The impact of weather

Of the four seasons, winter is the worse for eczema. One of the reasons for this is winter’s typical dryness. Lack of moisture in the air can quickly dry out the skin.  Often, the winter months are times of bundling up in wool and other heavy clothing, which may also produce eczema.

The power of the mind

The mind is amazingly powerful. The state of your mind affects the health of your body.  Sustained periods of stress may produce all kind of adverse health effects, including eczema. Anxiety or nervousness will also affect your body in negative ways.

Hormonal effects

Hormones are the chemical messengers of the body. They tell your body when to grow, when to get excited, and how to metabolize food. Sudden hormonal releases may produce eczema. Some women find that eczema flares up during their monthly period, during which hormonal activity is especially high. Others who suffer from thyroid complications (which affects hormone levels) may also experience more eczema.

Too much washing

Too much washing of one’s body, especially with alcohol, astringents, or harsh cleaners, may leave the skin damaged and dry—not cleaner. Affecting the skin in such a way is often accompanied by an outbreak in eczema. Be kind to your skin, and gently wash with mild soap and water. And please don’t scrub too hard.

Clothing

When you wear a fabric very close to your skin for long periods of time, there can be negative effects. Some of the fabrics that are most closely tied to eczema outbreaks are the following.

• Wool. Many people who suffer from allergies must avoid wool clothing. The same holds true for some people who suffer from eczema. The woolen fibers can cause itching, rashes, and eczema occurrences. Other wool-like substances, which produce similar reactions, are cashmere, Merino, and mohair.
• Polyester. Though it may appear smooth, polyester actually contains tiny fibers that can penetrate the surface of the skin and cause intense irritation. Although most polyester and nylon fabric is lightweight, it is rarely very breathable, and the sweat and heat buildup on the skin contributes to eczema.
• Synthetic fibers. Other man-made materials such as acrylic, nylon, and various blends may produce eczema.
• Other clothing. Like food and chemicals, nearly every type of clothing has been blamed for eczema outbreak. Some have found that eczema increases when they wear denim and leather, possibly because of the buildup of heat. Obviously, rough material also causes skin irritation.

To avoid eczema-causing clothing, try wearing loose-fitting 100% cotton clothing. The lightweight, non-clinging, and breathable features of cotton will help keep your skin breathable and healthy

Workout

It’s not just clothing that can cause eczema. It’s your own body. Often, during an intense workout, the skin is repeatedly rubbed in some areas. The friction, heat, and sweat can produce adverse effects including rashes, inflammation, and eczema. Again, wearing light cotton during your workouts may reduce the outbreak of acne, or finding an alternative activity that provides the benefits of exercise, without the side effect of eczema.

Protecting Children

Since eczema is most common in children, you should make the effort to protect your children from as much of the following chemicals as possible. The stronger the chemical and the more exposure they have, the more likely they are to experience eczema.

The Extent of Eczema

How drastically the eczema effects the skin will vary from person to person and from chemical to chemical. Usually, it will affect only the small area around the point of contact. Some chemicals have the tendency to spread across the skin (e.g., oils), which can cause a wider effect.

List of Eczema-Causing Chemicals

• Soaps. Believe it or not, the detergent that you are using to wash your clothes could be a contributor to the eczema problem. In other cases, a particular body soap or shampoo may also cause an outbreak.
• Cleaning solutions. Many powerful cleaning solutions contain harsh acidic agents that have a detrimental effect on the skin. Alkaline solutions, pesticides, paint strippers, and other cleaners and liquids could have this effect.
• Some metals. Nickel is most commonly to blame for causing eczema. If you notice that a particular piece of jewelry is tied to eczema outbreak, it could be a reaction to any nickel that may be part of the jewelry.
• Cosmetics and perfume. Be aware of the fact that makeup and perfume are also tied to eczema outbreaks.
• Other elements. Even products containing rubber, plastics, or latex have been known to produce eczema.

Nearly everything can be blamed for causing eczema. The above list is not exhaustive. Your goal is to find out what the specific causes are for you or your children, and try to avoid them.

The Problem of Food

Some people who suffer from eczema find that their eczema flares up in direct response to eating certain foods. Here is a list of the foods most commonly identified to cause eczema.

• Milk and dairy products
• Soy products
• Eggs
• Seafood
• Fruit  (mostly citrus fruits, but includes strawberries as well)
• Nuts
• Seafood
• Wheat products
• Edible chemical additives, including preservatives and food colorings

What to Avoid?

