Diet for atopic dermatitis. How to effectively cope with the disease?

• What is a sweet allergy?
• Causes of allergies to sweets
• Who is at risk
• Allergy to sweets: symptoms
• How does a sweet allergy manifest in children?
• What does a sweet allergy look like in pregnant women?
• Diagnosis of allergy to sweets
• Allergy to sweets: how to treat

What is a sweet allergy?

A pathology such as an allergy to sweets occurs in all categories of the population, but mainly occurs in children. The active component that provokes an allergic reaction is sucrose. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, this substance is difficult to digest, stimulating fermentation processes. As a result, food breakdown products and animal proteins enter the blood, triggering the production of immunoglobulin and causing an inflammatory reaction. Sweet intolerance cannot be called an allergy in the classical sense, since it does not imply the body’s sensitivity directly to sucrose. Pathology occurs against the background of incorrect functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and weak local immunity.

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Sweet allergies are rarely chronic. The pathology is aggravated by periods when consuming sweets in large quantities. With moderate consumption of confectionery products, the disease does not cause discomfort to a person. Pathology develops in childhood, which is due to the instability of the immune and digestive systems. In most cases, an allergy to sweets in children occurs at the age of 1.5-2 years and disappears by 7-8 years, subject to diet (restrictions in the diet of confectionery products). In the future, an exacerbation of childhood illness is possible, but this is usually associated with overeating and poor nutrition.

Experts' opinion

According to the results of clinical studies, which involved 50 children aged 0 to 5 years, the products were proven to be highly effective, safe and tolerable for daily skin care of children with mild to moderate forms of atopic dermatitis and during remission, accompanied by a decrease in the quality of life of patients . As a result of therapy, including the use of lip balm, a decrease in the activity of the inflammatory process, a decrease in dryness, itching and flaking was noted.

Sources:

1. Yukhtina N.V., Modern ideas about atopic dermatitis in children
2. Kamasheva G.R., Khakimova R.F. Valiullina S.A., Methods for assessing the severity of atopic dermatitis in young children, Dermatology journal, 2010
3. Kovyazina N.A., Fedosimova N.A., Illek Ya. Yu. Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis in young children, Vyatka Medical Bulletin, 2007

Causes of allergies to sweets

The mechanisms that provoke an allergic reaction lie in the composition of confectionery products. There is a misconception that sweet allergies are caused by sugar, which by its nature is a carbohydrate. Unlike proteins and fats, carbohydrates do not have allergenic properties. Therefore, glucose is relatively safe for the human immune system and cannot be considered the main cause of allergies. Pathological processes are provoked by animal proteins (in particular, albumin) and certain types of fats contained in flour and confectionery products. Also, allergies are often caused by emulsifiers, dyes, flavors and other food additives. Absorbed into the blood along with nutrients, they have a detrimental effect on the immune system.

Biological causes of allergies include hereditary predisposition. About half of food allergies are passed on to children from their parents. Moreover, it is absolutely not necessary that both the father and mother have an allergy to sweets. It is enough for at least one parent to suffer from pathology. There is a possibility of a child inheriting a disease, even if the mother or father had it in childhood. Under such circumstances, sweet allergy in adults is in a chronic stage and is easily transmitted at the genetic level.

Almost any product containing a large amount of glucose can cause an allergic reaction. The following products pose the greatest danger to allergy sufferers:

• chocolate;
• honey;
• caramel;
• sweet baked goods (cakes, pastries, cookies);
• candies;
• condensed milk;
• jam, jam;
• marmalade;
• meringue, marshmallow.

Who is at risk

The risk of development is highest in preschool children. This is explained by the instability of the children's immune system to food irritants. If a child often consumes confectionery products, there is a high probability that he will develop a sweet allergy in the first 2 years of life. Risk factors that provoke pathology also include a woman’s diet during pregnancy. The mother's diet affects the baby's immunity, the development of the fetus's internal organs and systems. The predominance of sweets in a pregnant woman's menu often causes the baby to develop diathesis - an innate tendency to allergic reactions, provoked by abnormalities in intrauterine development.

People with atopic dermatitis are also at risk. This pathology is chronic and represents a hereditary tendency to allergic skin reactions. Irritation occurs due to mechanical impact or ingestion of certain foods. At the same time, an allergy to sweets often accompanies other forms of food allergies. People with this diagnosis often have allergies to citrus fruits, chocolate, and nuts.

