Are Walnuts Good for Eczema?

Partly: walnuts can be a nutritious choice for people with eczema who are not allergic because they provide fats needed for normal skin function, but they have not been shown to improve eczema.

Are walnuts a good choice if you have eczema?

If you tolerate walnuts, you can include them as part of a balanced diet. They are not an eczema treatment, and there is no established amount that prevents flares or relieves itching.

Food choices are individual: a food that suits one person may cause an allergic reaction in another. See the best foods for eczema for more context on eating well while managing eczema.

How might walnuts affect eczema?

Walnuts contain unsaturated fats, including alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fat. The body uses fats for normal cell function, including in the skin. Eating a varied diet that provides essential nutrients supports general health, but that is different from showing that a particular food improves eczema.

Eczema involves skin-barrier problems and inflammation. Although omega-3 fats are involved in normal inflammatory processes, available evidence does not establish that eating walnuts reduces eczema-related inflammation or repairs the skin barrier. Claims that walnuts soothe eczema through this mechanism go beyond what has been demonstrated.

A nutritious diet also does not replace prescribed skin care. Regular moisturizer and any treatment recommended by your clinician remain important, even if you change what you eat.

What does the evidence say about walnuts and eczema?

Evidence directly linking walnuts to eczema improvement is limited. The available study concerns allergy, not whether eating walnuts improves symptoms.

In a 2018 observational study of 329 people with atopic dermatitis, researchers examined sensitization to fungi and allergy to peanuts and walnuts. The researchers reported walnut allergy in 121 participants, using an assessment that included allergy tests and reported reaction histories.

This study did not test walnuts as a treatment or compare eczema symptoms in people who did and did not eat them. Its findings also should not be treated as the walnut-allergy rate for everyone with eczema: the participants were a particular group of patients, not a representative sample of all people with the condition. The study highlights why allergy is worth considering; it does not show that walnuts cause eczema or improve it.

How can you include walnuts safely?

If you already eat walnuts without symptoms, there is no eczema-specific reason to add a prescribed amount or eat them every day. You can add them to a meal or snack you enjoy, choosing a form that is safe for the person eating them.

If you suspect a reaction, do not keep eating walnuts to test the connection yourself. Note what was eaten, the symptoms and when they appeared, then discuss the pattern with a clinician or allergist. An eczema flare after a meal does not by itself prove a food allergy, and a positive allergy test alone does not always mean a food causes symptoms.

Avoid cutting out multiple foods solely to manage eczema without professional advice. Unnecessary restrictions can make it harder to get a balanced diet, particularly for children. Hydration is also part of general care, but no drink is proven to cure eczema; see the best drinks for eczema.

Who should be careful with walnuts?

People with a known or suspected walnut allergy should avoid walnuts and foods containing them until an allergist advises otherwise. Check ingredient labels and ask about cross-contact when eating food prepared by others. Cooking or roasting walnuts does not reliably make them safe for someone with a walnut allergy. Do not assume that an allergy to walnuts automatically means an allergy to every other nut or to peanuts; ask an allergist for individual advice.

Seek emergency help for a possible severe allergic reaction. Warning signs include trouble breathing, tongue or throat swelling, faintness or collapse, or symptoms affecting more than one part of the body, such as hives together with vomiting. Use a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector immediately if a severe reaction is suspected, and call emergency services, even if symptoms start to improve.

For hives, swelling or vomiting after walnuts without those severe signs, avoid further walnuts and seek prompt medical advice. Do not reintroduce them at home before discussing the reaction with a clinician.

For babies and children, ask a pediatrician about introducing walnuts safely, especially if the child has severe eczema or a known food allergy. Whole walnuts are a choking hazard for young children. During pregnancy, a known walnut allergy still requires avoidance; discuss any broader dietary restrictions with a clinician.

See a clinician if eczema is worsening, disrupting sleep or not improving with the recommended care. Seek prompt medical attention for possible infection, such as worsening pain, pus, spreading redness or fever. Do not stop prescribed medication because of a dietary change.