. This is more likely to affect children than adults. These foods include apples, carrots, celery, hazelnuts, and pears (Medical News Today, 2025).
A specific type of eczema called dyshidrotic eczema may be triggered by exposure to nickel or cobalt. These metals can be found in foods such as: whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, meat, dairy products, certain types of fruits and vegetables, chocolate, tea, and coffee.
Eating foods high in vitamin C may help reduce absorption of these metals (Healthine, 2026).
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Eczema typically increases inflammation levels across the body. When considering foods that help eczema go away, a primary aim should be to reduce inflammation.
One way to reduce inflammation is to increase your intake of anti-inflammatory foods. The anti-inflammatory diet is often recommended for autoimmune diseases like eczema. This is not a restrictive diet. Instead, the anti-inflammatory diet is best used as a way to nudge our everyday diets in a more healing direction.
Nutrients that can improve eczema include vitamins C, D, and E.
The strongest evidence for is for vitamin D. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 studies found that low levels of vitamin D are associated with more severe eczema. Additionally, vitamin D supplementation can help improve eczema severity (American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022), most likely in those already deficient.
Vitamin D deficiency is particularly prevalent in many types of autoimmune disease, and is increasingly being recognized for its importance in proper immune system functioning (Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, 2018). Research shows that vitamin D supports a stronger skin barrier, reduces inflammation, and improves eczema symptoms (National Eczema Association, 2022).
There is moderate evidence that vitamin E can help reduce itching, skin thickening, dryness, and the size of eczema patches. A 2015 randomized controlled trial of 70 people with eczema were randomly assigned 400 IU per day of vitamin E or a placebo. Those who received the vitamin E experienced significant improvements in itching and patch size (Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2015).
Vitamin E may be help reduce eczema due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (Dermatology, 2020).
Vitamin C is a necessary precursor for collagen, which is needed to heal the skin (National Eczema Association, 2022). Adequate vitamin C can also reduce the absorption of cobalt and nickel, improving dyshidrotic eczema.
While these nutrients are closely associated with eczema, a well-rounded diet that includes all essential nutrients is critical for overall proper immune system functioning. Our free Autoimmune Nutrient Gap Checklist covers everything you need to know.
Gut health can play a major role in skin health. Probiotics and fiber can promote gut health, leading to improved eczema symptoms.
Probiotic foods include yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh, kombucha, and more. These foods are part of the anti-inflammatory diet.
As for probiotic supplements, at this point in time the L. salivarius and L. acidophilus strains have the best evidence behind them (Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2023).
Fiber helps to feed healthy microbes in our intestines. In general, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, plus fruits and vegetables are food sources of fiber.
Omega-3s are a type of essential fatty acid that we must get from food. They are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
While omega-3 supplements have been shown to decrease skin inflammation and the amount of eczema (Dermatology Times, 2022), the exact impact of omega-3 on eczema is considered inconclusive at this time.
Achieving an optimal balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids may play a role in alleviating eczema symptoms (Pediatric Dermatology, 2022). Generally, the way to achieve this balance is by increasing omega-3 intake.
Protein is an essential nutrient for wound healing, which is needed as the skin health improves. For moderate eczema, dietitians recommend consuming 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of your body weight. In severe cases, 1.5 - 2 grams per kilogram may be warranted (National Eczema Association, 2022).
Quercetin is a naturally occurring health compound, called a flavonoid, that is found in many foods.
While more research is needed, preliminary research demonstrates that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of quercetin may reduce eczema symptoms and improve wound healing (Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, 2020). Quercetin is known to be safe with no significant side effects (Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, 2020).
Quercetin also has anti-allergic properties, which research shows can help treat respiratory and food allergies (Molecules, 2016). It has also been shown to “reduce redness, itching, and inflammation of damaged skin… [plus] help restore skin barrier function, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss” (Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2016).
Improving eczema not only about which foods to eat, but also what to drink. To help combat dry, cracked, raw, and sensitive skin, it's essential to stay hydrated. Drinking enough water helps soothe and repair your skin.
Additionally, electrolytes are particularly helpful in making sure that water we drink actually enters our skin cells. Foods with high liquid contents like soups, smoothies, tea, juices like aloe vera, and more may naturally contain electrolytes (National Eczema Association, 2022).
Ultimately, which eczema foods to eat and which to avoid will vary from person to person. However, we can use the information above to guide this process.
It's of foremost importance to never engage in any type of restrictive diet in an attempt to discover which foods will help your eczema go away.
Dieting is dangerous, as people with autoimmune diseases like eczema have a higher risk of developing eating disorders, which going on a diet can trigger. Additionally, diets are stressful, and stress is a well-known trigger for autoimmune diseases.
Therefore, identifying any potential food sensitivities should be a careful and well thought out process. Work with a licensed dietitian to help maintain your physical and mental health through this process.
Foods that cause eczema may include any foods you're allergic to, high histamine foods, some ultra processed foods, any foods you're sensitive to, plus specific foods if birch pollen sensitization or dyshidrotic eczema are present.
Nutrients and foods that can help eczema go away include probiotics, fiber, quercetin, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C, D, and E, adequate protein, home cooked foods, and staying hydrated with electrolytes.
Take your time identifying your eczema foods to eat and to reduce or avoid. The process may be lengthy, but it is well worth it.
Lastly, while certains foods can cause eczema and other foods may help eczema go away, getting to the root of your eczema may require a deeper dive into gut health and environmental triggers.
Schedule an appointment today with our autoimmune dietitian to unearth the eczema triggers that are holding you back from living live to its fullest. We provide a free insurance coverage check, and most of our clients pay $0 out of pocket.
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