What should patients with perianal eczema avoid eating?
Nov 14, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Li Jingxiang
Introduction
Patients with perianal eczema should generally avoid spicy and irritating foods, seafood, greasy and rich foods, alcoholic beverages, and overly sweet foods, as these can exacerbate inflammatory responses or irritate the skin around the anus, hindering recovery. If symptoms persist or worsen, or if ulceration and infection occur, prompt medical attention is recommended. Spicy and irritating foods include chili peppers, Sichuan pepper, ginger, garlic, etc.
Patients with perianal eczema should generally avoid spicy and irritating foods, seafood, greasy and rich foods, alcoholic beverages, and overly sweet foods. These types of food can exacerbate inflammatory responses or irritate the perianal skin, hindering recovery. If symptoms persist or worsen, or if ulceration and infection occur, prompt medical attention is recommended.
1. Spicy and irritating foods: such as chili peppers, Sichuan pepper, ginger, garlic, etc. The pungent components in these foods can stimulate blood vessel dilation in the perianal area, worsening local itching and swelling. They may also irritate damaged skin through feces, intensifying the inflammatory response.
2. Seafood: including fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish, etc. The foreign proteins in seafood can easily trigger allergic reactions, potentially inducing or aggravating itching associated with perianal eczema. Patients with allergic constitutions should strictly avoid these foods.
3. Greasy and rich foods: such as fatty meats, fried foods, and barbecued items. These foods are difficult to digest and may lead to accumulation of damp-heat in the intestines, increasing secretion and exudation from the perianal skin, thereby making itching and moisture more pronounced.
4. Alcoholic beverages: including white liquor, beer, red wine, and other alcoholic drinks. Alcohol can dilate blood vessels in the perianal skin, disrupt body metabolism, reduce skin resistance, and impair healing and repair of eczematous lesions.
5. Overly sweet foods: such as candies, cakes, and sugary drinks. Excessive sugar intake increases the metabolic burden on the skin, potentially promoting bacterial growth and worsening inflammation and itching in the perianal area.
Diet should be light and easy to digest; increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and foods rich in dietary fiber. Keep the perianal area clean and dry, wear loose, breathable cotton clothing, and avoid scratching the perianal skin to minimize local irritation and support recovery.
