7 Foods For Children with Eczema

Eczema is a common skin condition, causing itchy, red, flaky skin for those who have it. While there’s no cure, there are ways you can manage the symptoms for a child, including the foods they eat.

In fact, when incorporated into an diet for eczema, certain foods can actually help alleviate painful symptoms of eczema like inflammation, dry skin, or persistent itching. However, there are specific foods to avoid with eczema too, as they can make symptoms worse.  

In this article, we’ll explore seven of the best foods for children with eczema, which can help manage common symptoms when taken alongside any topical remedies that work for you.

Is it common for children to have eczema?

According to the National Eczema Society, eczema affects 1 in 5 children in the UK, compared to 1 in 10 adults.

While eczema may be very common in children, the NHS suggests they do tend to grow out of it with age, though this may not be the case for everyone. They might get flare ups of the condition where symptoms get worse, but these typically start to calm down between one to three weeks.

As eczema is a skin condition that impacts the skin barrier, which is responsible for retaining moisture in the skin, it’s common to notice particularly dry and irritated skin during flare ups.

If you’re concerned about your child’s health at all, it’s always best to speak to a GP. At Benenden Health we offer a 24/7 GP Helpline from day one of your membership, so you can speak to a medical professional about your concerns.

What foods are best for children with eczema?

While it’s not possible to cure eczema, some may find diet changes could manage the symptoms, alongside regular topical treatments like emollients and creams.

You can help your child to manage their eczema by keeping a food diary. This is straightforward to do - just keep a note of the foods they eat, particularly the ones you feel might be worsening the symptoms. Once you’ve outlined a trigger food, you can then try cutting it from their diet, and monitoring whether this improves the symptoms at all.

If no improvement is seen, then that foods is likely not worsening their symptoms, and can be reintroduced.

It’s important to keep in mind that the NHS states changes to diet won’t cure eczema alone.

Instead using diet as a way to manage eczema symptoms. Additionally, any diet changes should always be used in conjunction with other topical treatments that help to build the skin barrier.

1. Blueberries

Blueberries are an excellent food to include in your child’s eczema diet, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties.

As they’re high in a natural chemical called polyphenols, blueberries can help reduce inflammation within the body. Less inflammation can alleviate baby eczema symptoms in particular, such as itching and swelling, as well as any redness around the area.

If you’re looking for variation in an eczema diet, then most berries have similar anti-inflammatory properties – blackberries, cranberries, or grapes. Simply blend these up or cut them into smaller chunks to make them safer for your child to eat. However, it’s best to avoid strawberries when it comes infant eczema treatment, as the high acidity levels they contain can worsen symptoms in some cases.

2. Banana

Soft and mushy, bananas are a great food to introduce to babies just starting on a solid diet. But did you know they can also be used to help treat child and baby eczema?

As they’re packed with potassium, you’ll find bananas are another food that can be eaten to alleviate inflammation from eczema. Bananas also contain prebiotics which keep the outer defensive layer of skin healthy, as well as protect against red and dry skin.

3. Broccoli

Broccoli is another food that may help manage eczema symptoms, which is due to the flavonoids it contains.

Flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which can help soothe eczema-prone skin. Not only that, but broccoli can improve the skin’s overall health as well by warding off harmful free radicals.

Broccoli also contains vitamin A and vitamin C, which can protect your skin from becoming too dry. Always remember that foods, such as broccoli, are to be used alongside topical treatments like creams and emollients.

4. Pears

If your child enjoys a sweet treat or snack, then consider adding pears to their eczema diet plan.

Delicious and nutritious, it’s the vitamin K in pears that make them beneficial for babies, toddler, infants, and grown-up children, as it helps reduce both redness and swelling. Pears also have anti-inflammatory properties and are low in salicylates, which can worsen eczema symptoms.

There’s plenty of fibre in pears as well, which can help stave off eczema flare-ups and help maintain a healthy gut. For babies who aren’t on solid foods yet, blend pears into a smooth paste like texture, as this is the safest way for them to eat it.

5. Salmon

While salmon is known for being a good food to protect brain health, specifically development and cognitive function, it’s also a great food to introduce to an eczema diet.

Salmon has plenty of omega-3 fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation, as well as stop skin from becoming too dry. You’ll also find vitamin B complex in salmon too, meaning it contains all types of B vitamins. However, it’s the vitamin B12 that the National Eczema Association suggests may be beneficial for treating child and baby eczema.

Keep a look out for small bones in salmon and make sure to remove any before feeding to your child. You can try flaking salmon into pasta or making them into fish fingers for a child friendly salmon recipe.

6. Chicken

Introducing more iron into your child’s diet can help alleviate certain symptoms of eczema. One food that contains plenty of iron is chicken.

A lack of iron in the body can cause the skin to itch. If your child has eczema, then this can worsen the itchy, sensitive skin caused by the skin condition. Try to include more poultry in their diet, like chicken or turkey, to help naturally increase their levels of iron.

For a vegetarian diet, you can use tofu, eggs, or spinach instead. Tofu can be blended with tomatoes to make a creamy pasta sauce, and you can chop the spinach into small pieces that may help to make this green more child friendly.

7. Papaya

Papaya isn’t just a delicious and healthy snack, it’s also another food to help with child and baby eczema symptoms.

What makes papaya so great for an eczema diet is the antioxidants it contains, as well as its natural anti-inflammatory properties. However, it also contains an enzyme called ‘papain’ which can help alleviate pain, as well as reduce swelling.

You’ll find plenty of vitamin C in papaya as well, which is just another vitamin to soothe symptoms of eczema. Try eating more mangoes and cantaloupe melon to get more vitamin C into an eczema diet, but avoid citrus fruits – orange, lemon, kiwi – as high acidity foods can worsen symptoms of eczema.

Are there any foods to avoid feeding children with eczema?

You should look to avoid items with a high risk of an intolerance or allergic reaction, as there’s a link between baby eczema and the development of allergies.

Eczema is an immune system response by the body, which is why you may notice inflammation as one of its symptoms. While it isn’t an autoimmune disease, it does suggest an oversensitive immune system, which is why it’s important to be careful with other irritants. According to the NHS, these common allergens include:

• Shellfish.
• Nuts.
• Sesame seeds.
• Soy.
• Celery.
• Mustard.

If you’re concerned about a child or baby with eczema, then it’s always best to see a GP, especially if their symptoms aren’t improving or are getting worse despite best efforts. They will be able to best advise you on treatment plans.

How can Benenden Health help with eczema in children?

Child and baby eczema can be a painful experience for both you and your little one, particularly if you aren’t sure how to help them feel better.

As a Benenden Healthcare member, you’ll be able to access our 24/7 GP Helpline from day one. Everyday access to our helpline means you’re able to book an appointment to talk about your concerns with a medical professional - alleviating just a bit of your stress and getting valuable help.

Check out our Be Healthy hub, if you’re looking for more health and wellbeing information, including how a healthy diet supports your mind and body and how to reduce stress.

Medically reviewed by Dr Cheryl Lythgoe in March 2025.