subject: What Is Eczema? [print this page] Eczema which is also known as dermatitis, is a general term that covers many types of inflammation of the skin. There are many types of eczema but the most common type is called a topic dermatitis. Eczema does not have age preferences. In fact it can affect people of all ages. The condition tends to be more common in infants than any other age group. In nearly half of the infants who have eczema, their condition will totally disappear by the age of three. In some infants however, the condition may linger and tend to reappear throughout their lifetime. Many people with eczema will have others in their family with the condition. They may also have a family history that includes allergies or allergic conditions including asthma or hay fever. These are general details that have been gathered over the years while studying individuals with eczema.
Eczema can be very tormenting, especially for young children. What causes this irritating condition? Unfortunately medical experts have not found the exact cause of eczema. However doctors do seem to think that eczema might be related to an abnormal function of the immune system. Although the exact cause of eczema isnt known, there are some substances that seem to trigger this condition such as cosmetics, clothing, soaps, detergents, jewelry and even sweat. It is also believed that some environmental substances that cause allergies can also trigger eczema. For some individuals who suffer from bouts of eczema, they find that weather changes may induce an eczema outbreak. For other individuals psychological stress seems to play a part in their eczema outbreaks. Its unfortunate that a cause for this condition hasnt yet been found. For people who suffer from eczema outbreaks, they should definitely be aware of the circumstances and situations surrounding their outbreak. Learning what triggers eczema can certainly make controlling the condition much easier.
