Survey Highlights Caregiver Dietary Concerns in Kids With Atopic Dermatitis

Caregivers express worries about food triggers, solid food introduction, and gut-based treatments for eczema.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 7:38am

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A survey of caregivers of children with atopic dermatitis (AD) found that 35% had nutrition-related concerns, including which foods might cause or trigger AD, when to introduce solid foods, and treatment of AD through the gut. Over half of the patients had IgE-mediated food allergies, and 28% avoided at least one food based only on the caregiver's suspicion that it was a trigger, despite no confirmed diagnosis. Children with both AD and food allergies were significantly smaller than their peers with AD alone.

Why it matters

The findings highlight the need for healthcare providers to proactively ask families about dietary concerns and food avoidance patterns related to AD, as many caregivers do not volunteer this information. Unnecessary dietary restrictions can have real consequences for a child's growth and development, underscoring the importance of involving dietitians to provide guidance and support.

The details

The study reviewed charts of 126 children aged 3 months to 18 years diagnosed with AD who visited a multidisciplinary center between 2022-2024. Most had moderate eczema. Of the 79% of caregivers who completed a survey, 35% expressed nutrition-related concerns. The most common issues were about potential food triggers, solid food introduction, growth/nutrition concerns, and gut-based AD treatments. Over half the patients had IgE-mediated food allergies, and 28% avoided foods based only on caregiver suspicion, not confirmed diagnosis. Children with both AD and food allergies had significantly lower height and weight percentiles compared to those with AD alone.

  • The study reviewed data from patients who visited the center between 2022 and 2024.
  • The survey results were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) 2026 Annual Meeting.

The players

Wendy Elverson

A registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist at Boston Children's Hospital who co-authored the study.

Peter Lio

A clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine who was not involved in the study but provided commentary.

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What they’re saying

“Diet is probably the single most common concern I hear from families of children with eczema, and yet we have surprisingly little data on how those concerns translate into real-world behavior and clinical response.”

— Peter Lio, Clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics

“The finding that more than one fourth of caregivers had already restricted foods based on suspicion alone, without a confirmed diagnosis, is not surprising to anyone who sees these patients regularly.”

— Peter Lio, Clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics

“What I found most striking, and most clinically sobering, was the growth data. Children with both AD and IgE-mediated food allergies showed meaningfully lower height and weight percentiles compared to children with AD alone, and 10% were below the fifth percentile for height; that is not a trivial difference.”

— Peter Lio, Clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics

What’s next

Longitudinal data would help clarify the impact of early dietitian involvement to improve growth outcomes and reduce unnecessary food restriction. Researchers also plan to investigate whether structured dietary counseling changes caregiver behavior and what format is most effective in a dermatology setting.

The takeaway

This study highlights the need for healthcare providers to proactively ask families of children with atopic dermatitis about dietary concerns and food avoidance patterns, as many caregivers do not volunteer this information. Unnecessary dietary restrictions can have real consequences for a child's growth and development, underscoring the importance of involving dietitians to provide guidance and support.