Contact allergy is not the only reason for a person to develop eczema.
Irritant eczema
Constant irritation of the skin, for instance frequent hand washing, repeated use of cleaning agents, detergents, tapping fluids or solvents, are typical sources of this type of eczema. Extended or frequent use of gloves is another cause of this type of eczema.
Irritant eczema is one of two types of contact dermatitis. The other is allergic eczema.
It is not possible to tell at a glance whether en eczema caused by allergy or irritation. An investigation by a dermatologist is required to detemine the source of inflammation. A so-called patch test can reveal whether or not the patient is allergic.
Allergic-irritant eczema
Eczema is often due to a combination of allergy and skin irritation. This is typically seen in cases, where a person is exposed to substances which are both acting as a skin irritant and containing allergenes.
As an example, deodorants often cause irritant eczema in the armpit, but may also contain allergenic perfume that may cause an allergic eczema.
Atopic eczema
Another common type of eczema is atopic eczema, also called atopic dermatitis.
Approximately 20 per cent. of children develop atopic eczema. In 90 per cent. of the cases the eczema occurs before the age of four. Two out of three children outgrow the disease before they reach puberty. The cause of the disease is not known, but hereditary factors also play a role.
Eczema is typically found in the inside of the elbow, knees, and near ankles and wrists.
Although atopic dermatitis is related to hereditary factors, it is often the child’s environment that triggers or aggravates the condition.
Children who suffer from atopic eczema, or adults who have a history of atopic eczema, have very sensitive skin and can endure less than others, when it comes to straining the skin through frequent hand washing, prolonged use of gloves among other influences.
Between 25 percent and 50 percent of those who suffered from atopic eczema in their childhood develop hand eczema when they start working.
People with atopic dermatitis - current or past - have also had an increased tendency to develop allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis. But they are in general not more likely than others to develop contact allergy.
New knowledge about genes and atopic eczema
Recently it has been proven at that a mutation in the genome increases the risk of eczema.
The discovery is important to be able to understand and treat atopic eczema.
Read more in the article: "Your eczema may be hereditary"
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