Eczema is a chronic skin condition that triggers skin inflammation, affecting about 15% of all children and 1% of U.S. adults. Eczema can cause itchiness, redness, dryness, and scaling on the skin. Symptoms are usually worse in the wintertime. In some cases, people might even develop an allergic-type reaction to dairy products or foods high in histamines, like cheese and alcohol.

While there are treatments for the symptoms, a way to prevent your eczema from flaring up in the first place is to identify and avoid triggers for it. The condition can be triggered by environmental factors like dry skin, soap or detergents, heat and sweating, stress, or even too much exposure to water. Additionally, eczema flare-ups can be triggered by certain foods. The following is a list of the worst foods for eczema:

1. Spices, such as cinnamon

Cinnamon has been reported to exacerbate inflammation and leave eczema patients more susceptible to infection. It, as well as vanilla and cloves, also contains potential allergens that can cause a reaction called systemic contact dermatitis and trigger an eczema flare-up. If you identify cinnamon as a trigger, you may additionally need to take caution with baked goods, certain liquors, and certain condiments.

2. Gluten or wheat

In some eczema patients, gluten causes a mild skin reaction called dermatitis herpetiformis. Even if you don’t react to gluten, consuming grains can still make the condition worse. Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease in which the body cannot fully absorb gluten, damaging the small intestine, has also been linked to eczema in both children and adults.

3. Citrus fruits

Some people experience problems eating citrus fruits, including tangerines, grapefruits, and oranges. While the connection to eczema is not well understood, health professionals speculate that citric acid is the main culprit.

4. Dairy products 

Dairy products, such as milk or cheese, often trigger eczema symptoms in patients, especially in babies and infants — particularly those already sensitive to cow milk protein (or casein) in dairy. Some adults may also continue to react to dairy with age, and thus should avoid dairy products altogether.

5. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are part of the nightshade family, along with potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Many eczema patients report that eating nightshade foods make their eczema symptoms worse. This may be due to common culprits in these foods, including salicylates, amines, and natural MSG, which are typical eczema triggers.

6. Soy

While some higher quality forms of soy and fermented soy products (e.g., tempeh, tamari, and miso paste) are generally safe for eczema patients, soy is still considered a common trigger for eczema. In fact, a study published by the Journal of Dermatology noted that eczema patients who eliminated soy for three months experienced significantly fewer eczema flare ups.

Eczema is a condition that is difficult to treat and can be pretty troublesome. However, keeping a food journal and avoiding certain trigger foods may help greatly reduce symptoms. If you suffer from eczema and continue to experience flare-ups, talk to your doctor about possible treatment options, such as Otzla, for treating atopic dermatitis th2 disease.