Help please

[kellimyd2000]

I've been suffering from rashes mostly on my arms, but now also on my legs and the small of my back for a little over a year. I've seen several doctors and specialists who all say it's eczema or dermatitis. I've been given many different  creams and ointments which usually take the rash away but soon after the treatments I break out again. The rash is at it's worse right now and is driving me mad. I spoke to the owner of the local health food store, who also is a medical doctor, and he says I have to find out what I'm eating that I'm allergic to. Ofcourse my dermatologist and primary physician think I'm crazy for even suggesting that these rashes may be caused by something I eat. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone out there has had any success with ridding themselves of skin rashes by eliminating certain foods. Also, is there a particular type of rash (itchy, bumpy, location) that would determine if it is caused by a food intolerance? Thanks in advance for your help!!!!

[kellimyd2000]

Thanks for the info. I'm having a tough time finding a doctor that cares about treating the cause rather than just masking the symptoms with more and more cortizone creams. I don't have medical insurance and often have to wait till my symptoms are at an extreme before I make an appoitment with my primary or dermatologist. It makes sense to me that the next step would be to an allergist (last visit to my primary left me with very little hope and another script for yet another dermatology consult). Thanks again for your help!( I can't really believe that anyone read my question-this is so cool!!! lol)

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
There are many triggers for eczema and allergy to certain foods is one of them. is a form of chronic dermatitis (rash).Allergic reaction is one of the important causes of eczema. Allergic reaction can occur to foods,strong soaps, Solvents, chemicals, certain foods, food additives, plants, metals, cosmetics, even urine and faeces of some animals (dust mites).

I would suggest you to consult an allergist and discuss elimination diets and food challenge tests which can confirm whether certain foods are the triggers in your case.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.

[jagesh50]

there is something called the elemination diet,in which you start bland and go on adding to see which food increases the eczema.