Eczema is a dermatological condition that causes inflammatory flare-ups that are visible on the skin. This condition currently has no cure, but it can be managed effectively. Many people live with eczema. According to the National Eczema Association, nearly 32 million people in the United States (around 10% of the population) are affected by it.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is also referred to as atopic dermatitis. The condition most commonly appears during childhood. Rates of eczema have been rising fairly steadily among children of all ethnicities in the United States since the year 2000.
The condition causes red, flakey, or irritated skin on certain areas of the body. The skin is also often itchy, causing discomfort. Eczema has chronic symptoms, meaning they may persist throughout a person’s lifetime. Other common symptoms of eczema include:
- Swollen, raised, bumpy, or thickened skin
- Darker pigmented skin near the eyes
- Crusted or weeping skin
- Sensitivity caused by scratching
Eczema has a number of different causes. In some people, it’s a response to their skin being less protective against outside stimuli than it should be, causing a physical reaction to certain triggers. In others, it’s caused by a natural over-occurrence of staphylococcus aureus — a kind of bacteria — on the skin. The condition is not contagious.
Risk Factors for Eczema
Eczema often runs in families. If someone in your immediate family has eczema, you are more likely to have it as well. If you have asthma, hay fever, or certain allergies, you’re also more likely to develop eczema.
Complications of Eczema
Similarly to hay fever, allergies, and asthma being risk factors for eczema, you may also develop these conditions after being diagnosed with eczema. This is because these conditions are all associated with your immune system’s responses, and inflammation is the common factor among them.
It’s also common for you to experience frequent skin infections, discoloration of your skin in certain areas, and allergic rashes when you come into contact with certain irritants. Eczema can also negatively impact self-esteem and sleep, which can lead to mental health issues.
Triggers for Eczema Symptoms
Eczema symptoms can be triggered by certain stimuli. It’s important to recognize those that are most likely to affect you and to avoid them when you can. These may include:
- Stress
- Certain fragrances, fabrics, or ingredients in soaps, lotions, and other products that come into contact with your skin
- Allergens like pollen, certain foods, and dust
- Tobacco smoke
- Pollutants that could be in the air, especially in places with poor air quality, like large cities
Managing Your Eczema Symptoms
Eczema currently has no cure. For some people, the symptoms disappear as they reach adulthood. However, they may persist throughout your life, flaring up and subsiding repeatedly over time. Fortunately, there are ways to manage your eczema symptoms:
- Be careful to avoid your triggers whenever possible, examining your products and ridding your home of products with triggering ingredients.
- Buy soaps, detergents, and other products with simplified ingredients, and don’t deviate from those that do not irritate your skin.
- Try different alternative medicines such as acupuncture, massage therapy, or meditation.
- Stay sufficiently hydrated.
- Avoid taking excessively hot showers, staying outside in cold weather, or doing other activities that dry out your skin.
- Try moisturizing after a shower and placing a wet washcloth on your skin to lock in moisture.
Living With Eczema
Living well with eczema is possible. You can manage this condition safely and effectively with a few techniques, and you can feel good about your skin and avoid uncomfortable symptoms when you find solutions that meet your needs. Always reach out to your healthcare provider when you need help, and don’t hesitate to ask about further steps you can take to manage this condition.
Resource Links
- “Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis).” NIH, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2017, April 19, https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/eczema-atopic-dermatitis.
- Mayo Clinic Staff, “Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema).” Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, 2023, May 9, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atopic-dermatitis-eczema/symptoms-causes/syc-20353273.
- Bilyj, Brooke. “20 Lifestyle and Health Hacks for Controlling Eczema.” National Eczema Association, 2021, January 4, https://nationaleczema.org/blog/eczema-hacks/.
- “Atopic Dermatitis.” NIH, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2022, November, https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/atopic-dermatitis.
- “Eczema.” MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, 2016, August 15, https://medlineplus.gov/eczema.html.
- “Eczema Stats.” National Eczema Association, https://nationaleczema.org/research/eczema-facts/.
- “QuickStats: Percentage of Children Aged ≤17 Years with Eczema or Any Kind of Skin Allergy,* by Selected Races/Ethnicities† — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2000–2010,” CDC, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 2011, November 11, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6044a9.htm.
- Schonmann, Yochai; et. al. “Atopic Eczema in Adulthood and Risk of Depression and Anxiety: A Population-Based Cohort Study.” PubMed, The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in Practice, 2020, January, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6947493/.