What Causes Eczema?

Eczema is irritating, painful and can cause self-confidence issues. Understanding the causes and triggers of your eczema symptoms is the starting point of the journey to restored and healthy skin, for now, and the long term.

Looking for instant eczema relief? Our Dry Itchy Skin Relief Cream has been made specially to combat the symptoms of skin conditions, including eczema. Our steroid-free cream works from below, balancing immune responses to relieve and repair your skin in the long-run.

What actually causes eczema?

Running low on time? Watch our Common Triggers of Eczema video to learn the causes, symptoms and treatments to eczema:

1. Filaggrin:
Eczema is not an allergic reaction as generally believed, nor is it due to diet, but in fact, it is caused by a lack of filaggrin, the filament aggregating protein in the skin.

This protein determines the shape of the skin cells, which means that when it is lacking they struggle to fit neatly together like a jigsaw. Instead, there are gaps in the skin barrier which makes the skin leaky.

For some people, their body will catch up and will produce more filaggrin as they get older, while for others they have a significant lack of filaggrin for life.

2. Skin’s Microflora:
Other factors to consider is your skin’s microflora. Just like your digestive system, your skin has a natural skin microflora, which is made up of good bacteria (like probiotics) which prevent the build-up of bad bacteria.

When the balance of good bacteria on your skin is lost, your immune system reacts with red, itchy inflamed skin. Without good bacteria, your skin is vulnerable to infection, which sets you up for a vicious cycle of sleep loss, itchy discomfort, scratching, infections and further inflammation. 

3. Genetics:
Aside from lack of filaggrin, there are factors that enhance your chances of developing eczema – such as your genetic makeup. Unfortunately, you’re much more likely to develop eczema if your relatives have suffered from the disease.

Eczema Triggers

Now we have a better idea of what may be causing your eczema, let’s look into key internal and external triggers.

We’ve outlined some the key triggers for eczema and itchy dry skin below, along with a handy list of preventative measures to take, so you can finally be on your way to enjoying healthy itch-free skin.

1. Irritants

There are many things that can irritate your skin, triggering eczema.

Common offenders include:

• Fragrances 

• Smoke from cigarettes

• Fungal Spores

• Household products and cosmetics

Avoid triggers by:

• Establishing potential offenders – removing theses from the household.

• Stick to gentle, fragrant-free products – ensure to check those labels before buying. Eco products tend to be less abrasive on the skin and are better for the environment. Win-win!

2. Dry Skin

Dry or scaly skin is a trigger of eczema as can cause or worsen symptoms of eczema.  

When the skin is dry it’s more susceptible to a flare up because the skin’s natural defense barrier is weakened.

Avoid triggers by:

Moisturizing – use specially formulated eczema cream.

• Avoiding hot baths or showers – especially for prolonged sessions.

3. Stress 

Unfortunately, stress has been known to trigger, worsen and pro-long eczema.

Avoid triggers by:

• Relaxation – take time in your day to clear your head & de-stress

• Consider meditation – even just gentle exercise such as taking a walk can help relax

• Be patient – your skin takes time to adjust to new routines.

• Get plenty of sleep (7-8 hours each night) – this will help you to feel rejuvenated meaning you’ll be able to take on challenges with a better frame of mind.

4. Exercise and Sweating

Sweating and/or prickly heat from exercise can be irritating to your skin and cause aggravation to sores or flare-ups.

Avoid triggers by:

• Moisturizing – before and after exercise to create a protective shield.

• Staying hydrated – this ensures your skin barrier is not weakened.

• Taking breaks – make sure to take a break when needed and use cooling towels if irritation occurs, this can be incorporated into water breaks.

5. Hormones

Particularly common amongst women (especially those who are pregnant or pre-menstrual), changes in hormones can trigger irritating bouts of eczema.

Avoid triggers by:

• Speaking to your doctor – they can guide you about how to balance out your hormones.

• Treating hormonal skin – using a reliable natural eczema product that’s steroid-free

6. Climate & Environment

The atmosphere you live in can play a large part in how your skin reacts.

Just as the sun can dry out your skin in the summer from dry air, burning or over-exposure; the raw cold can have equally drying effects in the winter (especially if combined with the contrast of heated indoor living). The humidity or dryness of your environment can also be a trigger.

Avoid triggers by:

• (Warm weather) Taking in Vitamin D – get this from the sun and enjoying sea water swims, however, don’t overdo it and be sure to wear a gentle, fragrant free sun cream

• Only sleeping in 100 percent cotton nightwear and sheets – this avoids sweating causing irritation. Heated blankets should also be avoided.

• Consider investing in a humidifier – for overly dry rooms or de-humidifier (for overly humid rooms) to create the ideal environment for your skin.

• Ensuring your house is well ventilated – make sure there is plenty of air-flow to keep the environment cool

• Ensure your home is free from the mold – this can cause asthma and trigger symptoms of eczema

• Taking a tepid bath – a lukewarm bath followed by cream liberally patted onto the skin provides good eczema relief. For more information about bathing, techniques click here

7. Allergens

A good reason to keep you house cleaning in check is to avoid any triggers from domestic allergy factors such as dust, pet hair and mold.

It’s also wise to be aware that pollen is a common trigger for eczema flare ups.

Avoid triggers by:

• Keeping on top of the dusting – little to no dust reduces chances of allergens flaring-up

• Immediately treating any mold – try to avoid areas with mold to not breathe in its particles

• Regularly vacuuming – this cleans up your pets shed hair and reduces chances of allergens in the environment 

Do not overclean – removal of the good bacteria by overcleaning and using anti-bacterial sprays in your home will result in a build-up of allergens and potentially bad bacteria. Use a natural cleaning spray.

8. Infections 

Skin Infections can really worsen eczema, some of the most common culprits include ringworm, athletes foot, herpes and cold sores.

Avoid triggers by:

• Getting enough rest – this helps to fight off potential infections along with a healthy diet.

• Ensuring good general personal hygiene – sweat and dirt build-up can cause infections in eczema sores

• Seeking treatment – visit your Doctor or GP quickly if any skin conditions and diseases arise.

Signs and symptoms

There are many different signs and symptoms of eczema to look out for, this can be generally be differentiated by age groups­.

Symptoms in Adults:

• Rashes tend to spread across much of the body but especially the elbows, neck and knees.

• Rashes causing dry irritated skin.

• Scale-like rashes.

Children – Puberty:

• Common areas are found in creases such as the elbows or knees, as well as neck, wrists, ankles and the crease between buttock and legs.

• Bumpy rashes dark/light in color

• In some areas, a constant itch can occur.

Babies and toddlers:

• Extreme itchiness from rashes usually found on the scalp and cheeks. Some rashes can even leak fluid.

It’s important to note that though most people suffer from Atopic Dermatitis (the most common form of eczema) there are actually many different types of eczema

The best way to identify what type you’re suffering with is to meet with your doctor. You may even be suffering from a combination. Once you know this, you can tailor your plan of action against triggers and what treatment to seek out.

 

Relieve Your Eczema With Atopis

We have carefully formulated the Atopis Dry Itchy Skin Relief Cream that helps relieve symptoms, balance your immune response, and repairs your eczema-affected areas.

Atopis Dry Itchy Skin Cream works in synergy with your immune system, so you can stop reacting to allergens and those frustrating environmental triggers mentioned earlier.

Within two weeks of use, this potent, all-natural therapy reverses the cell damage, and hydrates and restores the skin so the itching stops and the healing begins. Everybody’s skin microflora is unique, therefore the time it takes for skin to restore itself and heal will differ from person to person.                                                  

Learn More About Dry Itchy Skin Cream