**7.1 Nonphamacological interventions**

#### **7.1.1 Dietary restrictions**

Hen's egg, milk, wheat, soy, peanuts, nuts, and fish are responsible for 90% of the food allergy in patients with atopic dermatitis (Sircherer & Sampson, 1999). Avoiding these foods, and other foods suspected to cause flares may be helpful in reducing disease exacerbation, especially in children. Several studies identified the effects of dietary restriction in children with atopic dermatitis. One of these trials, conducted by Sloper and associates evaluated 78 children with atopic dermatitis. Patients were on a diet, which excluded cow's milk, eggs, and foods known to trigger exacerbations. At the end of the trial, 64 patients experienced an improvement in their atopic dermatitis symptoms (Sloper, et al. 1991). Few studies in this meta-analysis used validated diagnostic criteria, which could have given skewed results. Because there are no precise findings in these studies, foods containing milk, eggs, or other known causes of disease flares should be avoided in patients with atopic dermatitis.
