5 Nutrients for Children With Eczema: What Parents Should Know

What parents should know about nutrition, skin health and childhood eczema.

If your child has eczema, you probably know the routine: dry, itchy skin, sleepless nights, scratching, and another flare just when you thought things were improving.

You may have tried different creams, changed washing products, or wondered whether something in your child’s food is making the skin worse. And somewhere along the way, you may have asked yourself: could my child be missing something important in their diet?

It’s a worthwhile question.

Skin is a living organ. It constantly renews itself, maintains a protective barrier, repairs everyday damage and works alongside the immune system. These processes depend on nutrients supplied through food.

But here is something many parents overlook: it is not simply about whether a child eats enough. It also matters what they eat, how varied their diet is, whether they have increased nutritional needs, and whether there are signs that something is missing.

Eczema is influenced by several interacting factors, including skin-barrier function, immune responses, genetics and the environment. Nutrition is one part of this bigger picture, and one that deserves a closer look.

As a homeopathic doctor and naturopath with over 18 years of clinical experience, I believe in looking at the person as a whole rather than focusing only on the area of skin that is affected. In this article, I’ll explain five nutrients for children with eczema that deserve attention, where to find them in everyday foods, and how to think about them when caring for a child with eczema.

1. Vitamin D and eczema: more than a vitamin for bones

Most parents know vitamin D is important for strong bones. What is less widely understood is its role in immune function.

The immune system helps the body respond to infections and other challenges. Vitamin D contributes to normal immune regulation, which is particularly interesting when we consider eczema, an inflammatory skin condition.

Research has also explored the relationship between vitamin D levels and eczema severity. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis examined 11 randomised controlled trials involving 686 people and found that vitamin D supplementation was associated with reduced eczema severity, although the researchers note that larger and longer studies are still needed. This makes vitamin D an important area of interest when considering a child’s overall nutritional status.

Where can your child get vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a little different from many other nutrients because relatively few foods naturally contain substantial amounts.

Useful sources include:

• Sunlight, which enables the body to produce vitamin D in the skin. The amount produced varies with factors such as season, location, skin pigmentation and sun protection.
• Egg yolks and oily fish, such as salmon.
• Vitamin D-fortified foods, including selected milks and plant-based milk alternatives.
• UV-exposed mushrooms, which can provide vitamin D2.

What should parents pay attention to?

Consider your child’s overall diet, whether they regularly eat vitamin D-containing or fortified foods, and whether they have circumstances that could put them at risk of low vitamin D.

The useful question is not simply, “Should I give my child vitamin D?” It is, “Are my child’s nutritional needs being met?”

Vitamin D supplements may be appropriate in some circumstances, but the right amount depends on age, diet, individual needs and existing intake. More is not automatically better. If you think your child may need a supplement, talk to your GP or a dietitian first.

The takeaway: vitamin D deserves attention because it supports immune function, and emerging research suggests it may also have a role in eczema care.

2. Zinc: essential for skin repair and growth

Zinc is one of the nutrients I would pay attention to when looking at a child’s overall skin health.

Why? Because zinc is involved in tissue growth, wound healing, immune function and the production of proteins. These processes are important throughout childhood, when the body is growing and continually repairing itself.

The skin is constantly renewing its outer layers. When a child scratches itchy eczema repeatedly, the skin barrier can become damaged, making it even harder for the skin to protect itself. Zinc supports the body’s normal repair processes, which is why getting enough through the diet matters.

However, zinc is not an eczema cure, and taking extra zinc does not automatically improve a flare. The goal is to make sure the child receives enough for their age and needs.

Which foods provide zinc?

Plant-based options include:

• Pumpkin seeds: an easy addition to porridge, yoghurt or a suitable smoothie.
• Chickpeas, lentils and beans: useful sources of zinc as well as protein and fibre.
• Cashews and other nuts: offer them in an age-appropriate form to reduce choking risk.
• Tofu: a versatile option for stir-fries, curries and other family meals.
• Oats and whole grains: contribute zinc alongside other nutrients.

Eggs, meat, seafood and dairy foods also provide zinc.

One detail worth knowing: zinc from plant foods is generally less readily absorbed than zinc from many animal foods, because plant compounds called phytates can reduce absorption. This does not mean plant foods are poor choices. It means that variety and a well-planned diet are important, particularly for children following vegetarian or vegan diets.

What should parents look out for?

A very limited diet, poor growth or persistent feeding difficulties may warrant a closer look at nutritional intake with your GP or a dietitian. These signs are not proof of zinc deficiency, but they are useful clues when considering the child’s overall health.

The takeaway: zinc helps the body grow, maintain normal immune function and repair tissue. Make zinc-containing foods a regular part of your child’s diet rather than relying on supplements to address eczema.

3. Vitamin C: supporting collagen and the skin’s repair process

Vitamin C is often associated with immunity, but its role in skin health is particularly interesting.

