Elimination of food from nightshade family for eczema

[Nell925]

Hi,

My DD (aged 7) has severe eczema. We've had numerous trips to consultants, allergy tests, many different types of creams and yet it's still not getting better.

I've read quite a bit on the internet about the relationship between vegetables from the nightshade family, ie tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers, chilli etc and eczema and am thinking about eliminating these from her diet for a few weeks to see if that makes any difference, although I know it's going to be hard as DD eats so many cherry tomatoes and most of our meals are tomato-based!

I just wanted to know if anyone else tried cutting out these things for eczema. Did it have any effect on the skin and, if so, how long before you saw it get better?

In the past, on the recommendation of GP, we've cut out gluten, wheat, dairy, soy and sugar (all at different times) but it hasn't had any effect on her skin.

Thanks.

You may have already tried this but my DS 18 has recently tested positive for dust mite allergy. I had always suspected a food connection like the one you mention but he tested negative for tomatoes, fruit, dairy, gluten, etc. He does however have a severe nut allergy (walnuts, brazils). Good luck.

Definitely worth giving it a go for a few weeks

No experience with nightshades and eczema. I have heard of it being related to inflammation in arthritis though.

I have a colleague who develops eczema really badly in reaction to all alliums, so has to avoid almost all processed foods because everything has a pinch of onion in!
Within a week she's completely clear. Shockingly you can see the difference within 24 hours when she's been accidentally dosed.

Thank you all for your replies.

I hadn't heard of eczema and aliums but will give that a try if the nightshade elimination diet doesn't work. Thank you.

It's interesting you said about a dust allergy as when DD had a RAST blood test the only positive result was actually for dust mites. I wash her bedding most days at 60 degrees, damp dust regularly, open windows etc but it has got me thinking that perhaps I need to do more and that I'm going down the wrong road looking for a food allergy when perhaps I should be thinking of streamlining the house and investing in blinds and natural flooring instead of carpets and curtains etc.

Dust mite allergy was never mentioned to us at any point yet DS had severe eczema when he was a baby and young child. Strangely, his eczema cleared up in a week when we stopped using the creams.... his eczema nurse had been to a conference where they said that the very greasy creams caused some children to overheat which made the eczema worse. They had always told me that we were not putting enough cream on. He had very mild eczema for the next 10 years but it came back during adolescence and he has recently had a couple of really bad flare ups.... possibly stress related (A Levels, etc).

Have a look on here or Google for dust mite allergy advice although it sounds like you are on it. Make sure you use non-bio washing powder if you are not already. I've invested in a air purifier, electronic zapper thingy, mattress and pillow protectors and various sprays, eucalyptus oil, etc. We seem to be in control again but he's also on a gap year so pretty stress free.

Good luck.

I did try cutting nightshades out but it didn't make a big difference but it's so individual with eczema.

I do think dust mites, overheating and stress/ ill ness are our triggers so do just as you say mattress protectors, all cotton bedding and clothing, washing at 60. I've also cut out all fragrances products ie soap, laundry liquid, cleaning products etc which I also think helped.
I think I read (Eczema society?) that good accounts for very low amounts of eczema reactions so keep trying different things.