| is a non contagious inflammation of the skin. It is often | | | | proteins present in them are the trouble makers. In fact, |
| characterized by redness, itching, and the outbreak of | | | | traditional Chinese beliefs are that chicken products |
| lesions that may discharge serous matter and become | | | | are toxic to those with skin ailments. In the case of |
| encrusted and scaly. | | | | chicken, additionally, the effect is also due to the |
| There can be different triggers for eczema. Certain | | | | preservatives such as sulphates, sulphites, nitrites and |
| food items are found to cause or exacerbate an | | | | nitrates, sodium benzoate, sulphur dioxide etc that are |
| existing eczema. Here, I share some common ones: | | | | added to it during packing. All these chemicals can |
| 1. Dairy. In milk or food items derived from it, it is the | | | | worsen an existing eczema. |
| chemical compound casein that causes problems. | | | | 5. Spices. There is considerable debate over whether |
| Casein is present in milk. Dairy products include any | | | | spices trigger eczema or not. Still, if you have a bad |
| milk, cheese, or anything that has high milk content | | | | case of eczema, it is better to avoid all spicy foods |
| such as milk chocolate, ice cream, and yogurt. | | | | that use chilli and tumeric powder for the time being. |
| 2. Wheat. Wheat contains the compound gluten, which | | | | 6. Other food items that act as trigger to eczema are |
| is a potential eczema trigger. Removing wheat | | | | oysters, citrus fruits such as strawberry, tomatoes, |
| products from your diet can be pretty difficult to | | | | oranges and lemon, and soy. |
| achieve as this will mean eliminating bread, desserts | | | | Since my eczema outbreak, I have eliminated almost |
| and wheat noodles. | | | | all the above items from my diet. However, on |
| 3. Crustaceans such as lobsters, crabs, prawns, shrimp, | | | | occasions, I still eat a slice of bread made of wheat |
| squid, cuttlefish, clams, and oysters. Most eczema | | | | flour or some cakes at a birthday party. It is hard to |
| sufferers have adverse allergic reactions including face | | | | resist temptation, after all! However, such times are |
| swelling and hives after eating seafood. Reactions can | | | | never often. |
| appear within one hour and some take two to three | | | | Still, never once, did I give in to eating crustaceans. I |
| days to show symptoms. The compounds, | | | | consider them the most toxic of the lot and a huge |
| parvalbumins and tropomyosin, found in them triggers | | | | trigger for my eczema. I would gladly pass up on the |
| eczema. | | | | plate of delicious looking calamari than have my skin |
| 4. Chicken. In the case of chicken and eggs, certain | | | | itch like crazy at night! |