Grass pollen cross-reactivity triggers delayed my dyshidrotic eczema. My skin improved after eliminating certain foods, and the blisters returned completely

I've had dyshidrotic eczema for as long as I can remember. I had no idea what was causing it. I made many diets and tried really a lot. Last year was my worst year and I became my first panic attacks, because my skin was so bad. But in this year I realised that I have a pollen allergy. Sounds bad, but in my case it was good. Let me explain:

I only discovered last year, at the age of 27, that I have a grass pollen allergy. Before that, I had never noticed any typical allergy symptoms. Allergic symptoms can first develop later in life, even at 30, 50, or beyond, without realising that the person is the hole life allergic to it.
If someone is allergic to grass pollen, their immune system may recognize similar proteins in certain foods as allergens because they resemble proteins found in grass pollen. As a result, the immune system may react to the food (for example Oats) as well, even though the person is not actually being exposed to pollen. This is called pollen-food cross-reactivity. You will find in the internet many lists about pollen cross-reactivity.

After discovering my pollen allergy, I started looking more closely at pollen-food cross-reactivity and the foods I was eating. Interestingly, I realized that some foods associated with my cross-reactions might be affecting my skin, even though I rarely experienced the typical symptoms people associate with food allergies. The only exception I've clearly noticed is pepper in a big amount, which can sometimes cause slight swelling in my mouth. Otherwise, I generally don't get the typical oral itching or tingling associated with pollen-food syndrome. Because I wasn't experiencing obvious symptoms, avoiding these foods never seemed necessary to me.

Two months ago, I decided to completely avoid the foods I suspected were associated with my pollen cross-reactivities. Since then, my skin is the first time eczema free in my hole life. That's so crazy.

I took part in a food provocation test and reintroduced one of the suspected foods. The timing is what makes this particularly interesting to me. My skin doesn't necessarily react immediately after eating these foods. Instead, the eczema seems to flare up the following day.

I know that pollen-food syndrome is usually associated with immediate symptoms in the mouth, lips, or throat, whereas dyshidrotic eczema is a different condition. I'm not claiming that grass pollen cross-reactivity is definitely the cause of eczema in general. But there are some cases where people experienced the same as me. I hope you're doing well guys!

Leave the shower running while you put on your moisturizer!

I was talking about how my skin would start to dry before I could get to it while moisturizing after my showers and it made my preferred method less effective (topicals on flares and vaseline over everything as a barrier + moisturizer cus i use the cocoa butter one). Then, she was just like, "Leave the shower on hot while you sit beside it and put everything on. That's what I did when you were a kid."

I tested it a few times, and it worked great! It keeps the air damp enough that my skin dried slower and it gave me more time to work.

I had really bad eczema on my face (around my mouth and eyes) and neck, and on my arms and hands for basically half my life and it seemed to get increasingly worse during college until I got so depressed and absolutely done with life that I decided to drop out. Fortunately like a year or two later after dropping out I was able to get on dupixent and it’s absolutely saved the quality of my life (if not my life altogether). But now I have absolutely nothing going for me career wise and basically just working minimum wages job and it’s hard to not be equally depressed even though I know I’m so so lucky compared to before. Is anyone in the same boat? I feel like my life would’ve been so much better had I never had such bad eczema.

What is the deal with the amount of TSW fear mongering and misinformation around topical steroids online? It’s incredibly weird and I hate to see so many people being scared away from properly treating their eczema. TSW is a real thing, but so many people self-diagnosing and avoiding treatment because they’re so scared of it when it’s so uncommon is a massive problem.

Hi guys!
Are there any allergens in baby oil? I bought the “little ones” baby oil recently because my hand eczema was getting worse and i wanted to use something mild to see if it gets better.
But i feel like that somehow made it worse now my hands have gotten 10x worse, but the oil’s only got two ingredients (Parafinnum, Bisabolol). So I’m confused on whether it’s the oil or something else I’m using 😭😭😭 it’s so tiring.

Had eczema since age of 5 and left with severely discolored patches of skin. After age 13 I did not develop eczema anywhere else and even if I did it was never has discolored or as severe, also after I started working and making my own money I reduced eczema by 80 percent, so I think I have some credibility.

Hopefully I can get this out of my system and maybe save another child I don't really know

1. My mom beat me up and severely berated me for not drinking enough water.

Sorry but school is stressful enough and teachers esp back in the day would act like you unalived their entire family if you asked for a bathroom break. Yes water is important but don't stress your kid out for that, the stress will do more harm.

1. Think some oil will do what a cream can't.

Oil has no humectant properties, slapping that onto dry skin will not do anythinnggggggg. ughhhhh. Also your kid may have some unknown allergy to an oil. Pick up a nice unscented lotion or cream.

1. Not wash your child's hair regularly

The dandruff and dust and whatever else in your kid's hair can further irritate your child's skin. Get a good gentle one. My mom thought it was normal to have oil soaked hair and only wash it like once every two weeks.

1. Have a dusty/unclean home

My parents hoarded things they did not need. Kept old newspapers everywhere and as they got older had a habit of keeping rotting fruit peels. Yea don't do that.

1. Not let your kid go out in the sun

I come from a culture where fair skin = better. I am also naturally fair and my mom is very fair. And tbh it was never the eczema she berated me for but how dark it made me look. So therefore she banned me from ever playing in the sun and that lack of vitamin D probably caused my eczema to get worse and therefore I probably got darker.

1. Care for the health for your bedsheets more than the health of your kid's skin.

My mom grew up poorish I guess. It's considered a luxury to wash your bedding regularly there. But then again if your kid has eczema it's really not worth the money you would save on bedsheets or water.

