Common Causes for Eczema

The causes for eczema are numerous and vary depending on the type of eczema that one suffers from. Many people simply lump eczema into two major categories: eczema caused by external irritants and eczema caused by internal, genetic factors. These two types can be categorized as atopic dermatitis (the hereditary form of eczema) and contact dermatitis (eczema caused by physical irritants). Let’s delve into a few of the most common causes for eczema and how future outbreaks might be prevented.

Genetic Causes for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)

The strange thing about atopic dermatitis is that doctors simply don’t know exactly what causes an individual to have it; however it does seem to be present either from birth or it crops up early in childhood. It is possible for a person to develop this condition later in life, but that is a pretty rare occurrence. What we do know about atopic dermatitis is that one of the predominant causes for eczema of this type is genetic predisposition. For instance, if a parent has eczema then their child has a much greater chance of being born with atopic dermatitis than a child who doesn’t have a family history of this condition.

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A person who suffers from atopic eczema is very likely to suffer from dry skin, which seems to play a serious role in spurring outbreaks. Skin dryness coupled with the body’s overzealous immune system response to unknown conditions are the top causes for eczema outbreaks in this category.  Studies have shown that some possible triggers for an outbreak of atopic dermatitis could be excessive stress, hormonal fluctuations, seasonal changes (particularly winter), dry climates, molds or fungi, pollen, and airborne toxins. Other connections to atopic eczema are asthma and hay fever, as it seems that people who have a family history of asthma or hay fever also seem prone to developing atopic eczema.

Physical Causes for Eczema (Contact Dermatitis)

Contact dermatitis is a form of eczema that occurs in a localized area of skin due to direct contact with an irritating substance. This form of eczema can occur in anyone who is sensitive to certain substances or whose skin suffers repeated exposure to harsh environments. Where atopic dermatitis usually shows up during infancy or childhood, contact dermatitis may not crop up until adulthood in some individuals. This is because one may not be exposed to the allergen that triggers this form of eczema until later in their lifetime.

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Common causes for eczema of this type are chemicals, cleaning products, harsh laundry detergents or body soap, rough fabrics, perfumes, dyes, cosmetics, and jewelry that contain nickel. Job conditions may also cause an eczema outbreak, such as working with concrete, handling cardboard boxes, or mixing/using chemicals on a frequent basis.

By understanding the common causes for eczema, you can better prepare yourself to avoid the triggers that stimulate outbreaks.