Symptoms
Eczema resulting from atopic dermatitis causes:
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.
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Sometimes, these areas become so itchy and scaly that they peel away, leading to bleeding.
It does this through complex and coordinated communications and responses in your immune system.
Researchers are still trying to understand the causes of autoimmune diseases.
In many cases, autoimmune diseases also may involve the development ofantibodies against part of your body.
Is Eczema an Autoimmune Disease?
The immune system does play a vital role in eczema, though.
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.
(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.
Can Eczema Be a Symptom of Autoimmune Diseases?
Usually, a healthcare provider wouldn’t consider eczema a potential autoimmune disease symptom.
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.
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
Eczema is a group of medical conditions causing itchy, inflamed skin.
The term “eczema” is often used to refer to atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is resulting from specific dysregulations and overactive responses in your immune system.
There is a lot of overlap between the immune dysregulations found in eczema and those found in autoimmune conditions.
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