Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding EczemaAutoimmune DiseasesIs It an Autoimmune Disease?Is It an Autoimmune Symptom?TreatmentContacting a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Understanding Eczema
Autoimmune Diseases
Is It an Autoimmune Disease?
Is It an Autoimmune Symptom?
Treatment
Contacting a Provider
Eczema is a group of related conditions causing itchy, dry, inflamed skin that can appear red, purple, ashen, or dark brown, depending on skin tone.While eczema does involve the immune system, most scientists wouldn’t classify eczema as an autoimmune disease.
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system attacks a specific part of the body in a targeted way, leading to inflammation, pain, or other symptoms. Atopic dermatitis (one type of eczema), in particular, may exist on a spectrum with autoimmune disease, and having it may increase your risk of autoimmune conditions.
Evgeniia Gordeeva / Getty Images
Types
The group of skin conditions, sometimes called eczema, have some broadly similar symptoms and share some of the same causes. Some of the most prevalent types of eczema include:
Causes
The underlying causes of eczema are complex and not completely understood. However, researchers believe that the following contribute to eczema:
Experts believe that eczema occurs, in part, from exaggerated responses to environmental factors and often group it with allergic conditions.
Triggers
Some important eczematriggersare:
Some people also notice their symptoms worsen when they eat specific foods, but this connection isn’t well established.
Symptoms
Additionally, age can affect how eczema presents. Symptoms appear on theface, trunk, arms, and legs within the first year of life. Later in life, they arise in skinfolds, like the inside of elbows.
Sometimes, these areas become so itchy and scaly that they peel away, leading to bleeding. People with eczema usually have periods in which theirsymptoms flare upand worsen and other times when they are less severe.
What to Know About Eczema
Autoimmune Diseases Explained
When yourimmune systemis healthy, it helps protect you against invasions from dangerous microorganisms like viruses and bacteria. It does this through complex and coordinated communications and responses in your immune system.
Researchers are still trying to solve the problem of the immune system becoming inappropriately targeted towards part of your body.
Researchers are still trying to understand the causes of autoimmune diseases. They do know that it’s a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors that coincide to cause an inappropriate immune reaction.
In many cases, autoimmune diseases also may involve the development ofantibodies against part of your body. These are different from the normal antibodies you might develop to fight an infection or help prevent you from getting sick after you’ve had a vaccine.
Is Eczema an Autoimmune Disease?
Autoimmune disease and eczema both involve abnormal and heightened immune responses that can lead to inflammation and other symptoms.However, most scientists would not classify eczema as an autoimmune disease.
Healthcare providers have historically classified eczema as part of the “atopic march,” a specific progression of allergies that begins with begins with skin symptoms, then moves to gastrointestinal symptoms, and eventually causes respiratory symptoms.
The immune system does play a vital role in eczema, though. Like in many autoimmune diseases, a certain kind of immune cell called T cells can become overactive, releasing large amounts of immune-signaling molecules that should not be released. This release causes additional changes that lead to painful, itchy skin.
Knowledge about this topic is evolving. Some scientists think it may be more appropriate to think of atopic dermatitis as a spectrum with autoimmune disorders. This is because atopic allergies can be seen as stepping stones to autoimmunity.
If you have eczema (atopic dermatitis), you have a slightly increased risk of being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. With severe eczema, your risk is about twice as high for an autoimmune disease as that of someone who doesn’t have eczema.(Potential risks in other types of eczema aren’t as well studied.)
This risk seems to be increased for certain autoimmune diseases but not others. Some autoimmune diseases you might be more susceptible to include rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis,Sjögren’s disease, and autoimmune thyroiditis.
Can Eczema Be a Symptom of Autoimmune Diseases?
Usually, a healthcare provider wouldn’t consider eczema a potential autoimmune disease symptom. However, it’s possible to have both eczema and an autoimmune disease, but they’re typically thought of as comorbid conditions—two different diseases occurring in the same person.
Certain autoimmune conditions, like Sjögren’s disease, may also causeskin symptoms similarto those found in eczema, like dry skin, as well as additional symptoms that are not found in eczema.
How to Treat and Manage Eczema
Topical Treatments
The cornerstone of treatment is using quality moisturizers (fragrance-free with high oil content) daily, even if you are not experiencing a flare-up. Ideally, you should do this right after you shower to help trap moisture.
