14 Eczema Causes That Are Provoking Your Rashes

Thirty-two million Americans have eczema, according to the National Eczema Association. Scientists still don’t know enough about the exact causes of this skin condition, except that genetics seems to play a role. Even when all twenty-five genetic indicators are present in your DNA, that doesn’t mean you will show any symptoms of the disease though.

Eczema presents as a weakened barrier to the skin in which the skin is red, swollen, itchy, dry and ultimately flaky. It is not helped by a malfunctioning autoimmune response, which reacts to allergens – or perceived allergens – by rapidly making excess skin. This is when symptoms flare up and spread to cause unsightly skin disfigurement known as eczema.

Each person’s triggers are unique and because much of this disease is still shrouded in enigma, the exact causal links between the trigger and symptom outcome are unclear, except that they happen. Here are the main causes and triggers.

1. Genetic Factors

The most prevalent form of eczema is atopic dermatitis (AD). This form does seem to follow genetic lineage sometimes, as scientists have established that it is passed down in families. Not only this, it is part of what scientists call the atopic triad, a triangle of common diseases or disorders that seem to be related or go together. These are AD, asthma, and hayfever.

These do not necessarily manifest in the same person, and if someone has all three conditions, they would not necessarily show up in that person all at the same time either. If there is a history of asthma or hay fever in your relatives or family tree, you are more likely to develop AD than others. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an immune system disorder as much as it is a skin disease. Something triggers your immune system which then mistakenly sets to work to ‘rectify’ an issue which isn’t there.