Eczema, also known as Atopic Dermatitis, is a chronic disease of the skin. It is a problem with the ability of the skin to keep water inside which leads to dry, itchy, irritated skin.
Eczema is not contagious.
The quick answer is that it is not completely understood. Eczema has been connected to a mutation in the Filaggrin gene which weakens the skin barrier. Not everyone with this mutation has eczema and many with eczema do not have this mutation. Eczema does tend to run in families, however, not all family members will have it.
This list could include most anything and everything unfortunately. Eczema can be so different from person to person which means triggers and severity can vary widely. Common triggers are: External irritants in soaps, shampoos and detergents; environmental allergens such as dust mites, pets and pollens; foods; bacteria on the skin; temperature extremes; physical trauma (i.e. scratching!).
Eczema onset tends to be in the 1st year of life and by 5 years of age in 85% of people with eczema. For many children eczema gets better over time and even completely resolves in 70% by adolescence while 25% persist into adulthood.
We see a much higher incidence of food allergy in children with moderate to severe eczema. There is often a pattern we see known as the allergic march which starts with eczema and food allergy in young children that transitions into asthma and allergic rhinitis later in childhood.
Testing for food allergies (skin and especially bloodwork) in people with eczema is commonly “positive” but can represent false positives. For that reason it can be unnecessary and even harmful to eliminate foods from the diet of young children. You are best served for this type of testing, interpretation and management to be led by a board certified allergist.
We wish there was a magic bullet for eczema but unfortunately it takes a multi-faceted approach. Moisturizing the skin and controlling the itch is foundational. Depending on what triggers are found will dictate what is recommended whether it be topical medications (steroidal and non-steroidal), decreasing bacterial load, narrow food elimination diets, allergy desensitization (can decrease eczema by 50%) or biologics.
Schedule an appointment with our practice today. We would love to help!
Call The Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Center (866-983-2242) or your local allergist.