When you consider it, that’s a pretty exhaustive list. It would be extremely difficult to go through an entire day without consuming any of the ingredients. Besides, so much of the food that is easily available at the grocery store is laced with preservatives, colorings, and additives galore. To combat your eczema, it is not necessary to eliminate all of those ingredients. It is important, however, to keep track of what you eat, monitor eczema outbreaks, and try to narrow down the cause of your eczema. That way you can avoid the certain foods that may affect you individually.

Not Just Food

Remember, it’s not just food that can cause eczema. There are a variety of factors—some identifiable, some not—that cause eczema. Food-related eczema outbreaks have been identified in 10% of the children who experience eczema.

It is important to note that eczema is not an allergy. Nonetheless, some of the same factors that trigger allergies can also trigger eczema. Here are the top three triggers.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are found everywhere, and even if you keep your house clean and apparently dust-free, these little critters could be hiding out in heating ducts, mattresses, and carpet padding. To fight the mite, put plastic wrapping around mattresses and box springs. Eliminate excessive humidity with a dehumidifier, and replace old pillows and blankets. Getting a thorough vent cleaning, carpet cleaning, and upholstery scrub should also be helpful.

Pollen

Pollen is one of the worst enemies of allergen sufferers. It may be the same for those with eczema. The same seasons, plants, and pollen that afflict people with allergies will cause extra eczema flare-ups as well. Stay indoors and avoid the problem spots.

Pet Dander
Pet dander is also major cause of eczema. Although any animal hair can be a culprit, cats are the worst. Medical studies have determined that infants exposed to cat dander soon after birth stand at a higher risk of having eczema.

Due to the close link between allergies, asthma, hay fever, and eczema, studies have shown that over 50% of children who experience eczema in childhood will also experience hay fever or asthma later in life.

Allergies and Eczema

Eczema and allergies are closely related. Hay fever, asthma, and allergies are all present on the same gene. Because of the tight interrelation, many of the things that trigger an allergic reaction can also cause eczema.

Diet and Eczema

Some foods have been identified as eczema triggers. This doesn’t many that a certain food is bad for everyone. Different people have different reactions to various food or food additives.

Chemicals and Eczema

Chemicals are everywhere. We put them in our hair when we shower. We lather up with them when we wash. We put them in our mouth when we brush our teeth. We put them on our face when applying makeup. We spread them on in the form of deodorant. We wash our dishes, clothes, and cars with them. We breathe them in when we go to work. Chemicals are everywhere. And, no, chemicals are not all bad. Chemicals are just part of life. With all the chemicals, however, there is bound to be the occasional negative reaction, and it is those reactions that may produce eczema.

Your Body and Eczema

Sometimes, eczema breaks out in the form of a rash. Vigorous exercise, a dirty diaper, sweat buildup, or oily accumulation may all produce eczema or eczema-like conditions on the skin.

Climate and Eczema

Eczema has long been linked to the climate. Cold weather is especially notorious for its negative effects on skin, and the elderly population must be very careful during the winter months, due to the possibility of cold-related eczema. Even concentrated heat may be to blame for some forms of eczema.

Eczema and Etcetera

Like I’ve said before, the causes of eczema are legion and elusive. Eczema can crop up at the most unlikely times, and can come from the most unlikely sources. Hormonal changes and mental factors can also be blameworthy in the retinue of eczema causing elements.

Be careful, but not too careful.

There one bit of advice to take away from this article. Nearly anything can cause eczema. Simply because one item, say eating strawberries, has been tied to someone’s eczema outbreak in the past, doesn’t meant that you will experience eczema if you eat a strawberry. Everyone is different. However, if you find that a certain type of clothing, detergent, or body soap is causing eczema, stop using it. Be careful, but realize that your body will respond differently to potential irritants.

Genes: The Body’s Command Center

As you probably know, genes are very important. They affect just about everything your body is and does. The way you look. Your metabolic rate. Your susceptibility to disease. Because of is primary importance in bodily functions, it’s no wonder that eczema is caused from a genetic malfunction.

A Friend Named Filaggrin

One recently discovered gene is called the filaggrin gene. This gene is responsible for producing an important protein that keeps harmful elements out of your skin. The protein helps your skin form a filament, connecting things like keratin and epithelial cells, ensuring that your skin stays strong and healthy. When the filaggrin gene goes berserk, bad things happen—a.k.a. eczema. Scientists have found that in more half of eczema cases studies, a defunct filaggrin gene was to blame.

Filaggrin Failure

The value of the filaggrin gene is its ability to program your skin to produce a powerful protective barrier. When your skin is without this valuable protector, it is far more susceptible to eczema, though the exact causes of how and why it enters are still in question. Mutations of the filaggrin gene are buried deep in the genetic coding of the gene. So far, we don’t have the technology to flip the switch that would keep filaggrin healthy.