Is dermatitis a sign of a food allergy? Can eating gluten and dairy cause acne?
Researchers are finding links between what we eat and the health of our skin, but the answers aren’t always clear cut.
For example, evidence released earlier this year showed that atopic dermatitis – a common form of eczema – may predict future food allergies. In fact, the American Association of Dermatologists now has new recommendations on testing children under age 5 for food allergies if they have eczema.
There’s debate among the medical community about the connection between food allergies cause acne. The Seattle-based Center for Food Allergies says that food allergies are, in fact, the no. 1 cause of acne, and that dairy products are the most common trigger for skin problems.
What is certain is that food allergies among children ages 18 and under increased 18 percent from 1997 to 2007, the National Center for Health Statistics reported. Some 5.9 million youth are allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish , shellfish and other foods, according to an article in USA Today.
It’s a connection worth exploring for parents of kids who experience skin conditions such as eczema or persistent acne.