Topical corticosteroids(those applied to your skin) are typically the first approach during a symptom flare-up. Depending on the severity of your flare-up, you might need to use a more potent dose of steroid for a more prolonged period.Examples of prescription topical treatments include:
Systemic Medications and In-Office Treatment
A healthcare provider may prescribe systemic medications for eczema, which work throughout the body, such as:
A healthcare provider may recommend in-office treatment withphototherapy(light therapy) if other treatments have not helped relieve your symptoms.
Alternative Options
Most of these are not well-researched in terms of scientific studies, but some people find complementary approaches helpful. Some of these are:
Additional Considerations
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Sometimes, bleeding skin from moderate to severe eczema can lead toinfection. If you notice unusual symptoms like fever, puffy skin, or rash, contact a healthcare provider immediately, as you might need antibiotic treatment.
You should also contact a healthcare provider if you are having a flare and your standard control methods are not helping. You might need to change or escalate treatment. If your eczema interferes with your quality of life, talk to your healthcare provider about your options.
Summary
There is a lot of overlap between the immune dysregulations found in eczema and those found in autoimmune conditions. However, most scientists do not classify eczema as an autoimmune disease because the immune system response isn’t as targeted as it is in true autoimmune conditions. However, having eczema, at least atopic dermatitis, slightly increases the risk of autoimmune disease in the future.
15 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.National Eczema Association.Eczema on black skin: what you need to know.de Lusignan S, Alexander H, Broderick C, et al.Atopic dermatitis and risk of autoimmune conditions: Population-based cohort study.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022;150(3):709-713. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.03.030National Eczema Association.7 types of eczema.Eyerich K, Eyerich S, Biedermann T.The multi-modal immune pathogenesis of atopic eczema.Trends Immunol. 2015;36(12):788-801. doi:10.1016/j.it.2015.10.006National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.Frazier W, Bhardwaj N.Atopic dermatitis: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(10):590-598.Pisetsky DS.Pathogenesis of autoimmune disease.Nat Rev Nephrol. 2023;19(8):509-524. doi:10.1038/s41581-023-00720-1Pellefigues C.IgE autoreactivity in atopic dermatitis: paving the road for autoimmune diseases?.Antibodies (Basel). 2020;9(3):47. doi:10.3390/antib9030047Yang L, Fu J, Zhou Y.Research progress in atopic march.Front Immunol. 2020;11:1907. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.01907Brunner PM, Guttman-Yassky E, Leung DY.The immunology of atopic dermatitis and its reversibility with broad-spectrum and targeted therapies.JAllergy Clin Immunol. 2017;139(4S):S65-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2017.01.011NIH. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Sjogren’s syndrome.National Eczema Association.FAQ - opzelura (ruxolitinib) cream.Mikhaylov D, Ungar B, Renert-Yuval Y, Guttman-Yassky E.Oral janus kinase inhibitors for atopic dermatitis.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2023;130(5):577-592. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2023.01.020Goddard AL, Lio PA.Alternative, complementary, and forgotten remedies for atopic dermatitis.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:676897. doi:10.1155/2015/676897Al-Janabi A, Alabas OA, Yiu ZZN, et al.Risk of paradoxical eczema in patients receiving biologics for psoriasis.JAMA Dermatol. 2024;160(1):71-79. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.4846
15 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.National Eczema Association.Eczema on black skin: what you need to know.de Lusignan S, Alexander H, Broderick C, et al.Atopic dermatitis and risk of autoimmune conditions: Population-based cohort study.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022;150(3):709-713. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.03.030National Eczema Association.7 types of eczema.Eyerich K, Eyerich S, Biedermann T.The multi-modal immune pathogenesis of atopic eczema.Trends Immunol. 2015;36(12):788-801. doi:10.1016/j.it.2015.10.006National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.Frazier W, Bhardwaj N.Atopic dermatitis: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(10):590-598.Pisetsky DS.Pathogenesis of autoimmune disease.Nat Rev Nephrol. 2023;19(8):509-524. doi:10.1038/s41581-023-00720-1Pellefigues C.IgE autoreactivity in atopic dermatitis: paving the road for autoimmune diseases?.Antibodies (Basel). 2020;9(3):47. doi:10.3390/antib9030047Yang L, Fu J, Zhou Y.Research progress in atopic march.Front Immunol. 2020;11:1907. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.01907Brunner PM, Guttman-Yassky E, Leung DY.The immunology of atopic dermatitis and its reversibility with broad-spectrum and targeted therapies.JAllergy Clin Immunol. 2017;139(4S):S65-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2017.01.011NIH. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Sjogren’s syndrome.National Eczema Association.FAQ - opzelura (ruxolitinib) cream.Mikhaylov D, Ungar B, Renert-Yuval Y, Guttman-Yassky E.Oral janus kinase inhibitors for atopic dermatitis.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2023;130(5):577-592. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2023.01.020Goddard AL, Lio PA.Alternative, complementary, and forgotten remedies for atopic dermatitis.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:676897. doi:10.1155/2015/676897Al-Janabi A, Alabas OA, Yiu ZZN, et al.Risk of paradoxical eczema in patients receiving biologics for psoriasis.JAMA Dermatol. 2024;160(1):71-79. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.4846
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.
