Sugar-free diet for eczema?

[Nell925]

My 6 year-old DD has had eczema since she was about a week old. We've tried various different emollients, steroid creams, antihistamines and is currently on Protopic which is helping a bit but in no way stopping the terrible itching which wakes her up frequently during the night. Although she is currently under the care of a dermatology consultant they aren't too keen to carry out any allergy tests as they think she will grow out of it and advised just to treat the symptoms at the moment.

I'm wondering if sugar may be a trigger and am now thinking if cutting out all processed foods and sugar in her diet would help. She doesn't have a huge amount of junk food but does eat things like fruit yogurt, malt loaf etc which does contain sugar.

I am just interested if anyone else has been in a similar situation and found an improvement in their child's eczema with eating an clean/sugar-free diet or if they had any tips.

Thank you in advance.

I've certainly found certain foods trigger my DC, we avoid artificial flavours and colourings and 'red' fruits especially raspberry and strawberries. Dust and pollen are obvious triggers but milk and wheat aren't. I think it's so personal I guess the only way is to try an illumination diet.

I've posted before about the dermatologist we use Dr Richard Aaron, he writes a px tailored to your child with steroids emollient and antibiotics, game changer for us, if you ever wanted to investigate other options.

Elimination diet!

I would only do that with the help of nutritionist/dietician.
common triggers are the common allergies: dairy, eggs, nuts, soy etc. but also nightshade plants (tomatos, potatos, peppers)

I really would not try any kind of elimination diet without the supervision of medical professionals.
Tried wet wrapping?
Eczema sleep clothes?
Dermol? Contains an anti microbial that kills the itch?
What's your routine at the mo?

I think you should insist on allergy testing. My infant DS had dreadful eczema. After testing, As soon as I cut out all egg from my diet (bf) and his (so much has sneaky egg in!) his eczema completely and instantly disappeared.

I've heard of dairy being linked to eczema but not sugar (but I am not an expert) - as pp say don't start eliminating things without professional support and consultation.

Thank you for the information. It's really interesting you said 'red fruits' as she eats loads of red grapes, raspberries and strawberries! Will keep a look out to see if that's a trigger.

I find my psoriasis is much worse if I have too much sugar.

There's absolutely no harm in cutting out sugar. Honestly, it's not like you're cutting out a particular vitamin!

Thank you for all your kind replies. Her routine at the moment is a daily bath in Dermol bath oil before she goes to bed followed by Hydromol ointment and then I apply Aveeno moisturising cream about three or four times a day. She is also on Protopic twice a week.

Interesting. How have you got on with the Aveeno? It is raged about on here but doesn't suit any of us at all.
I have protopic for my face. If you're not getting on top of it then advice I had was hit with steroids. Short and sharp. Better a stronger steroid for a shorter burst. Get it under control. And steroid, wait half an hour or more then emollient.
Washing powder also needs considering. And don't bathe too often.

dc had awful exzema as baby.
in hindsight it's hayfever in our case and an antihistamine sorts it totally.

Yup... Sugar is a trigger for us. I have a family for whom a number of things cause reactions that they shouldn't.... On a grain, dairy and sugar free diet we are better.

DS who had eczema from a few weeks old also had issues with red fruit, red meat, peanuts, sesame, my breastmilk, peppers, tomatoes, aubergines but not potatoes, MSG, E600 preservatives, yeast, rubber, plastics that smell, foam, feathers, dogs, mould, anything with petroleum in it and possibly a number of other chemicals. Gradually by 'cleaning' up his diet and his environment he has improved beyond all recognition and can tolerate much of the things that previously had him itching, scratching, breaking out in hives etc.

How rubbish for her. Ds had eczema and it cleared up when we switched from cow to goats milk. He didn't have it to the same extent as your dd though but worth a shot. Good luck

My DS had excema from birth... he had a dairy allergy. I'd look at dairy before red fruits and sugar because he had the excema before the introduction of fruits presumably.