Common Causes of Eczema

You want to look your best, and that’s a good thing. Wanting to look your best is not a sign of vanity or an indication that you are superficial; it is simply a sign that you care about how you look and you care about how other people perceive you. When there is something about your skin that detracts from your appearance, it is only natural to want to know why it’s happening and also what steps you can take to fix it. For this reason, many eczema sufferers will ask themselves, “What causes eczema?”

What the Doctors Say

Medical professionals readily admit that the exact causes of eczema are unknown. For some people, the condition is genetic. Their parents and their grandparents have it and so now they have it. There is some link between family members who have hay-fever passing on eczema to their children.

Doctors are certain that eczema is linked to other allergic diseases. In fact, doctors refer to the link between allergic diseases and eczema as the atopic triad. If a child has eczema, they have an 80 percent chance of also developing hay-fever or asthma.

While the medical community is still understanding what causes this condition, they do have a good idea of triggers that can make it worse. Learning about these triggers can help a person avoid things that will make their symptoms worse.

Irritants

Irritants are things that can affect your skin, and they can make your eczema worse. There are a lot of different irritants around the home, and a person should be on guard to see if their condition gets worse after coming in contact with some of these irritants.

Some irritants include common products like household soaps and detergents. Others experience a flare-up when they use disinfectants or bubble bath products, or when they eat certain fruits, meats and vegetables. Parents will especially need to be on guard to watch their children to identify which items are making their eczema worse.

Allergens 

When people have a genetic disposition to this condition, it is likely that they will develop atopic eczema. This means that their eczema will start once they have been exposed to something in the environment that they are allergic to. Allergens make the body react in an abnormal way. These could include things like pets, mold in the home, dandruff or even dust mites.

The Weather 

For some people, changes in the temperature trigger eczema. They may be perfectly fine in a temperate climate, but when they are in extremely hot or cold weather, their condition begins to display itself. Other factors, such as changes in humidity and perspiration from exercise, may trigger a flare-up.

Stress

The medical community has recently understood the association between stress and eczema. While the complete link between these two things is not fully understood, what they do know is that when a person is under severe stress, their symptoms get worse. It also works the other way around. When a person has this condition, it may cause them to feel stress.

Treatment Options

While currently there is no cure for eczema, understanding conditions that can trigger it can go a long way in helping you avoid outbreaks. There are also treatment options available to help diminish the visible signs of the condition.

To learn more about these options, set up a consultation at Metro Dermatology. We have locations in Elmhurst, Flushing, Englewood and the Bronx. Contact us today to book your appointment!