How Eczema Timing, Duration, and Severity May Influence a Child’s Ability to Outgrow Food Allergies

When eczema starts, how long it lasts, and how severe it is may affect a child’s likelihood of outgrowing food allergies, according to research presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) annual scientific meeting. The study authors, who published their findings in the journal Annals, noted that they conducted the FORWARD multicenter prospective cohort trial to examine how eczema timing, duration, and severity influence the development of food allergy tolerance.^1,2

Common Signs and Reactions of Eczema and Food Allergies

Eczema

Eczema is a dry, itchy rash with scaling and rough patches that is caused by dry skin. It presents on the hands, neck, elbows, inside knees, and torso in adults. Children often develop eczema over their cheeks, ears, outer arms, and thighs. The dry skin leads to itching and inflammation, creating recurring cycles of eczema flares and improvements. In some cases, the broken skin can become infected and ooze.³

Food Allergy

Food allergy is an immune system hypersensitivity to specific food proteins that consistently triggers the same reaction upon exposure. Allergic reactions can be Immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated, which occur immediately, or non-IgE-mediated, which develop more slowly, sometimes up to 48 hours later.³

Egg and milk allergies are the most common to develop in toddlers but are often outgrown. Other common allergies, such as nut, seed, and fish, are more difficult to outgrow and persist into adulthood.²

How Food Allergy and Eczema Overlap

Since the immune system is still developing in early infancy, eczema during this period may increase a baby’s risk of developing IgE-mediated food allergies. Healthy skin acts as a barrier against moisture loss, infection, and allergens; but when this barrier is damaged by eczema in early childhood, inflammation can allow immune cells to encounter food allergens through the skin. Further data suggest that food allergies are more common among children with eczema, although these allergies do not cause eczema. However, more research is needed to fully understand how the 2 conditions overlap.^3,4

“Food allergy and eczema often appear together in childhood, but scientists don’t fully understand how one condition affects the other,” said Nicole Koulov, a 2nd-year medical student at the University of Texas and an ACAAI member who worked with the FORWARD team, in a news release.¹

How Is Eczema Linked to Food Allergy?

In the FORWARD study, researchers included a total of 855 children aged 0 to 12 years with a history of outgrown IgE-mediated food allergies that were reported by caregiver survey responses. The questionnaire asked caregivers to report the presence and timing of eczema, when it resolved, and how severe it was. The severity was then determined by a survey that measured how much skin was affected and the types of treatment needed to control symptoms on a scale of 0 to 6.^1,2

“We examined surveys from children with a history of IgE-mediated food allergies that they later outgrew. Our findings highlight that eczema may play a role in shaping the development of oral tolerance to food allergens,” Koulov said in the news release.¹

The results demonstrated that longer eczema duration and greater severity were linked to lower chances of outgrowing food allergies. Children whose eczema began at 4 to 6 months had significantly lower odds of allergy resolution compared with those whose eczema started earlier.^1,2

The study authors noted that although eczema does not directly cause food allergies, interactions between skin barrier function, immune responses, and allergen exposure could influence whether children outgrow their allergies.^1,2

“Our data suggest that the timing and management of eczema could be an important factor in helping children develop tolerance,” said allergist Amal Assa’ad, MD, co-author of the study and ACAAI member, in the news release.¹

How Can Pharmacists Help Manage Eczema and Food Allergies in Children?

The study’s findings highlight important implications for pharmacists in managing children with eczema and food allergies. Pharmacists can educate families on the link between eczema severity, duration, and allergy tolerance, while emphasizing proper skin care and adherence to prescribed treatments. Additionally, they can support medication management and monitor for potential interactions and identify children at higher risk of persistent food allergies.

REFERENCES

1. Study finds link between eczema patterns and children’s ability to outgrow food allergies. News release. EurekAlert. November 6, 2025. Accessed January 13, 2026. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1103483

2. Koulov N, Mirhosseini N, Onal C, et al. Association between clinical features of eczema and outgrowing of food allergies in pediatric patients. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. November 2025. https://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206(25)00451-X/fulltext

3. Allergy and eczema. News release. National Eczema Society. Accessed January 13, 2026. https://eczema.org/information-and-advice/triggers-for-eczema/allergy-and-eczema/

4. Eczema and food allergies. News release. Society for Pediatric Dermatology. 2020. Accessed January 13, 2026. https://pedsderm.net/site/assets/files/1028/spd_eczema_food_allergies_color_web_1.pdf