The gastrointestinal tract plays an important role in developing the body's resistance to allergens. With various inflammatory and chronic processes in the organs of the digestive system, the risk of developing allergies increases significantly. With slow digestion, food particles begin to rot, and their breakdown products enter the bloodstream in the form of toxins. By poisoning the body, they activate its defense mechanisms. This leads to the active production of histamine, the main provocateur of allergic processes.

Allergy to sweets: symptoms

Manifestations of allergies occur within 30-60 minutes after eating sweets. Sometimes the body’s reaction is protracted and develops after 2-3 hours. The severity of symptoms depends on the amount of food eaten and the sensitivity of the immune system to allergens. The most severe reactions occur in children and people with weak immune systems. In this case, one cake eaten is enough to develop an allergy. All existing signs of a sweet allergy are conventionally divided into several categories.

1. Gastrointestinal. The victim experiences pain in the abdominal cavity, accompanied by increased gas formation, loose stools, or vomiting. In case of a severe allergic reaction, the temperature may rise.
2. Skin. Already 20-30 minutes after eating, the first rashes appear on the skin in the form of small red pimples, accompanied by itching. As the allergy progresses, the rash gets worse and the skin begins to peel. Red spots appear on the face and stomach. The hallmark sign of acute food allergies is hives. It manifests itself as numerous blisters that cause itching and burning.
3. Respiratory. Symptoms in this category primarily affect the respiratory system. Already in the first minutes after eating, tingling and burning may occur in the oral cavity, which quickly leads to swelling of the laryngeal mucosa. The tumor blocks the airway, causing severe shortness of breath. Later, bronchospasms, runny nose, and dry cough are added to the symptoms described above.

An acute allergy to sweets develops within an hour after consuming an allergenic product and requires urgent hospitalization of the victim. In the absence of medical care, there is a high probability of developing Quincke's edema (giant urticaria). The most dangerous complication of a sweet allergy is anaphylactic shock. It leads to a drop in pressure and loss of consciousness. A patient with anaphylactic shock must be hospitalized immediately, otherwise the condition will be fatal.

How does a sweet allergy manifest in children?

Uncontrolled consumption of sweets is the main cause of allergic reactions in childhood. The child’s weak body is not able to digest the huge amount of glucose entering it, which leads to intoxication. Also, the pathology is often provoked by a hereditary tendency to allergic reactions - diathesis. This condition develops in a child in utero and manifests itself in the first years of life. If you follow the diet recommended by the pediatrician, diathesis disappears without a trace by primary school age (6-7 years).

Nutrition plays an important role in the formation of a baby’s immunity. Thus, an allergy to sweets in an infant is directly related to the diet of the nursing mother. If a woman often consumes sweet pastries, candies and other confectionery products, glucose enters the baby's stomach along with breast milk. To avoid the development of allergies in your baby, it is recommended to give up sweets at least in the first two months of feeding. An allergy to sweets in a child who is on a regular diet is also caused by diet. Parents are advised to replace desserts on their child's menu with fresh fruit.

A child's allergy to sweets develops quite quickly; the first signs are noticeable within 20-30 minutes after eating. The pathology is characterized by the following symptoms:

the appearance of red spots on the hands and face;

• increased body temperature;
• vomit;
• dry paroxysmal cough;
• drowsiness.

Alkali-forming products (20–30%)

In general, it is worth saying that almost all fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, alkaline herbal tea, vegetable juices, whole milk, whey, oatmeal, fresh beans, potatoes with skin, any berries, dates, dried figs, almonds, raisins , prunes, and natural juices are classified as alkali-forming products.

Compliance with these simple recommendations, together with the use of effective topical therapy for atopic dermatitis, will reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations and improve the general condition of patients.

What does a sweet allergy look like in pregnant women?

An allergy to sweets during pregnancy is a fairly common occurrence. The pathology develops against the background of a sharp change in hormonal levels, leading to a decrease in immunity. In addition, pregnant women's metabolic processes are disrupted, which often causes digestive problems. Despite the fact that an allergy to sweets during pregnancy is considered a completely normal condition, it cannot be ignored. When the first signs of illness appear, you should contact an allergist. An allergic reaction is characterized by the following symptoms:

• redness of the skin of the face, especially the cheeks;
• the appearance of a rash on the arms, thighs, abdomen, chest;
• severe itching of the skin;
• swelling of the affected areas.

