Introduction
Eczema, also known as Atopic Dermatitis, affects millions of people globally, with over 223 million cases among both children and adults. It’s characterized by red, itchy, and inflamed patches of skin, but what exactly causes these frustrating flare-ups?
Understanding the triggers can help manage and prevent future outbreaks. Let’s dive into the primary factors that contribute to eczema.
Genetic Factors of Eczema: How Your Family History Plays a Key Role
Eczema often has a strong genetic link, meaning if someone in your family has had eczema, you are more likely to experience it too. This condition is commonly passed down through generations, making certain individuals more susceptible to skin irritation and inflammation.
Mutations in the Filaggrin Gene and Its Role in Eczema
A key player in the development of eczema is the "Filaggrin" gene, which helps produce a protein vital for maintaining your skin's protective barrier. When this gene mutates, it compromises the skin’s ability to retain moisture and defend against irritants, resulting in dryness, itchiness, and inflammation.
Top Environmental Triggers Causing Eczema
Not only genetic, but eczema may flare-up due to environmental irritants like pollutants, bad weather, microscopic dander or pollen. Such products can easily irritate sensitive skin to cause outbreaks.
○ Air Pollutants
Polluted air particles (like; smog) can inflame hypersensitive skin.
○ Allergens
Allergens such as microscopic animal dander, pollen grains and dust mites can also cause flare-ups.
○ Weather Conditions
Extreme weather, like too hot or cold winds, usually dry out the skin more than usual, causing skin irritation or eczema
○ Home Detergents
Even some household products like soaps or detergents can contain irritants that lead to eczema-like skin irritation.
This brings us to another key factor: your Immune System Overdrive, which significantly contributes to eczema.
○ Immune System Overdrive
In eczema, your immune system becomes overly active. It starts reacting to normal substances with a pronounced outcome, leading to skin inflammation, redness, and itching.
Calming your immune response is the key to managing eczema and reducing symptoms in hyperactive cases.
How Eczema Triggers the Immune System To Over-reacts
A hyperactive immune system misidentifies harmless substances, like allergens as potential threats. It alerts the body for invasion and triggers an inflammatory response. This causes the skin to become red, itchy, and swollen.
Instead of protecting the body, a hyperactive immune system overreacts to cause flare-ups. Even minor irritations can prompt this response, and cause eczema symptoms.
Eczema might be hard to prevent but it is certainly manageable with the help of a good emollient cream.
Conclusion:
By understanding and identifying genetic factors, hyperactive immune system and environmental triggers, you can learn to control sudden eczema flare-ups. The key is to use quality emollient with proper care, and improve the quality of life for those affected.
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