Subscribe to our mailing list and Save 10% on your next order
Subscribe to our mailing list and save 10% on your next order
Free UK Standard Delivery for Orders over £25
Click & Collect in store
Subscribe to our mailing list and Save 10% on your next order
Subscribe to our mailing list and save 10% on your next order
Free UK Standard Delivery for Orders over £25
Click & Collect in store
Signup to our newsletter and get 10% off your next purchase
By completing this form, you are signing up to receive our emails and can unsubscribe at any time
We discover more about this condition from Dr Barbara Paldus, founder of Codex Labs, who shares how triggers can be identified and ways in which it can be managed.
Eczema, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that plagues millions of people worldwide. It’s a chronic skin disorder characterized by inflammation, irritation, and itchiness. This skin condition typically runs in families which suggests a genetic predisposition to this skin condition. Certain genes associated with skin barrier function and immune system response increase one’s chances of developing eczema.
At its core, eczema is directly related to an impaired skin barrier and immune system dysfunction. Effectively managing this skin condition is important from a mental, physical, and emotional perspective.
While these two skin conditions share similar symptoms, the underlying causes of each are different. For example, dry skin is generally characterized by a lack of moisture in the skin which can be triggered by various factors including environmental (heat, cold or humidity), excessive washing with harsh cleansers, aging, and certain medical conditions. Dry skin’s primary symptoms include flakiness, roughness, and overall feeling of discomfort, but does not involve inflammation and the development of rashes/lesions.
Eczema or atopic dermatitis, on the other hand, is a chronic disorder characterized by inflammation, redness, itching, and rashes or lesions. It oftentimes has a genetic component related to the immune system and an impaired, compromised skin barrier. Unlike dry skin, because eczema involves inflammation and a compromised skin barrier, the effects of eczema are usually much worse because they can cause infection caused by excessive scratching, blisters, and plaques.
Eczema is not an age-dependent skin condition. While oftentimes first presenting in childhood, it can also develop in adults who have never experienced it before. Adult-onset eczema may be triggered by various factors like hormonal changes, stress, or exposure to new allergens/irritants. The strategies for managing adult-onset eczema are the same as those for childhood eczema.
READ ALSO: Stress Awareness Month: How to Look after Yourself
Common triggers for eczema flare-ups include both physical and mental triggers. Physical triggers like exposure to certain allergens (pollen, pet dander), foods or spices, detergents, fragrances, and extreme weather conditions like heat, cold, and humidity can lead to flare-ups. Mental triggers like stress and anxiety can activate the body’s immune system and stimulate an eczema-triggering response.
As for their identification, its all about awareness. If a person senses their skin becoming inflamed/irritated/itchy followed by the appearance of blisters, plaques or rashes on the surface of their skin shortly after exposure to one of the above-mentioned physical and mental triggers, then that is their body’s way of telling them that exposure to such triggers is problematic and to avoid such triggers in the future for fear of sparking an eczema flare-up.
READ ALSO: Skin Conditions: Triggers and Irritants
There are several skincare routines (external strategies) that can be practiced to effectively treat, manage, and avoid eczema flare-ups. They include: