What Causes Eczema In Adults?
When suffering from eczema, your everyday life might get negatively affected.
It is a very common condition in humans that leads to dry patches of skin. The symptoms, however, do not end here; in most cases, the areas itch as well. And when that happens in public, you are caught in a fix. Dealing with eczema can seem tiresome, but we are here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be like that.
To combat the situation, you should know its causes, what the common triggers are, and how to best tackle the case when you are affected. In today’s guide, we will tell you all about it. Knowledge is power, and after reading this article, we hope that you will be able to get some relief.
So, without further delay, let’s dive in.
Types Of Skin Conditions That Lead To Eczema
1. Atopic Dermatitis
The most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis [1] which generally has a genetic basis. People who are prone to experiencing inhalant allergies have a high-risk factor of experiencing this kind of eczema.
This skin condition mostly includes rashes on the elbows, neck, cheeks, and on the ankles.
2. Dyshidrotic Eczema
This is another common form of eczema that people face, but there’s hardly much awareness about it. From most of our research, we gathered that it primarily affects the hands and sometimes the feet too. It causes itchy rashes accompanied by tiny blisters that can be painful.
These blisters often appear on the side of the toes and fingertips.
3. Nummular Eczema
The risk factors associated with nummular eczema are actually lesser when compared to the other more severe forms of eczema. When you experience this condition, you might see a coin-shaped plaque of scaling skin forming in the affected area.
In adults, this form of eczema is generally found on the lower portion of the legs.
Eczema (Called Atopic Dermatitis): Causes
Eczema is often mistaken for skin infections and generally arises in children. It often results in itchy skin, but the condition often worsens over time. And in some instances, the eczema symptoms continue into adulthood.
You need to understand that atopic dermatitis is not contagious. Simply put, you cannot get it from other people, and neither can you give it to anyone. That said, severe eczema can increase the chances of allergic contact dermatitis, which can make you experience scaly skin. It can also make you more vulnerable to other skin diseases, like athlete’s foot [2] and cold sores [3].
People who suffer from asthma [4] and hay fever [5] are more likely to experience atopic eczema than others. But what is considered the most common causes that lead to atopic dermatitis?
Well, things that lead to dry skin and factors that make the skin more prone to infection and irritants can act as eczema triggers. You should also note that some types of eczema run in the family. So, check for your personal or family history to see if stasis dermatitis or any other forms of eczema is detectable in your family tree.
Sometimes, the immune system malfunctions, and that might lead to irritated skin. This can also make you develop eczema or other similar skin conditions.
What Can Trigger Atopic Dermatitis
There are certain factors that can cause symptoms of eczema to flare up and make them worse. You will find that many irritants like detergents, soaps, and other existing health conditions, such as dry skin, food allergies, and emotional stress might further trigger eczema.
That’s not all; you might experience allergic reactions from other objects like pollen, food, and dust mites.
Underlying Factors That Cause Atopic Dermatitis
The three most common underlying bodily problems that can lead to you getting affected by eczema are as follows:
- Malfunctioning kidneys
- Weak adrenals
- Toxic GI tract
1. Taking Care Of Your Kidneys
When kidneys fail to function the way they should, the waste that the body generates is not adequately eliminated. And when that happens, the cells get affected and soon start to die. But worry not; the survival instinct of our bodies is powerful. So, when the kidneys are unable to eliminate waste properly, it gets redirected and comes out of the skin.
It is important to note that cellular waste causes a burning sensation and has a very low pH. As the waste is quite acidic, it affects your skin, making it itch and burn.
2. Look At The Adrenals
As we have already mentioned, regular and environmental triggers often make eczema worse. And things get even more complicated when you have weak adrenals. As the anti-inflammatory steroids produced by the adrenals are no longer in play in such situations, chances are that you will become more prone to eczema.
So, it is necessary that you keep the adrenal gland healthy and in check.
3. Keeping A Check On The GI Tract
When suffering from eczema or other skin diseases, make sure that you get the GI tract (colon) checked as well. In the worst-case scenario, you might find the GI tract filled with mucus and other harmful matters.
If you want your body to heal fast, it is crucial to get the colon cleaned. The mucus and acids you fail to eliminate only accumulates with time, thereby increasing the chances of experiencing a range of skin diseases.
Common Eczema Symptoms
If you have experienced eczema symptoms, you would know that the signs first appear on the face. And slowly, with time, they move to the hands and legs as well.
When it comes to teenagers, the effects can also be seen on the neck, wrist, elbow, and ankles. On the contrary, for adults, we noticed that mostly the skin of the hands and the feet are affected.
