Cause of Eczema

Eczema can cause a wide range of symptoms. All types of eczema cause a desire to scratch. The primary symptoms of eczema include: redness, weeping skin, pain, heat, tenderness, scaling, crusting, dryness, broken skin which may be a result of intense scratching and small blisters may also occur. Over time, damage to the upper layer of the skin can cause the skin to thicken and become scaly.

Each subset of eczema has it’s own distinct causes:

The cause of atopic eczema is related to the presence of hay fever and asthma, which are conditions of the immune system. These conditions are often passed down through the generations of a family.

Irritant contact eczema is caused by a direct contact with the skin and an irritant substance such as soap, detergents, gasoline, diesel or engine oil, various chemicals such as household and industrial cleaners, acids, alkaline mixtures which can acutely inflame the skin. The condition can worsen with repeated exposure.

Allergic contact eczema is a result of contact with substances, which sensitize the skin such as poison oak, ivy or sumac, cosmetics, rubber, nickel, wool, dye, polyester. Initial exposure to the irritant occurs and it is the re-exposure that causes acute inflammation.

Trigger Factors That May Influence Atopic Eczema

Trigger factors for atopic eczema may include soap, harsh chemicals, heat and humidity, stress, certain foods (most common offenders include eggs, milk, wheat, soy protein, and peanut). Many of these ingredients can turn up in unusual places, such as all-natural soaps, makeup, cream, or lotions. Inhalant allergens such as house dust mites, pets, pollen, and cut grass are also triggers that can cause eczema.

Other common trigger factors include:

Dry skin.
The skin’s main function is to provide a barrier against dirt, germs and chemicals from the outside. We don’t notice this barrier unless it gets dry, and then it’s scaly, rough and tight. Dry skin is brittle — moist skin is soft and flexible. People with Atopic dermatitis have a defect in their skin and it won’t stay moist. It is especially bad in winter when the heat is on in the house and the humidity drops. Other things that dry the skin are too much bathing without proper moisturizing.

Irritants.
Irritants are any of the substances outside the body that can cause burning, redness, itching or dryness of the skin.

Stress.
Emotional stress comes from many situations. People with Atopic dermatitis often react to stress by having red flushing and itching.

Heat and sweating.
Most people with atopic dermatitis notice that when they get hot, they itch. They have a type of prickly heat that doesn’t occur just in humid summertime but any time they sweat. It can happen from exercise, from too many warm bedclothes or rapid changes in temperature from cold to warm.

Infections.
Bacterial "staph" infections are the most common, especially on arms and legs. Such infections might be suspected if areas are weeping or crusted or if small "pus-bumps" are seen. Herpes infections (such as fever blisters or cold sores) and fungus (ringworm or athlete’s foot) can also trigger Atopic dermatitis. If some lesions look different, ask your doctor. If they turn out to be infected, they can be treated with antibiotics.

Allergens.
Allergens are materials such as pollen, pet dander, foods, or dust that cause allergic responses. Allergic diseases such as asthma and hay fever, which flare quickly, are easy to tie to allergens. Itching and hives appear soon after exposure to these airborne allergens and last only briefly.