A professor at Oregon Health and Science University recently told colleagues that his research indicates that eczema may often proceed food allergies, rather being caused by them.

Dermatologist Jon Hanifin addressed other specialists at the annual conference of the American Academy of Dermatology. He noted that food allergies are roughly three times as common as eczema, though they affect patients later in life than the skin condition.

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an autoimmune disorder of the skin, in which flesh reacts to dust or allergens by becoming red, itchy and cracked. Hanifin explained that many children with ezcema must have food allergies, though the latter condition usually appears later.

However, since both health dysfunctions are autoimmune in origin, he stated that the connection between the two should be more closely monitored.

The researcher added that in a study of babies between the ages of three and 18 months, approximately 15 percent of those with eczema were found to have some form of food allergy. Those with the severest cases of atopic dermatitis were much more likely to have an allergy to food products.

Previous studies have closely associated the incidence of eczema, asthma and allergies to peanuts, eggs, milk and wheat.

Atopic dermatitis affects 10 to 20 percent of children and up to 3 percent of adults, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.