subject: What Causes Eczema - The Main Reasons For Eczema [print this page] What Causes Eczema - The Main Reasons For Eczema
Eczema, which can develop at any age, is usually caused by an allergy to a particular substance or as a result of extreme stress and/or anxiety. This allergy or allergenic substance can be in the form of food or drink or something that the skin has come into contact with such as dust and mould or animal hair.
Once the allergen has come into contact with the body, the skin becomes irritated and inflamed then becomes itchy. This is the circumstances in which eczema occurs.
Now, in order to have the allergic reaction in the first place, the eczema sufferer will have a predisposition for eczema which is usually inherent in the genetic make-up which can be passed down from either parent or even from a grandparent where a generation is skipped altogether.
Others may develop eczema due to having sensitive skin which is prone to irritation. This is slightly different from those who have the condition from birth as a result of their DNA but can still be every bit as aggressive and severe.
The main substances causing skin irritation and eczema are:
* Food preservatives (commonly known as E numbers)
* Other foods such as wheat, eggs, nuts and fish
* Alcohol (sulphites used in alcohol especially wines and beer)
* Dust and dust mites
* Mould
* Animal hair/dander
* Perfume
* Heavily perfumed make-up and skin cream/lotions
* Detergents
* Biological clothes washing powder
* Material such as polyester and acrylic
This list is not exhaustive and can be fewer or more depending on the individual. In order to determine which foods you may be allergic to, it is a good idea to have a skin test performed by your doctor. This way, you can eliminate the chances of an eczema flare up caused by food.
You can also test yourself by keeping a diary of when your eczema flared and what you were doing/eating at the time of the out-break. You may have to keep this diary for around 4 weeks in order to confirm results.
To prevent eczema occurring at all, you may wish to consider your lifestyle and if any of the above irritants come into contact with your skin on a regular basis. It is simply a matter of modifying some of the aspects of your lifestyle and you will see dramatic results on your skin. Eczema is very much an environment based skin condition and by removing possible allergens from your environment, removes the potential number of eczema out-breaks.
These are just a few factors to help Prevent Eczema but there may still be other factors potentially causing your eczema. For the complete guide to getting rid of eczema, please continue to Eczema and Treatment