Our skin contains collagen, a structural protein that helps provide strength and support to tissues. Vitamin C is essential for collagen production and contributes to normal wound healing. It also helps the body absorb iron from plant foods.

Think about what happens when eczema becomes itchy and a child scratches repeatedly. The skin can become irritated, cracked and vulnerable to further damage. The body needs a range of nutrients to maintain and repair its tissues, and vitamin C is one of them.

This is not about taking large amounts of vitamin C to make eczema disappear. It is about giving the body the nutritional building blocks it needs.

The best food sources are easy to find

You do not need expensive powders or specialised products. Everyday foods can contribute plenty of vitamin C:

• Guava: a particularly rich source.
• Kiwi fruit: easy to include in breakfast or snacks.
• Oranges and mandarins: convenient, familiar options.
• Strawberries: a useful addition to yoghurt or porridge.
• Capsicum: especially rich in vitamin C.
• Broccoli: supplies vitamin C alongside fibre and other nutrients.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are valuable additions to a child’s diet. Vitamin C can be reduced by prolonged storage and cooking, so including some fresh produce is a practical way to help preserve it.

A simple tip for parents

Pair vitamin C-rich foods with plant sources of iron. For example, serve capsicum with chickpeas, or add kiwi fruit or strawberries alongside an iron-containing breakfast. Vitamin C helps the body absorb non-haem iron from plant foods.

The takeaway: vitamin C supports collagen production, tissue repair and iron absorption. A colourful variety of fruit and vegetables helps provide it naturally.

4. Magnesium: an important nutrient for the whole body

Magnesium is involved in hundreds of processes in the body, including energy production, normal muscle and nerve function, and the formation of proteins and bones.

So why include it in an article about eczema?

Because a child’s skin cannot be considered separately from the rest of their body. Healthy skin is supported by normal cellular activity, adequate nutrition and the body’s ability to carry out everyday maintenance and repair.

Magnesium is an important part of that overall nutritional picture. However, it is not established as a specific treatment for eczema, and parents should be wary of claims that magnesium supplements will directly stop itching or clear the skin.

Where can children get magnesium?

Some of the best everyday sources are plant foods:

• Pumpkin seeds and chia seeds
• Almonds and cashews
• Beans, chickpeas and lentils
• Oats and whole grains
• Brown rice
• Spinach and other green leafy vegetables
• Yoghurt and milk, which also provide other valuable nutrients

Seeds can be added to porridge, yoghurt or suitable smoothies. Beans and lentils can be incorporated into soups, curries and family meals. Whole grains can replace some refined grain choices.

These small additions can improve the overall nutritional quality of a child’s diet without turning mealtimes into a complicated health project.

What about stress and sleep?

Children with eczema may struggle with sleep because of itching, while disrupted sleep can affect their mood, concentration and family life. Magnesium is sometimes promoted online as a solution for sleep or stress, but it should not be presented as a proven eczema or sleep treatment.

Instead, focus on the basics: a varied diet, homeopathic and naturopathic remedies, consistent sleep routines and identifying factors that contribute to your child’s discomfort.

The takeaway: magnesium supports essential body functions. Include magnesium-rich foods as part of a varied diet, but do not assume a supplement is needed simply because your child has eczema.

5. Biotin: important for metabolism, but not a magic skin supplement

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, helps the body convert carbohydrates, fats and proteins from food into energy. It is needed for normal metabolic processes, and severe deficiency can cause skin changes and hair problems.

This is where online skin advice can become confusing. Biotin is frequently promoted for glowing skin, stronger nails and healthier hair. But more biotin does not necessarily mean healthier skin, and biotin deficiency is rare in people who eat a varied diet.

For a child with eczema, the sensible priority is to provide enough biotin as part of a balanced diet, not to start a high-dose supplement in the hope that it will clear the skin.

Foods that provide biotin

Biotin is found in a range of familiar foods, including:

• Cooked eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Sweet potatoes
• Broccoli and spinach
• Fish and other protein-rich foods

For families eating mainly plant-based foods, nuts, seeds and vegetables can contribute biotin alongside many other nutrients.

One useful detail: raw egg whites contain avidin, a protein that binds biotin and reduces its absorption. Cooking egg whites denatures avidin, so cooked eggs are the more appropriate choice.

When is biotin worth investigating?

A very restricted diet or a combination of unexplained skin changes, hair thinning and other symptoms may prompt a closer look at nutritional status. These symptoms can have many causes, so they should not automatically be attributed to biotin.

The takeaway: biotin is necessary for normal metabolism, but routine high-dose supplementation is not the answer to childhood eczema.

The bigger picture: eczema in children is about more than one nutrient

Now that we have covered the five nutrients, there is a point I particularly want parents to understand.

A child can eat healthy foods and still experience eczema. And a child with eczema does not automatically have a nutritional deficiency.

Nutrition matters, but eczema is complex. Genetics, skin-barrier function, immune responses, environmental exposures and individual triggers can all contribute. The aim is not to blame food or make parents feel that they have caused their child’s skin condition. It is to understand which factors may be relevant to that particular child.