Now let’s quickly take a look at some of the common symptoms you can see when there is an eczema flare up:
Symptom 1
Different types of eczema affect the skin differently. However, whether you have healthy skin, sensitive skin, or very dry skin, it does not matter. On affected skin, eczema mostly leads to itching, which makes it hard for children to manage this symptom, and as a result, they become impatient. Adults, on the other hand, can handle it a bit better.
Unless the itch-scratch cycle is avoided, there’s a good chance that your eczema flares up more. Itchy skin can be difficult to handle and to get relief from it, but you can consider putting ice on the area.
Symptom 2
Just like other skin infections, atopic dermatitis will most likely turn the skin red more than usual.
You might even experience darker skin tones and notice that it starts to take a grainy appearance. This mainly happens when tiny fluid-filled blisters [6] develop under your skin. They are called “vesicles” and might lead to scaly patches.
Symptom 3
Many people complain that when they experience an allergic reaction because of eczema, their skin often turns patchy. This mainly happens because eczema affects the production of pigments in your skin, the same pigments which control your skin color. When you are in the stage of developing eczema, this symptom is at its peak. However, with time, the effect goes down.
You need to diagnose the eczema on time and make sure that you don’t scratch it. Otherwise, there’s a good chance that the area will turn tough and leathery.
Symptom 4
Unless you take proper care, there’s a chance that the blisters might burst and the surface gets filled with fluid. This generally happens because of excessive scratching. Once the fluid dries, you will find scabs and crusts forming on the surface of your skin.
People who are affected by eczema often notice that their skin dries up faster than others. And those who suffer from eczema are more prone to experiencing other musculoskeletal and skin diseases. All said, if you have dry skin, you are more vulnerable and have a higher chance of getting affected by the disease.
How To Treat Atopic Dermatitis
When treating eczema, the main aim is to reduce the itching, which makes daily life very uncomfortable. To be honest, itching might make the condition even worse. So, if you are experiencing mild symptoms of atopic dermatitis, these are a few of the things that you can do.
Firstly, it is best to avoid the triggers, which we have mentioned before. But you should also take note of the other triggers, which are specific to your body. Once you have identified the causes, try to avoid them.
Also, we would suggest that you stay away from synthetic products like fragrant bath bombs and oils that might make your symptoms even worse.
How To Prevent Eczema
1. Keep Skin Moist To Keep Skin Infections At Bay
Because eczema affects the skin, it is essential that you take proper care of it. We suggest that you moisturize at least twice daily. Do it right after taking a shower when the skin is still moist so that the moisture is “locked in.”
If you are considering adding bath oils, we recommend that you use an unflavored one that does not contain any synthetic elements in it. And before choosing a moisturizer or bath oil that can act as a skin barrier, it is best that you consult a physician who would be able to guide you.
2. Choose The Right Products
To avoid eczema and other related skin troubles, we suggest that you wear fabrics that are skin-friendly. You need to choose breathable clothing materials, such as cotton and linen, and avoid wool and other synthetic materials that might further irritate your skin.
Furthermore, it is advisable to use a mild soap when taking showers; make sure you use non-fragrant soaps that won’t bring any harm to your skin. And go for warm baths instead of using cold water.
3. Be Careful About What You Are Exposed To
What you put in the body has a direct reaction to how it may affect you. If you see signs of eczema, it would be wise to avoid certain foods that often cause allergies in people, like peanuts, soy, and seafood.
Environmental factors can also have a direct impact on your skin. Too much heat or sunlight might make your skin irritated and flare up the symptoms.
4. Reduce The Chances Of Scratching
The most common problem that people with eczema face is itchy skin. You might be very tempted to scratch the area, but try your best to avoid doing that. Some people bandage the affected area to prevent scratching in their sleep. If you are one of them, always keep your fingernails short and in shape to decrease the extent of damage if you do end up scratching.
Final Words
With that, we have reached the end of this very informative guide.
We hope that after going through this read, you now know about eczema and how to successfully avoid it. It is no doubt a very commonly occurring disease, but when you do get affected, it can get unimaginably uncomfortable. There’s a chance that it will even affect the overall quality of life!
Some people become very self-conscious in public when suffering from eczema and end up developing body-image issues. So, make sure you see a dermatologist to treat the problem before things go out of hand and the eczema flares up.
If you treat the problem in the beginning, there’s a good chance that you will have a quick recovery. Also, know what triggers it and avoid them.
If you liked reading this guide, do not forget to keep a watch on this space for more. Until next time, stay healthy!
References:
1. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/eczema-basics
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279549/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525782/
4. https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp201525
