The role of diet in the management of atopic eczema.

The underlying cause of atopic eczema remains unknown but both food intolerance and dietary deficiency--notably of essential fatty acids--may well be exacerbating factors. Studies investigating the involvement of food intolerance have shown that only some children obtain benefit from avoiding milk and eggs. In other cases, the use of an elimination or of a chemically-defined diet followed by challenge with specific foods may allow an effective personalized diet to be devised. Skin-prick tests and measurement of IgE levels have proved to be unreliable predictors of reactions to food. The development of a reliable test to assess food intolerance would represent a significant advance in the treatment of atopic eczema.