National Eczema Association.Eczema on black skin: what you need to know.de Lusignan S, Alexander H, Broderick C, et al.Atopic dermatitis and risk of autoimmune conditions: Population-based cohort study.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022;150(3):709-713. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.03.030National Eczema Association.7 types of eczema.Eyerich K, Eyerich S, Biedermann T.The multi-modal immune pathogenesis of atopic eczema.Trends Immunol. 2015;36(12):788-801. doi:10.1016/j.it.2015.10.006National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.Frazier W, Bhardwaj N.Atopic dermatitis: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(10):590-598.Pisetsky DS.Pathogenesis of autoimmune disease.Nat Rev Nephrol. 2023;19(8):509-524. doi:10.1038/s41581-023-00720-1Pellefigues C.IgE autoreactivity in atopic dermatitis: paving the road for autoimmune diseases?.Antibodies (Basel). 2020;9(3):47. doi:10.3390/antib9030047Yang L, Fu J, Zhou Y.Research progress in atopic march.Front Immunol. 2020;11:1907. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.01907Brunner PM, Guttman-Yassky E, Leung DY.The immunology of atopic dermatitis and its reversibility with broad-spectrum and targeted therapies.JAllergy Clin Immunol. 2017;139(4S):S65-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2017.01.011NIH. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Sjogren’s syndrome.National Eczema Association.FAQ - opzelura (ruxolitinib) cream.Mikhaylov D, Ungar B, Renert-Yuval Y, Guttman-Yassky E.Oral janus kinase inhibitors for atopic dermatitis.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2023;130(5):577-592. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2023.01.020Goddard AL, Lio PA.Alternative, complementary, and forgotten remedies for atopic dermatitis.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:676897. doi:10.1155/2015/676897Al-Janabi A, Alabas OA, Yiu ZZN, et al.Risk of paradoxical eczema in patients receiving biologics for psoriasis.JAMA Dermatol. 2024;160(1):71-79. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.4846
National Eczema Association.Eczema on black skin: what you need to know.
de Lusignan S, Alexander H, Broderick C, et al.Atopic dermatitis and risk of autoimmune conditions: Population-based cohort study.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022;150(3):709-713. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.03.030
National Eczema Association.7 types of eczema.
Eyerich K, Eyerich S, Biedermann T.The multi-modal immune pathogenesis of atopic eczema.Trends Immunol. 2015;36(12):788-801. doi:10.1016/j.it.2015.10.006
National Eczema Association.Eczema causes and triggers.
Frazier W, Bhardwaj N.Atopic dermatitis: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(10):590-598.
Pisetsky DS.Pathogenesis of autoimmune disease.Nat Rev Nephrol. 2023;19(8):509-524. doi:10.1038/s41581-023-00720-1
Pellefigues C.IgE autoreactivity in atopic dermatitis: paving the road for autoimmune diseases?.Antibodies (Basel). 2020;9(3):47. doi:10.3390/antib9030047
Yang L, Fu J, Zhou Y.Research progress in atopic march.Front Immunol. 2020;11:1907. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.01907
Brunner PM, Guttman-Yassky E, Leung DY.The immunology of atopic dermatitis and its reversibility with broad-spectrum and targeted therapies.JAllergy Clin Immunol. 2017;139(4S):S65-S76. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2017.01.011
NIH. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Sjogren’s syndrome.
National Eczema Association.FAQ - opzelura (ruxolitinib) cream.
Mikhaylov D, Ungar B, Renert-Yuval Y, Guttman-Yassky E.Oral janus kinase inhibitors for atopic dermatitis.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2023;130(5):577-592. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2023.01.020
Goddard AL, Lio PA.Alternative, complementary, and forgotten remedies for atopic dermatitis.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:676897. doi:10.1155/2015/676897
Al-Janabi A, Alabas OA, Yiu ZZN, et al.Risk of paradoxical eczema in patients receiving biologics for psoriasis.JAMA Dermatol. 2024;160(1):71-79. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.4846
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