Eczema is a growing health concern worldwide, affecting approximately 10% of the population. It not only impacts a person’s appearance but also has a significant effect on their overall well-being. While eczema rash may not look pleasant, those who suffer from skin issues know that the discomfort it brings, can be even worse than its appearance. Only some small itchy spots can ruin your day. Or night. So let’s cover the basics – What is eczema exactly, what causes eczema, and what are the treatment options?
But first, let’s get the terms right: eczema is often referred to as atopic dermatitis, even in the medical literature. Are eczema and atopic dermatitis the same thing? To be precise, they’re not actually synonyms. Eczema is a broader term for a group of skin conditions, that causes skin inflammation, itchiness and dryness. Atopic dermatitis is just one of the most common types of eczema.
Some eczema statistics
- Statistics vary between studies and populations, but it’s estimated that in U.S. 1 of 10 people have eczema at some point in their lives.
- Approximately 15% of children in U.S. have eczema.
- 7.3% of adults in U.S. suffer from eczema.
- Most people suffering from eczema get the disease before the age of 6, but studies show that 80% will grow out of it by adolescence or adulthood. However, 25% of sufferers have reported their condition started in adulthood. The most common triggers for grown-up eczema are: 1) moving to a dryer climate and 2) developing it postpartum.
- In the U.S., eczema is most common among Black children (about 20%), then white children (about 16%), and least in Hispanic children (about 8%). White children tend to have less severe eczema, than black or Hispanic children.
- Eczema is slightly more common among females than males. A study conducted in Sweden showed that 20.5% of women and 14.8% of men suffer from the disease.
- There are 7 different types of eczema and the most common form is atopic dermatitis, followed by irritant contact dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis.
- The most commonly prescribed treatment for eczema is Topical Corticosteroids, but in the concluded study, only 5.6% of participants were aware of potential side effects.
- The global Topical Corticosteroids Market was valued at USD 4.85 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach 8.19 billion by 2030.
What does eczema rash look and feel like?
Eczema is a chronic, uncomfortable skin condition that can cause redness, itching, and rashes. It affects people of all ages but is particularly common in infants and children. Eczema rash often appears on the face, scalp, hands or feet, but can occur anywhere on the body. Severity can range from mild hand eczema to widespread whole-body inflammation. Eczema on face often appears around mouth or eyes as red, dry and flaking itchy areas.
Depending on the specific type of eczema, the skin can look red and inflamed, crusty and flaky, bumpy or patchy. When suffering from dyshidrotic eczema, there might be blisters that may ooze fluid or crust over. The appearance of eczema can vary based on skin tone, with the rash appearing purple, brown, or grey on darker skin tones, and pink or red on lighter skin tones. While it’s not contagious or life-threatening, eczema causes a lot of discomfort and if left untreated, can become infected with bacteria.
In eczema sufferer’s shoes…
To gain a better understanding, of how a person with such a skin condition feels, let’s explore some everyday challenges and lifestyle restrictions they often encounter:
- Itch is often worse at nights and even a tiny eczema spot might cause sleepless nights, which leads to low energy during the day.
- Rubber gloves are a must-have at kitchen, especially with dyshidrotic eczema, as hands may flare up when washing dishes or chopping veggies.
- Water is an irritant and activities such as going to the beach or swimming in a pool might not be appealing to someone struggling with eczema.
- Sweating might also trigger an itch and a flare up, which is why eczema sufferers might want to stay away from sauna or avoid hard workouts.
- As eczema and allergies are often connected, the beautiful blossoming season of the year is called Atopic March for a reason.
- Some fabrics might feel very uncomfortable to wear, causing sweating and itching. Natural and breathable fabrics as linen, silk and cotton are recommended.
Depending on type and severity of the condition, there might be many other difficulties a person with a healthy skin might not understand.
Eczema causes and triggers
Unfortunately, scientists are still searching for answers regarding the exact causes of eczema due to its complex nature. However, here’s what is currently known:
- Eczema develops as a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The risk of developing eczema is higher if there is a family history of hay fever, asthma, or allergies. Gene variation also plays a role in having a weaker skin barrier function and the ability to provide protection against bacteria and irritants.
