Take a fresh look at diet and atopic dermatitis.

The links between atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergies are complex, with impaired skin barrier function suspected to play a role in both conditions. Additionally, AD may be the first stage towards other atopic or allergic conditions, such as food allergies and asthma. Thus, early intervention in AD has the potential to interrupt this progression. Contrary to common understanding, large trials support the consumption of allergenic food (e.g. peanuts, dairy products and wheat) in infants to reduce the incidence of food allergies. Supplementing diets with fatty acids and other supplements may decrease the risk of AD, but further study is needed to confirm their efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]