Eczema Causes
Eczema is a term used for a set of health conditions that make the skin become inflamed or irritated. Atopic dermatitis and atomic eczema represent the most frequently encountered forms of the disease. What does atopic refer to? Well, atopic refers to a group of diseases characterized by the genetic predisposition to develop allergic conditions such as hay fever or asthma. The conclusion would be that eczema causes are mainly genetic and thus transmited from parents to children. Nevertheless, eczema causes still remain unknown from many points of view, although the tendency is to associate them with the living environment and the genetic predisposition.
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, the number of patiens with atopic eczema is growting presently affecting 9% to 30% of the U.S. population. It is typical in young children and infants. While many infants who develop the condition outgrow it by their second year of life, some people continue to go through such symptoms during their entire life. Nevertheless, with appropriate treatment, disease control becomes very efficient. The exact eczema causes are not known, but studies indicate that the problem results from an over-reaction of the immune system to some chemical irritant factor or to a bacterium that normally lives on our skin. Moreover, it seems that in families where someone suffers from allergies or asthma, chances are higher for other family members to get eczema. Hence, eczema causes could definitely be genetic.
The surrounding environment may contain the trigger of an allergic reaction under the form of eczema, and this over-sensitivity could be counted among eczema causes. Therefore, exposure to coarse or rough materials for some, cold or hot sensations in others’ cases, as well as getting in contact with household products (soap, detergents, etc) and living near animals may cause an eczema outbreak. Besides all these, it seems that eczema is also favored by upper respiratory infections and colds. Stress is known to deteriorate the health condition even further, contributing to an aggravation of the eczema. Although there is no cure, most people can effectively manage their skin condition with medical treatment and by avoiding irritants. At least the disease is not contagious!
