Eczema can be a challenging skin condition and for individuals like Sima, managing it means paying close attention to many factors in daily life. From diet to stress and weather, these factors can all affect how her skin feels and looks. In this article, Sima will share her story for others facing similar challenges.

How Diet Impacts Eczema

Sima strongly believes that her diet has a huge impact on her eczema symptoms. Because certain foods can quickly trigger a flare-up that can sometimes take long to heal, Sima takes care in reading nutrition labels and ingredients.

If I eat the wrong things then my skin reacts pretty fast, leading to flare-ups that could take forever to heal.

Common Food Triggers

Sima has noticed that the following foods make her eczema worse (RHC Melbourne, 2016):

• Nuts

• Eggs

• Sugar and sodium rich foods

Whenever she eats these foods, she experiences more itching and skin irritation.

Dietary Changes That Help

To help her skin, Sima has cut down on processed foods and sugars. She now focuses on eating "cleaner" by having more:

• Vegetables

• Fruits

• Water (aiming for two litres a day)

She also enjoys healthy smoothies and tea and tries to include water-rich foods like cucumber, avocado and lettuce in her meals.

Advice for Other Teens with Eczema

Sima's advice is simple:

• Notice which foods make your eczema better or worse and adjust your diet slowly.

• Drink plenty of water and eat foods high in water

• Instead of cutting foods out completely, just reduce the amount of the particular foods that trigger your eczema.

• Food triggers can change from person to person, so learn what works for you.

Sima also believes that one of the biggest myths is:

… staying on a strong diet [and] completely cutting out foods [that] are bad for your skin [will cure your eczema or make it better].

She explains that diet can help reduce flare-ups but won't cure eczema. Other factors like stress and weather also play a huge role.

What Sima Does During Flare-Ups

When her eczema gets worse, Sima:

• Takes a break from food that trigger her eczema symptoms

• Eats more vegetables and fruits

• Increases her water intake

Balancing Enjoyment and Skin Care

Sima notes it is not easy to avoid foods she loves like pizza, chips and ice cream. When her eczema flares up, she avoids these foods completely despite the slight struggle and desire. She finds that eating more fruits and vegetables helps reduce her cravings for junk food.

Other Triggers: Stress, Weather and Activities

Sima knows that diet is not the only thing that affects her eczema. She finds that:

• Stress and anger can cause itching and flare-ups.

• Weather like sudden heat and humidity can make her skin worse.

• Activities such as swimming and sports sometimes irritates her skin.

Sima tries to take care of herself by reducing stress, participating less in sports during flare-ups and staying indoors during extreme weather.

*Please remember that Sima's experience with eczema and diet is personal and may not apply to everyone. Eczema triggers and management can differ from individual to individual so it's important to work with healthcare professionals to find the best approach for your own or your child's skin health.

References (1)

RHC Melbourne 2016, Eczema; food allergies and other triggers, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Accessed 7 Sep 2025, Microsoft Word - RCH Eczema Food Allergies Other Triggers