- Eczema sufferers have an overactive immune system, which leads to exaggerated reactions to small irritants or allergens in their environment. For example, a person may have an intolerance to laundry detergent or milk proteins. The immune system reacts intensely to these substances, resulting in inflamed skin and eczema rash.
- Experts suggest that eczema is more common in developed countries because of improved hygiene conditions, increased antibiotics usage, and vaccines, that reduce the infection rate. These factors can change your immune response and make you more likely to develop atopic diseases, including eczema.
- Living in extreme climate conditions such as crispy cold or constant heat, might trigger eczema flare-ups.
- Eczema and allergies are also related. Eczema itself is not an allergy but can flare up when being around allergens like dust mites, pollen, mold, some foods, etc.
- There is a growing discussion about eczema’s connection to gut health. People with eczema have different bacteria and sometimes inflammation in their gut, compared to people without eczema.
- Overgrowth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus Aureus and yeast infections, such as candida, are believed to play a large role in developing and persisting eczema. Candida overgrowth is also related to the general gut’s health.
New research papers are constantly being published, unveiling new nuances about eczema and its causes.
Is eczema an autoimmune disease?
Even though immune system problems can trigger eczema flare-ups, it’s important to point out that, eczema is not considered an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune disease is when the immune system attacks body’s own healthy tissues, which is not the case with eczema. With eczema, immune system is not attacking any specific target in the body, but rather reacting to external factors. Eczema is considered a chronic inflammatory skin condition rather than an autoimmune disease.
How to treat eczema?
As stated before, eczema is a chronic disease, which means it’s a condition that persists for a long time and unfortunately might worsen over time. Sometimes the symptoms might disappear for years and then reappear again. It can be controlled, but not cured. Managing eczema symptoms is important to maintain a healthy and comfortable lifestyle.
We need to talk about TSW
When visiting a doctor, the most commonly prescribed medication for eczema is topical corticosteroids, eg steroid creams. Steroid creams have been around since the 1950s and when applied to damaged skin, they give quick relief. However, in the past decade, there have been more and more reports of serious, life-altering side effect as Topical Steroid Withdrawal or TSW.
Symptoms like bright red burning skin, ooze and serious flare-ups in parts of the body, where eczema rash has never occurred before, can indicate suffering in TSW. This happens when a person misuses those drugs or hasn’t been given appropriate instructions by a medical carer. On the other hand, organisms are different, so one might never know how easily withdrawal symptoms can be triggered. There have been several studies (see here, here and here) addressing the issue. Despite this, the idea that steroid creams could be harmful is still a topic of debate among most medical professionals
Natural remedies for eczema
Besides topical corticosteroids there are various alternative ways to keep your skin at bay:
- Find eczema root cause. There could be some specific reason behind this inflammatory reaction your skin gets, such as food sensitivities, gut infections, or nutrient deficiencies.
- Dietary changes. You might want to test leaving out some foods – cutting out sugar, dairy, and/or gluten has shown really good results for some people
- Cut out stress. Easier said than done, but stress is a huge factor in eczema flare-ups. So try to find your zen, and delegate some of your stressful tasks if possible.
- Vitamins and supplements such as Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Collagen, Zink and Probiotics are knowingly beneficial for skin health.
- Natural substances to use topically or orally: Apple Cider Vinegar, Aloe Vera, Coconut Oil, and Tea Tree Oil are healthy for several reasons.
- Alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, light therapy, oxygen therapy, cryotherapy, or homeopathy can reduce skin inflammation.
There are many more approaches and substances that have proven to be effective to eczema sufferers. Organisms are different, so you might have to try out several things to find what gives you relief.
Take Eczema Rash under control
Skin is a remarkable organ, that makes up roughly one seventh of a person’s body mass. Experiencing skin problems such as eczema rash, itch or even ooze, change the way we think about the layer protecting our organs. Skin issues usually mirror our overall well-being; while some may be genetic, many factors can contribute to them. Taking care of ourselves through good lifestyle choices can make us feel truly comfortable in our skin – literally!
Sources:
Allergy & Asthma Network:
https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/what-is-eczema/eczema-statistics/
WebMD:
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/eczema-epidemiology https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/eczema-allergies-link
National Library of Medicine:
Spherical Insights:
Cleveland Clinic: