Understanding Eczema: Why It Happens and What Really Helps

Do you regularly deal with dry, red, and itchy skin? If so, you likely have an inflammatory skin condition called eczema. 

Eczema is a term that refers to several conditions that trigger skin inflammation in different areas of your body, along with varying degrees of itching and redness. About 10% of people living in the United States have some form of eczema, making it a fairly common condition.

While there’s no cure for eczema, several effective management strategies can help relieve symptoms or even cause them to go dormant. However, not all treatments work the same for everyone, and you may have unique triggers that lead to eczema flare-ups.

At Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Chad W. Mayer, DO, FAAAAI, FAAP, and the rest of our team understand that eczema can be frustrating to deal with. 

So, in this month’s blog, we discuss what’s behind the development of eczema and offer some helpful remedies to try for symptom relief. 

What causes eczema?

Currently, no single cause of eczema has been identified. Most experts agree that it’s likely a combination of environmental and genetic factors, though some things can put you at a higher risk for the condition, such as an overactive immune system.

When you have an overactive immune system, you’re more likely to develop atopic conditions, including allergies, asthma, and eczema. Your overly vigilant immune system can sometimes label normally harmless substances as dangerous, triggering an unnecessary reaction to defend you.

Substances that your body deems as harmful might not be for others. However, some commonly seen allergens and triggers for eczema and its symptoms include:

• Chemicals commonly found in soaps, cleaners, and detergents
• Products with added scents and perfumes
• Scratchy fabrics, such as wool
• Food allergies
• Environmental allergens, such as pet dander or pollen
• Temperature changes

You may also notice that high stress levels can worsen eczema symptoms. Even though stress doesn’t cause eczema, it can exacerbate existing flare-ups.

What helps with eczema?

Sometimes, you might easily be able to identify eczema triggers, such as a certain food or cleaning product. However, finding all of your specific triggers isn’t a guarantee. 

Though the goal for managing eczema is to limit or avoid flare-ups, you aren’t always going to be able to completely avoid all of your triggers. This is partially because avoiding common eczema triggers, such as cold weather, is an impossible task. 

While our team certainly recommends avoiding itchy fabrics and heavily scented detergents, some tactics to use if you end up with angry, red, and itchy skin include:

• Apply unscented moisturizer to your skin frequently, especially after washing
• Use a topical cortisone cream
• Wear soft fabrics and avoid tight-fitting clothing
• Avoid products with harsh chemicals

Our team would also love to sit down with you to discuss possible triggers to help further reduce the severity and frequency of your eczema flares.

Get expert-level care for your eczema

If eczema symptoms affect you regularly, professional help is available from our Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan team. To schedule an appointment for expert treatment, call our office or use our online booking feature today.