Diagnosis of allergy to sweets

An allergist or an allergist-immunologist examines and treats patients with food allergies. Children's allergies are diagnosed by a pediatrician. Allergists use three main ways to evaluate patients with allergic reactions.

1. Blood tests for immunoglobulin. After talking with the patient and clarifying the details of his outpatient card, the doctor sends the patient to the treatment room to collect a venous blood sample. Then the biological material undergoes laboratory analysis for antibody levels. To activate the process of immunoglobulin production, the suspected allergen is introduced into the blood serum. The result of the study is assessed using reagents that can bind to antigen-allergen bonds. Ig blood tests are the safest way to diagnose allergic reactions.
2. Skin tests. To create favorable conditions for the development of the allergic process, the allergen is administered to the patient subcutaneously as an injection. Sometimes the irritant substance is applied in liquid form directly to the skin, but this method is less effective. After 2-3 hours, the doctor evaluates the result of the procedure. Skin tests are contraindicated in children under 3 years of age, so a child’s sweet allergy will be diagnosed exclusively through blood tests.
3. Provocative tests. This technique is used least often, as it poses a danger to the patient’s health. After provocative tests, the patient remains in a medical facility for about a day under the supervision of doctors. The method is as follows: the patient consumes a certain amount of any sweet product, after which the doctor begins monitoring his condition. If allergy symptoms appear 30-60 minutes after eating, the preliminary diagnosis is confirmed.

Diagnosis of diathesis

In order to make a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, you must have:

• Allergy burden.
• A typical rash, which is located in typical places.
• A clinical blood test shows eosinophilia (increased levels of cells responsible for allergies).
• An increase in the blood level of allergen-specific IgE antibodies, which also increase with allergies.
• Positive skin tests with allergens (so-called “prick tests”). They are the gold standard in confirming allergies. The essence of the method is that a healthcare worker applies small punctures with allergens to the patient’s skin and evaluates the reaction. If a reaction occurs, the test can be considered positive.

Allergy to sweets: how to treat

Allergy therapy is based on limiting foods containing glucose in the diet. It is recommended to eat sweet fruits, vegetables, cereals, and savory baked goods. It is allowed to add sweeteners (fructose, etc.) to dishes and drinks. Parents need to exercise strict control over the diet of children who have been diagnosed with a sweet allergy. Treatment also involves taking medications to relieve symptoms. For allergies to sweets, patients are prescribed the following medications:

• antihistamines;
• enterosorbents;
• vasoconstrictor nasal sprays;
• hydrocortisone ointments.

Recipes for simple and affordable dishes for atopic dermatitis

The advantages of the diet recommended for patients with dermatitis boil down to the fact that their menu is quite simple, all dishes are easy and quick to prepare. In addition, by reducing their calorie content, weight loss can be achieved.

We recommend you several very satisfying, but at the same time healthy dishes.

• Stew with turkey and zucchini. To prepare, you will need 500 grams of zucchini (you can use squash, cauliflower or broccoli), 500 grams of turkey fillet and one leek. Cut all ingredients into large cubes, place in a saucepan, add a small amount of water and simmer over low heat. 10 minutes before readiness, pour in a tablespoon of vegetable oil, lightly add salt and add a tablespoon of sour cream. This is a hearty dish in itself, and also a good addition to any side dishes of buckwheat, potatoes, or rice.
• Veal with apples. The dish is prepared very simply from a minimum set of ingredients. You will need 500 grams of veal fillet, 2-3 green apples and a leek. Cut all the ingredients into small pieces (veal into cubes, apples into slices, leeks into rings), place in a fireproof bowl, lightly add salt and pepper, pour in a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil and 100 ml of water. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees until done.
• Fruit and berry smoothie. When, due to dietary restrictions, you don’t have enough sweets, a smoothie will help out in this situation. It is prepared from a glass of kefir with the addition of any permitted berries and fruits (for example, banana or white currants). Just grind all the ingredients in a blender and your delicious smoothie is ready.

As you can see, a well-chosen diet for atopic dermatitis helps to increase the effectiveness of treatment, helps keep the disease under control and reduce the severity of its symptoms. At the same time, the menu remains varied and tasty.