Been having open crater like sores that are raw and bleed when scratched on my scalp and forehead. They are incredibly itchy and dermatologist say it’s eczema. I was given wound heal gel but even after applying it, it’s still itchy and I can’t resist scratching and picking the sores. What do I do? Any way to relieve the itch?

Picture: https://imgur.com/a/ONmfjeb

I started taking ciprofloxacin orally about a week ago and my spots are nearly gone. Like lotions are steroids help them stop be dry and inflamed but my skin is returning to normal with this, and I haven’t even been putting lotion on it.

I have eyelid eczema that’s pretty mild just flaky if I don’t moisturize but I have to get OC sprayed in a month and I’m just wondering if it’ll be worse for me? I don’t have broken skin on my eyelids either

I'll go first, Eucerin Original Healing is the only thing I can use reliably.

I love hearing what other people use. It's so individual and everyone reacts differently. Let's share what we use so people know what to trial and error.

My dermatologist diagnosed me with Atopic Dermatitis way back in May. It got better with the help of lotions & creams specialized for Eczema & Tacrolimus. Now I've been dealing with this chicken type skin in many parts of my body. Is this due to Atopic Dermatitis also?

I have eczema between my toes and I have hyperhydrosis on my feet.
Does anyone have sock recommendations?
I’m currently wearing cheap ankle socks from Walmart because I use to not sweat as much wearing them but that has changed and now I sweat so much wearing them.

I have scratched my foot to a degree I'm becoming concerned. I'm not trying to. But I have three huge gashes on my foot and as the season gets colder it goes up my limbs. My foot looks like it mangled by an animal because I can't help but scratching even in my sleep. I've been dealing with this my whole life on most ofy body. It starts from the bottom and goes up as it gets colder. I don't know what to do. I have wounds and I clean them but what else can I do? I need help

Hi im 16 and I've had eczema maybe since I s 6months old but it was never properly diagnosed and we just assumed it was psoriasis or sm other random dryness as i usually got it during winter, but the dermat I went to 2 yrs ago confirmed it was eczema and now its pretty bad and has spread all over my neck, few patches near my eyes and my inner elbows. Only thing is my scalp is very itchy too and I peel off very chunky and dry flakes from my scalp but im not sure if its just buildup, dandruff, eczema or smth else. Please help, I would be very happy if someone who had a similar experience can confirm if its eczema or no

I've been off steroid creams for about 9 months now (i just tapered off idk how). I was wondering if anyone ever was off steroid creams for a while and ever had to go back to using them. I don't ever want to use them again which is why I'm asking and wondering what to do to avoid that?

Hi everyone! I’m a student at UT Austin working with a Texas Convergent healthtech team. We’re learning about people’s experiences managing eczema to help us decide what problem to focus on for our project.

We’re looking for adults 18 or older who currently have eczema or have had it in the past. The survey takes approximately 5–7 minutes and asks about flares, daily routines, and challenges with existing treatments or tools.

Participation is voluntary, and contact information is optional—only provide it if you’d like a follow-up conversation.

Survey: https://forms.gle/eeXUEAkHhLgCs1eA8

Thank you for sharing your experiences!

My kids both have what I would consider mild/moderate eczema. We have a dermatologist and they are both prescribed a steroid cream, a non-steroid cream, and a prescription lotion. I was hoping any parents that have kids with eczema could give me some tips mostly regarding lotion. How do you make putting lotion on them more enjoyable? I was thinking about getting a space heater for the bathroom because they are always freezing when I put it on after baths. It makes it really hard because they both hate me putting lotion on them and then unfortunately I do it less than I should. Also, any tips for kiddos that are in school and get bad eczema on their wrists/hands from handwashing? We use special soaps and home and lotion, but I’m not sure what to do now that she’s in full day kindy. TIA!!

I am 15 and Have had Atopic dermatitis or eczema

All my life and All Over my body. For the past 2 years I have had a Problem of Shedding Through Mostly my face But sometimes legs and hands. When I itch my Face it gets Rough and then Sometimes I apply Betaval and the skin comes off I would Post a picture but i don't really know how the post works. Please help even when I don't Apply any medication On my face it still Comes off

I don't wannt my face to be peeling like this . it doesn't Hurt But It's Breaking me mentally. Help

My ezcema has been flaring up on my face more with the weather change, and this year I've started to grow facial hair which I shave most of because it grows uneven as of right now. I just keep a goatee and shave the sides of my face and my neck, but now everytime I use shaving foam it makes my skin sting, and is often VERY itchy afterwards.

I use a one blade safety razor, I either shave after a shower or warm my face with a towel, I make sure to moisturize after, I only shave once a week/every two weeks, and I only shave when the flare up isnt huge is there anything I can do to avoid/lessen irritation?

I appreciate any feedback, have a good day/afternoon/night! :)

Hey guys, I really need some tips on how to shave my facial hair without causing bumps or irritation because it's messing with my look. I got a Philips OneBlade and a 3 blade razor. I usually just shave clean while I'm in the shower so everything is wet. Any advice on how to keep my skin smooth because I keep on getting bumps and irritations.

Idk if the hairloss has something to do with the eczema, I never had any kind of hairloss till the age of 26, this is new. It is at the upcorners of my hair, rounding the hair.

It's not like, the patch is completely hairless but it is like lost 90 percent of its hair. I wanted to ask if it can be due to eczema, funny thing is that eczema started after I have quit smoking. It's been 3 months since I quit, which is I am very proud of, but the side effects suck.