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Beauty and Anti-Aging

Atopic Dermatitis: What can trigger it?

3 de enero de 2023

4 min de lectura

If you have atopic dermatitis or eczema, you know how challenging it can be. People suffering from eczema often struggle with dry, itchy skin, blisters, dry patches, spots and bumps, and several other symptoms.

Recent studies claim that at least 31.6 million (10%) people currently suffer from eczema in the U.S. Also, 1 in 10 people is likely to develop eczema in their lifetime, with the occurrence being most prevalent during early childhood.

Even though the causes of eczema are unknown, people with eczema often have a hyperactive immune system that causes inflammation when coming in contact with certain allergens or irritants.

What triggers atopic dermatitis (eczema)?

Certain external factors can trigger your eczema symptoms and can cause flare-ups. The eczema symptoms and the nature of flare-ups can vary from one person to the other

Dermatologists and eczema patients try to identify the factors that trigger eczema in their skin to limit exposure and avoid flare-ups.

Some triggers that can cause eczema flare-ups are as under.

Irritants

Your skin might react after coming in contact with certain substances. They can be the chemicals used in regular household products like detergents, cosmetics, shampoo, or deodorants.

Products with strong fragrances often trigger eczema symptoms, while certain natural products like wool, fruits, vegetables, and meat can cause flare-ups in some people.

To prevent eczema from such irritants, you can:

Use a pair of cotton gloves to protect your skin when using chemicals for cleaning purposes.
Use natural products whenever possible and avoid artificial ingredients.
Know which product causes triggers and avoid coming in contact with them.

Allergies

If you have an allergic reaction to dust, mites, pollen, smoke, etc., exposure to such substances can trigger eczema symptoms. To avoid such triggers, you need to:

Keep the windows closed and limit time outdoors when the pollutants are high.
Vacuum your home frequently to prevent an accumulation of dust and other allergic substances.
Use an air purifier to have clean air indoors to avoid eczema triggers.

Extremely hot or cold weather

Extreme hot or cold weather or seasonal changes can trigger eczema in people. While cold weather can bring dry and itchy skin, hot weather can make your skin damp and sweaty, triggering flare-ups.

You can take the following steps to prevent flare-ups caused by weather changes.

Make sure to cover up in extremely cold or hot weather to prevent your skin drying.
Use moisturizers that are eczema friendly to keep your skin moist and healthy.
Protect your skin from burning by using sunscreen with natural ingredients when out in the sun. Sunburn can trigger a flare-up in eczema.

Stress

Stress, anxiety, and mental health problems can trigger your eczema, causing flare-ups. When stressed, your body’s immunity can weaken, triggering eczema.

You can take the following actions to prevent eczema flare-ups due to stress.

Take care of your emotional health and maintain balance.
Participate in activities like meditation and yoga to manage your stress levels.
If you suffer from chronic stress and depression, get help from professionals to keep the flare-ups at bay.

Hot water

Soaking in hot water can drain your skin of the essential oils, making it dull, dry, and itchy. Avoid bathing in extremely hot water, and keep your skin well moisturized to avoid eczema flare-ups.

Diet

In addition to the external triggers, the food you eat can also cause your skin to flare up. If you are prone to eczema after eating a particular food, take note and avoid having them in the future to prevent triggering eczema.

Some foods that can trigger eczema are:

Food with artificial ingredients
Hot and spicy food
If you find yourself allergic to certain foods like peanuts, cow’s milk, soy, or wheat
Food that is inflammatory in nature, like gluten, excess sugar, and refined flour

Hormonal Changes

Women are likely to experience eczema flare-ups during periods or hormonal changes during menopause or perimenopause. Researchers claim that a drop in estrogen levels can trigger eczema symptoms in such cases.

If you find a connection between your menstrual cycle and eczema flare-ups, you can contact your doctor to get medicines that can relieve your symptoms.

Exercise

While exercising regularly can improve your mood and reduce stress, the sweat can trigger eczema in your skin. To prevent flare-ups, you can do the following:

Wear comfortable,moisture-wicking clothes that do not cause a reaction to your skin.
Avoid wearing damp clothes for a long time and make sure to change as soon as you can after exercising to prevent flare-ups.
Showering immediately after exercise can wash away the sweat and keep your skin clean and dry.
Make sure to drink lots of water to replenish your skin after a workout.

You can be in control of your eczema by taking proper care of your skin and avoiding the external triggers that can cause eczema flare-ups in the future.

How have you avoided eczema triggers? Share your experience with your fellow Healthread readers.

Sources

Información general, no consejo médico

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