Here are four areas I encourage parents to think about.

1. Look at the overall dietary pattern, not just individual nutrients

A child may eat plenty of fruit but very few protein-rich foods. Another may eat enough food overall but have a very limited range of vegetables, legumes or whole grains. Some children are fussy eaters; others avoid entire food groups because of suspected reactions or family dietary choices.

These patterns can affect the nutrients a child receives.

Rather than concentrating on one so-called superfood, look at variety across the week. Are there different fruits and vegetables? Are protein sources included regularly? Are there sources of healthy fats, whole grains and essential nutrients?

A varied diet is a much stronger starting point than chasing individual supplements. Australian child-nutrition guidance similarly emphasises variety across the main food groups. For practical ideas, read Eczema and diet: can the right foods help your child?, which walks through five nourishing food groups.

2. Consider digestion and the gut–skin connection

You may have heard the term gut–skin axis. It describes the ways the gut and skin can communicate through immune, metabolic and other biological pathways.

Researchers are studying how the gut microbiome, the community of microorganisms living in the digestive tract, relates to inflammatory skin conditions, including eczema. This is an interesting area of research, but it does not mean that every child with eczema has an unhealthy gut or needs a probiotic.

When considering a child’s overall health, it can be useful to understand their usual digestion, bowel habits, dietary variety and tolerance of foods. These details help build a more complete picture instead of treating the visible skin symptoms in isolation.

What matters is the individual child, not a generic “gut-healing” checklist.

3. Do not start removing foods without a clear reason

When eczema persists, parents naturally begin looking for food triggers. Milk, wheat, eggs and other foods can become targets for elimination.

Some children do have food allergies, and a specific food may be relevant to their symptoms. But removing foods without a clear reason does not reliably improve eczema for every child. Unnecessary restrictions can also make it harder to meet nutritional needs during growth.

Instead of cutting out several foods at once, pay attention to consistent patterns and the circumstances in which symptoms occur. Immediate reactions after eating a particular food are especially important to recognise. Suspected food allergies deserve appropriate assessment rather than guesswork.

A simple two-week diary of meals, sleep and skin makes those patterns easier to see. Our free guide, Good Bye Eczema, shows you what to note and where to start.

The goal is to identify relevant triggers while keeping the child’s diet as varied and nourishing as possible.

4. Pay attention to the child’s individual tendencies and circumstances

Two children can have eczema and still have very different experiences.

One may flare when overheated or sweating. Another may struggle more during dry weather. One child may have a very restricted diet, while another eats a wide variety of foods but has persistent itching and disturbed sleep.

This is why I do not believe in treating every child according to a single checklist.

When I take an individualised approach, I want to understand the pattern of the child’s skin symptoms, what seems to aggravate them, their general health, dietary habits, lifestyle and other relevant characteristics. These details can help guide a more considered approach to care.

It is not about assuming that one factor explains everything. It is about looking carefully at the whole picture.

What I want every parent of a child with eczema to remember

You do not need to buy five supplements, overhaul your kitchen or put your child on a restrictive diet to begin supporting their nutritional health.

Start with the foundations:

• Include a variety of fruit and vegetables.
• Offer regular sources of protein, zinc and other essential nutrients.
• Include foods containing vitamin D and magnesium.
• Build meals around variety rather than relying on a handful of supposedly perfect foods.
• Pay attention to persistent feeding difficulties, restricted diets or concerns about growth.
• Observe your child’s eczema patterns without assuming every flare is caused by food.

And remember that nutrition is one part of eczema care. Keeping the skin moisturised, recognising individual irritants and addressing flare-ups appropriately remain important parts of caring for eczema-prone skin.

When to see your GP: see your doctor if your child’s eczema does not improve within a week, or if they are unwell with a fever. Talk to your GP or a dietitian before starting any supplement.

How we approach eczema at Natural Skin Clinic

At Natural Skin Clinic, I look beyond the affected area of skin to understand the individual and the factors that may be contributing to their ongoing skin concerns.

As a homeopathic doctor and naturopath with over 18 years of clinical experience, I bring an individualised perspective to chronic and recurring skin conditions. My approach considers relevant aspects of nutrition, digestion, lifestyle, topical skin care, symptom patterns and individual tendencies.

Nutrition is not about finding one magic food or blaming parents for their child’s eczema. It is about understanding whether the child’s diet is meeting their needs and how everyday habits fit into the wider picture of their skin health.

Our holistic eczema care focuses on the individual rather than applying the same plan to everyone, and works alongside your child’s GP or dermatologist. The aim is to help families understand their child’s skin better and develop a considered, personalised approach to care.

If your child continues to struggle with recurring eczema and you want to explore an individualised holistic approach, book a free discovery call or read about our consultations and eczema programmes.

If you found this article useful, please share it with a parent who will benefit from it too.

Warm regards,

Dr Pallavi Vasisht, Holistic Skin Specialist
Homeopath and Naturopath