What foods to avoid if you have eczema?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Although food doesn’t directly cause eczema, it can trigger or worsen flare-ups making diet one of the most important lifestyle factors to manage.
• Ayurveda approaches eczema through mindful eating focusing on foods that boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and maintain overall health and wellness.
• Knowing which foods to avoid with eczema is just as important as knowing what to eat. Common trigger foods include citrus fruits, tomatoes, refined flour, dairy products, alcohol, and carbonated drinks all of which can aggravate eczema symptoms.
• Omega-3 fatty acids, quercetin-rich foods, and probiotics are key dietary pillars for managing eczema helping with inflammation, antioxidant support, and immune function.
• Eczema affects more than just the skin it can impact skin colour, cause open wounds prone to infection, lead to scarring, and take a toll on confidence and mental health. Knowing what eczema looks like and how it progresses can help you seek the right care sooner.
• Foods that help eczema go away (or at least reduce flare-ups) include anti-inflammatory options like avocado, blueberries, turmeric, oats, and fermented foods such as kombucha and miso soup.
• There is no one-size-fits-all eczema diet. Individual food allergies and sensitivities vary, and consulting a doctor is always recommended when in doubt.
• Topical care matters too plant-based, natural products formulated for dry and eczema-prone skin can complement dietary efforts to reduce symptoms.

…and what does Ayurveda recommend? 

If you have eczema, you know how tough it can be to deal with. It's not just about the extreme dryness and itchiness - it can also cause changes to your skin colour, leave you with open wounds that are prone to infection, and even cause scarring. And let's not forget about the hit it can take on your confidence and mental health. For some people, it's a daily battle!

If you're looking to avoid a flare-up, one good place to start is watching what you eat.  An Ayurvedic diet provides guidelines that encourage mindful eating by highlighting what to eat to boost immunity, prevent or manage diseases, and maintain overall health and wellness. Although food doesn’t directly cause eczema, it can make symptoms worse. We’ve taken a closer look into some of the foods which should be avoided as they could contribute to making your symptoms worse as well as foods known to help with symptoms and potentially help to avoid eczema flare-ups also.

Foods Ayurveda Says to Avoid With Eczema

• Fruits (mango, kiwi, strawberry, citrus fruits including oranges & lemons)
• Vegetables (radish, eggplant, tomatoes, garlic)
• Grains (refined flour, rye)
• Legumes (black gram)
• Spices (mustard, red chilli, nutmeg)
• Oils (coconut oil, canola oil, palm oil)
• Nuts (peanuts, cashews, pistachios)
• Dairy Products (condensed milk, cheese)
• Beverages (alcohol, carbonated drinks, cream-based drinks)

Ayurvedic Foods That Help Calm Eczema

It’s not all doom and gloom. Plenty of Ayurvedic foods can actually help with eczema. Eating a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids, quercetin and probiotics can help with inflammation, act as an antioxidant as well as support your overall immune system respectively.

• Fruits (apple, muskmelon, banana, cherry, watermelon, pear, peaches, avocado, papaya, pomegranate, apricot, blueberries, grapes)
• Vegetables (carrot, onion, ginger, beetroot, bitter gourd, mushroom, kale, brussels sprouts, lettuce, turnips, cucumber, pumpkin, spinach, potato, broccoli)
• Grains (wheat, quinoa, rice, millet, barley, oats, corn, finger millet)
• Legumes (green gram, horse gram, chickpeas, red lentil, yellow lentil)
• Spices (cumin, ginger, fennel, peppers, turmeric, coriander)
• Oils (mustard oil, olive oil, rice bran oil)
• Nuts (almonds, walnuts, soaked raisins, flaxseed)
• Beverages (coconut water, herbal tea, green tea)
• Others (miso soup, unpasteurized sauerkraut, kombucha)

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all eczema diet. It's important to pay attention to any food allergies or sensitivities you may have, and also talk to your doctor if you're unsure about anything. By being mindful of what you eat, you may be able to keep your eczema at bay and at the least help to reduce symptoms and flare-ups.

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FAQs

1. What does eczema look like?

Eczema typically appears as patches of dry, red, and inflamed skin that can feel intensely itchy. In darker skin tones, it may present as grey, purple, or brown patches rather than red. Over time or during severe flare-ups, the affected skin may become cracked, scaly, or weep fluid  and repeated scratching can lead to thickened skin or scarring. It most commonly appears on the hands, face, neck, and the inner creases of the elbows and knees.

2. What foods cause eczema or trigger a flare-up?

No single food directly causes eczema, but certain foods are known to trigger or worsen flare-ups in many people. Common culprits include citrus fruits, tomatoes, dairy products, refined flour, peanuts, alcohol, and carbonated drinks. From an Ayurvedic perspective, foods that are heating, acidic, or hard to digest such as garlic, red chilli, and eggplant  are also best avoided. Since triggers vary person to person, keeping a food diary can help identify your individual sensitivities.

3. What foods to avoid with eczema?

When managing eczema through diet, it’s generally wise to avoid foods that promote inflammation or are known allergens. These include citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), tomatoes, eggplant, refined flour, dairy such as cheese and condensed milk, nuts like peanuts and cashews, and beverages like alcohol and fizzy drinks. Ayurveda also recommends avoiding coconut oil, mustard, and nutmeg for those with eczema-prone skin. That said, individual reactions vary what triggers one person may not affect another.

4. What foods help eczema go away?

While no food can cure eczema entirely, certain foods are known to reduce inflammation and support skin health, helping to calm flare-ups over time. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like walnuts and flaxseed help with inflammation, while quercetin-rich options like blueberries, apples, and broccoli offer antioxidant support. Probiotic foods such as kombucha, miso soup, and unpasteurised sauerkraut support gut health and immune function, which are closely linked to eczema. Incorporating these into your daily diet is a good step towards more manageable skin.

5. What is good for eczema?

Managing eczema well usually involves a combination of dietary changes, topical care, and lifestyle habits. From a diet perspective, anti-inflammatory foods, probiotics, and omega-3-rich options are your best allies. Topically, using gentle, plant-based moisturisers and products specifically formulated for dry and eczema-prone skin can make a significant difference especially those free from harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances. Staying hydrated, managing stress, and identifying personal triggers are equally important for keeping eczema under control.