8 Most Common Eczema Triggers in 2019 – An INFOGRAPHIC

Eczema also known as “Atopic Dermatitis” a medical condition that causes skin irritation with dry, itchy skin. The disease affects children, later continues to the adulthood and later in life creating skin problems. The word ‘eczema’ comes from a greek word ekzein meaning “to boil or boil over”.

List Of Top 8 Common Eczema Triggers

The latest research is suggesting that genetics and environmental factors play a major role in the disease.

I’ve compiled a list of most common eczema triggers that may play a factor in your eczema as follows:

1. Allergens & Irritants

Allergens are the substances that react abnormally with your body to cause an allergic reaction. Common allergens may include dandruff, pollens, molds, house dust mites, pets like cats and dogs. Avoid coming in contact to these allergens.

• Soaps and Detergents

• Shampoos, Dish Wash Liquids

• Bubble Bath

• Dusty environments

• Cosmetics and Perfumes

• Disinfectants like chlorine

• House Dust mites

• Pets (Cats, Dogs etc)

• Pollens (Seasonal)

• Molds
• Dandruff

Irritants are the ones that cause irritation in the skin and make your disease even worse. Try to avoid harsh soaps, shampoos, detergents, disinfectants, contact with juices from fresh meat, vegetables, fruits as they can cause irritation and can flare up your skin disease.

2. Stress

Stress and anxiety are few of the common eczema triggers that can cause eczema flare ups. Our body produces large amount of cortisol that can further suppress the immune system and cause an inflammatory response in the skin.

According to National Eczema Association survey, approximately half of the people said they were bothered by poor sleep and symptoms of mental health issues like depression and anxiety caused due to eczema. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends to get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity weekly, be it walking briskly, running, playing tennis or other sports, or swimming. These activities can also deepen breathing and relieve muscle tension.

Be it emotional, physical or mental stress, try to avoid it and indulge yourself in mind relaxing activities. A good sleep, playing your favorite sports, indulging in your hobbies, music, yoga, exercise and meditation can help you lead a healthy and stress free life.

Positive social and emotional relationships helps incorporate physical and mental well-being.

A study published in the journal PNAS suggests that social networks are just as important as diet and exercise throughout your whole life. Social isolation in adolescence, for instance, increases the risk of inflammation.

3. Temperature

Weather affects eczema or your skin condition indirectly. Be it very hot or very cold, extreme temperatures can affect eczema/atopic dermatitis. Hot/cold temperatures with high/low humidity, perspiration from exercise and different weather changes can flare up the disease. So, avoid too cold/too hot temperatures.

Extreme heat can stimulate itchy, scratching feeling all those suffering from eczema. Heat is responsible for sweating, that may lure bacteria and unwanted chemicals to the skin making a way for infections.

Your main aim should be to maintain an even skin temperature as much as possible by avoiding the hot-cold-hot-cold cycle. Try to keep a constant room temperature. The layers on the bed can be better than one thick duvet, as the layers can then be peeled off one by one. Avoid hot baths and sitting too close to fires as it can trigger scratching by just initiating an itch-scratch cycle.

4. Hormones:

Hormones are substances produced by the body that is responsible for a variety of symptoms. When the levels of certain hormones increase or decrease in your body, some people may experience eczema flare-ups.

Especially women can experience increased eczema symptoms at times due to their changes in hormone levels in certain periods like pregnancy or menstruation.

The immune system is likely to be developed during the earlier stages of birth. Due to an imbalance in the hormones or due to genetic factors the cases of Eczema can worsen.

5. Microbes

Tiny molecules in the environment can prove to be much more harmful than anything else. Various microbes like fungi, bacteria, viruses come in contact with the skin and acts as the main cause of your skin disease.

Some types of skin surface microbes can also trigger Eczema. These infective organisms act on the immune system, resulting in chronic flares.
Certain bacteria like Staphylococcus

• Viruses
• Certain Fungi

6. Clothing:

Do you know that some type of fabrics can initiate eczema flareups? Synthetic, rayon fabrics, too tight, or itchy clothes can trigger eczema. Clothes that are too warm or heavy can also make you sweat and cause a flare-up. Avoid using synthetic, woolen clothes/fabrics. Choose clothes that let breathe fresh air.

The best material to let plenty of air it is cotton. It’s nice and light that helps stop a skin from getting too hot.

Avoid using synthetic, woollen clothes/fabrics. As the fabrics can also cause skin inflammation, irritation and flare up the disease to even worse.

Also Read: Cotton Clothing For Babies With Eczema & Tips to Prevent Skin Flare ups

7. Habitual Scratching:

Eczema can worsen your skin condition with the constant itch-scratch cycle and the habitual habit of scratching can affect your skin. It’s not contagious but it can spread to various parts of the body. For many people, the itch is mild, or moderate.

But in some cases, it can is worse and you might develop extremely inflamed, red and flaky skin. Sometimes this itch gets so bad that people scratch it until it bleeds off, that can make your eczema worse.

Avoid scratching and try to keep your nails short so that they may not affect your skin. Let your skin breathe in and moisturize it within regular intervals.

8. Perfumes and Toiletries:

Avoid the usage of perfumes, harsh fragrances, cosmetics, makeup, alcohols in toiletries as this can flare up the disease-causing worse effects.

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Read Our In-depth Medical guides on

Contact Dermatitis  |  Weeping Eczema  |  Eczema on Lips  |  Dyshidrotic Eczema  |  Eczema on Hands  |  Follicular Eczema  |  Eczema on Ear  |  Eczema on Eyes  |  Nummular Eczema  |  Eczema on Face  |  Perioral Dermatitis   |  What causes Eczema In Babies

 

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