{"id":13873,"date":"2020-08-14T14:28:51","date_gmt":"2020-08-14T18:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/?p=13873"},"modified":"2025-01-15T14:11:14","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T19:11:14","slug":"what-causes-eczema-and-how-do-i-treat-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/what-causes-eczema-and-how-do-i-treat-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What causes eczema, and how do I treat it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re stressing at work, battling allergies, and here comes the kicker \u2014 eczema. Is eczema just a regular rash? If so, why does it tend to appear on and off?<\/span><\/p>\n

Eczema is a condition that causes dry, itchy skin. The itching can be so bad that you scratch compulsively, even while you\u2019re sleeping. With all that scratching, skin can become thick, red, inflamed, and covered in hives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eczema is related to your immune system. People with allergies, hay fever, or asthma are more at risk of developing eczema. This is because of the type 2 immune system response. The type 2 immune system response is generally triggered by allergies. <\/span>It shortens the lipid molecules<\/span><\/a> in your skin, reducing their ability to retain moisture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What causes eczema?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your skin plays a big role in your overall health. Not only is your skin the largest organ in your body, it\u2019s also a protective barrier between your internal organs and the external world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eczema is linked to a genetic mutation that makes it hard for your skin to retain proper moisture. When your skin\u2019s moisture levels go down, that weakens your skin\u2019s protection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a combination of factors that causes eczema. There\u2019s your genetics, your innate immune system, and external factors like harsh soaps or emotional stress. Then, there\u2019s the fact that eczema itches like crazy. Some people get into a loop where they scratch their eczema so hard that they damage their skin\u2019s moisture barrier even more, leading to new eczema flare-ups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who gets eczema?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you get eczema, there\u2019s a strong likelihood that your parents passed it down to you. Mutation of the filaggrin gene is <\/span>linked to 75% of eczema cases<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

People who have eczema also tend to have allergies. Half of patients with moderate to severe eczema also suffer from asthma, hay fever, and food allergies.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eczema tends to show up when patients are children. Even infants can get eczema. <\/span>Babies and kids tend to get eczema<\/span><\/a> because their immune system hasn\u2019t finished developing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eczema symptoms<\/span><\/h2>\n

Eczema has such telltale signs that doctors often diagnose the condition just by looking at it. Here are some signs that your skin rash might be eczema:<\/span><\/p>\n