Levels of sunlight link in food allergies, eczema

A new study has revealed there may be links between sunshine exposure and food allergies and eczema.

The study, undertaken by Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, looked at around 7,600 Aussie kids and found rates of food allergy varied depending whether you lived in northern or southern Australia.

The study found kids aged between four and five in Victoria were more likely to have a food allergy and eczema than those living in New South Wales and Queensland.

It's positive news for allergy sufferers like teenager Finn Kenny, who has dealt with allergies all his life after first having a reaction when he was ten months old.

"It was just peanut butter on toast and I think I was just vomiting and swelling at the face."

"(Now)I have to check a lot of the labels of things that I eat," he said, "There are a lot of restrictions, some things that say 'may contain traces of nuts' and stuff like that."

Australia has one of the highest rates of childhood allergies in the world, and lead researcher of the study, Assistant Professor Katie Allen, said the findings back up earlier research that suggests the further away you live from the equator the more likely you are to have allergies.

"This study has further highlighted the possible link between food allergies, eczema and where you live," she said.

"We think it's probably related to vitamin D and whether we can correct that through dietary measures or what sort of exposure is required, that will be a very important step," she said.