Nutrition for neurodermatitis in babies

Many children who suffer from neurodermatitis react hypersensitively to certain foods. If they ingest them, this can lead to a flare-up of the skin symptoms. Which food can be the trigger for such hypersensitivity reactions, however, varies from child to child.In order to be able to discover a connection between the food and the skin findings, it is a good idea to keep a kind of diary in which it is listed what the child has eaten and when and when the neurodermatitis has become stronger.

Ready-made products should be avoided as far as possible with sensitive children, as they contain preservatives and additives to which the children can react hypersensitively. If observation and diary show indications that a particular food is not tolerated, it should first be removed from the child’s diet. With regard to the nutrition of newborns with neurodermatitis, breastfeeding is of particular importance.

In children who are at risk of developing atopic dermatitis, for example because the mother herself has atopic dermatitis, breastfeeding plays an even more important role than in healthy children. The child should be fully breastfed for at least 5-6 months. There is no special diet that should be followed if neurodermatitis is present.

Possible foods to which neurodermatitis sufferers react hypersensitively are dairy products, eggs, wheat products, nuts as well as some fruits (apple, peaches, bananas) and vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, celery, carrots). Only close observation can give reliable indications as to which foods are not tolerated by the child. There is a very simple prophylaxis for neurodermatitis: breast milk.

If a mother consistently breastfeds her baby until it is 6 months old, the probability of a baby developing neurodermatitis decreases significantly. In addition, it is possible to switch to a low-allergen diet in order to avoid additional stress for the baby. In addition, an allergy test should be carried out.

If the baby has an allergy, the allergen (for example pollen) should be avoided as much as possible to prevent an outbreak of neurodermatitis. It is also important that parents do not smoke in the presence of their baby and that stress is avoided as much as possible, for example the acoustic stress of a busy street. Proper personal hygiene is also crucial. The baby should not be bathed too hot and for too long as this dries out the skin and additives in baby care products should be avoided.