Seminars in dermatology
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As a contributing factor, certain foods can provoke skin lesions in some patients with atopic eczema. In newborns with an increased risk of atopy, exclusive breastfeeding during the first months of life and delayed introduction of solid food seem to inhibit or to retard the manifestation of atopic disease. The pathomechanism of provocation of eczema by food has not yet been elucidated. ⋯ As most of the patients react only to one or two food items and as these often differ from one patient to another, undirected exclusion diet regimens are unnecessary and unethical. Furthermore, such diets bear the risk of malnutrition and of anaphylactic reactions after reintroduction of allergenic food. Dietary recommendations in atopic eczema have to be based on a careful allergological workup of the individual patient.