Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses and TriggersStressAllergensIrritantsClimate FactorsTreatmentMedical TreatmentsPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes and Triggers

Stress

Allergens

Irritants

Climate Factors

Treatment

Medical Treatments

Prevention

Eczemais a chronic (long-term) disease that causes dry, itchy skin.It usually comes and goes, and when it’s active, it’s called a flare-up or flare. A flare-up usually occurs in response to a trigger, which may be an allergy, irritant, emotional state, or environmental condition.

While there is no cure for eczema, avoiding what triggers the condition can help prevent flare-ups.What’s more, there are many therapies and treatments that can effectively manage the condition.

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A person using a sponge on her face

The exactcause of eczemais unknown, but it’s likely a combination of a person’s genes and environment. When a person is actively experiencing symptoms of the condition, it’s called a flare-up or flare.

Triggers are things that aggravate or cause an eczema flare-up—and they vary. The biggest trigger for eczema flare-ups in one person may be different from that of another. Identifying your individual triggers can help you prevent and manage flare-ups. Some of the most common triggers are stress, allergens, irritants, and climate factors.

Physical stressors such as illness or surgery—as well as psychological stressors—can trigger flare-ups. When a personexperiences stress, the body increases the production of chemicals that cause inflammation.This response can affect the skin and lead to an eczema flare-up.

Allergens that may trigger an eczema flare-up include:

Common irritants include:

Can Sweat Trigger Eczema?Dry skin is more prone to eczema symptoms, so anything that depletes your skin of moisture can trigger a flare. Sweat is a common example of this: As it evaporates to cool the skin, it leaves a salty residue that dries the skin.

Can Sweat Trigger Eczema?

Dry skin is more prone to eczema symptoms, so anything that depletes your skin of moisture can trigger a flare. Sweat is a common example of this: As it evaporates to cool the skin, it leaves a salty residue that dries the skin.

Some eczema triggers are all around. They include:

Home Remedies

There is no cure for eczema, but it’s possible totreat the symptoms. Start treating eczema flare-ups as soon as you feel an itch coming on. The longer you wait, the harder it can be to break the cycle.

Try these tips to help calm an eczema flare-up:

When eczema is severe or doesn’t respond to home and over-the-counter remedies, a healthcare provider may prescribe one of these treatments:

Preventing eczema flares involves identifying your triggers and also taking care of your skin. Often there is a lag time between exposure to a trigger and symptoms.

Here are some tips to help prevent flare-ups:

Summary

16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Atopic dermatitis.MedlinePlus.Eczema.National Eczema Association.Causes and triggers.National Eczema Association.Eczema Causes and Triggers.Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Curr Opin Psychol.2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.03.007National Eczema Association.Eczema and emotional wellness.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.National Eczema Association.Causes and triggers.Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy.Eczema and food allergy.Glatz M, Bosshard PP, Hoetzenecker W, Schmid-Grendelmeier P.The role ofMalasseziaspp. in atopic dermatitis.J Clin Med.2015;4(6):1217-1228. doi:10.3390/jcm4061217American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Cockroach allergy.Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, et al.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.Acta Clin Croat.2018;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13National Eczema Association.How to Exercise Safely With Eczema.National Eczema Association.Available eczema treatments.National Eczema Association.Eczema Management.National Eczema Association.Understanding Inflammation’s Role in Atopic Dermatitis.

16 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Atopic dermatitis.MedlinePlus.Eczema.National Eczema Association.Causes and triggers.National Eczema Association.Eczema Causes and Triggers.Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Curr Opin Psychol.2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.03.007National Eczema Association.Eczema and emotional wellness.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.National Eczema Association.Causes and triggers.Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy.Eczema and food allergy.Glatz M, Bosshard PP, Hoetzenecker W, Schmid-Grendelmeier P.The role ofMalasseziaspp. in atopic dermatitis.J Clin Med.2015;4(6):1217-1228. doi:10.3390/jcm4061217American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Cockroach allergy.Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, et al.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.Acta Clin Croat.2018;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13National Eczema Association.How to Exercise Safely With Eczema.National Eczema Association.Available eczema treatments.National Eczema Association.Eczema Management.National Eczema Association.Understanding Inflammation’s Role in Atopic Dermatitis.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

MedlinePlus.Atopic dermatitis.MedlinePlus.Eczema.National Eczema Association.Causes and triggers.National Eczema Association.Eczema Causes and Triggers.Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Curr Opin Psychol.2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.03.007National Eczema Association.Eczema and emotional wellness.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.National Eczema Association.Causes and triggers.Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy.Eczema and food allergy.Glatz M, Bosshard PP, Hoetzenecker W, Schmid-Grendelmeier P.The role ofMalasseziaspp. in atopic dermatitis.J Clin Med.2015;4(6):1217-1228. doi:10.3390/jcm4061217American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Cockroach allergy.Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, et al.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.Acta Clin Croat.2018;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13National Eczema Association.How to Exercise Safely With Eczema.National Eczema Association.Available eczema treatments.National Eczema Association.Eczema Management.National Eczema Association.Understanding Inflammation’s Role in Atopic Dermatitis.

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MedlinePlus.Eczema.

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National Eczema Association.Eczema Causes and Triggers.

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National Eczema Association.Eczema and emotional wellness.

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Eczema.

Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy.Eczema and food allergy.

Glatz M, Bosshard PP, Hoetzenecker W, Schmid-Grendelmeier P.The role ofMalasseziaspp. in atopic dermatitis.J Clin Med.2015;4(6):1217-1228. doi:10.3390/jcm4061217

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Cockroach allergy.

Novak-Bilić G, Vučić M, Japundžić I, et al.Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.Acta Clin Croat.2018;57(4):713-720. doi:10.20471/acc.2018.57.04.13

National Eczema Association.How to Exercise Safely With Eczema.

National Eczema Association.Available eczema treatments.

National Eczema Association.Eczema Management.

National Eczema Association.Understanding Inflammation’s Role in Atopic Dermatitis.

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