Patients with eczema experience skin flare-ups, or rashes, that are often itchy and painful. These flare-ups can cause the skin to become red, dry, thick, blistery, or a combination of all three. Rashes can fade after a few days or even a few weeks after the flare-up starts.
Depending on the allergy, patients with allergies can experience symptoms wherein their skin develops a painful, itchy rash after exposure to their trigger. These rashes often appear as patches of red, dry, thick, or blistery skin, causing one to wonder, “Is eczema just a type of allergy?”
Today, we’re examining what can cause eczema to flare up and if it is connected to allergies in any way.
Is Eczema a Type of Allergy?
The short answer to this question is, “Yes, eczema can be a symptom of an allergy.”
Allergy-induced eczema is a condition where rashes develop on the surface of the skin after you encounter an allergen.
This type of eczema actually goes by a variety of names, including:
- Allergic eczema
- Allergic dermatitis
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Contact dermatitis
- Contact eczema
But they all mean the same thing: skin that flares up after exposure to a triggering substance.
What Allergens Can Trigger Allergic Eczema?
The allergy triggers that can lead to eczema can include:
- Adhesives, such as the substances that make bandages stick to the skin
- Chemicals
- Clothing dyes
- Creams, lotions, and other ointments
- Dust mites
- Foods, including eggs, citrusy or acidic fruits, some spices, soy products
- Hair dyes
- Latex
- Metals, such as nickel
- Perfumes
- Pet dander
- Poison ivy or poison oak
- Soaps and detergents
What Are the Symptoms of Allergic Eczema?
Allergic eczema appears as rashes anywhere on the body where the skin comes in contact with the triggering substance. When the rash develops, the patient can experience:
- Redness or discoloration at the contact site
- Burning, itching, or stinging
- Skin that is warm to the touch
- Skin that becomes dry, scaly, raw, or thick
- Skin that develops bumps that may weep (ooze) and crust over
So, What Is Considered Non-Allergic Eczema?
Non-allergic eczema is a condition where the skin flares up as a result of external factors that are not related to a particular substance or allergen. Often called atopic dermatitis, this form of eczema carries more of a mystery around it, especially for the patient who does not know the conditions that cause flare-ups.
What Can Cause or Trigger Atopic Dermatitis?
For many with atopic dermatitis, flare-ups can come about with the following:
- Changes in the weather, such as a sudden switch from a cold winter to a warm spring or a sudden switch from a warm autumn to a cold winter
- Stress
- Exposure to dry air
- Sweat on the skin
- Prolonged exposure to hot water
However, without a specific substance to point to, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of the atopic eczema flare-up. After all, it’s easy to know that you’re allergic to nickel if your wrist breaks out in a rash after wearing a bracelet made of nickel. It’s a bit more mysterious to develop a rash at the start of spring or summer each year. Is it the change from cold to warm that’s causing your skin to react? Is it the increase of sweat on your body now that temperatures outside are rising? It can be hard to tell.
What Are the Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis?
The symptoms of atopic dermatitis are pretty much identical to the symptoms of contact dermatitis:
- Redness or discoloration at the rash site
- Burning, itching, or stinging
- Skin that is warm to the touch
- Skin that becomes dry, scaly, raw, or thick
- Skin that develops bumps that may weep (ooze) and crust over
Instead of developing at the contact site, like contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis can develop anywhere on the body. The primary locations where atopic dermatitis appears are:
- The crook of the elbow
- The crook of the knees
- The neck or chest
- The hands or feet
- The face
- The scalp
What Are the Treatments for Allergic Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis?
Treatment of eczema, from allergic eczema to atopic dermatitis, can include:
- Ointments with an antihistamine
- Ointments with hydrocortisone
- Prescription lotions or moisturizers
- Oral medications or immunosuppressants
Regardless of how or why your eczema appears, seek out care from a trusted allergy specialist trained to evaluate and treat your skin condition and bring relief.
Whether your eczema is a type of allergy or the cause is more so due to environmental factors, the team at Langford Allergy is here to offer the eczema treatments you need.
Dr. Langford, Dr. Mathew, and our team of allergy specialists offer specialized care and treatment to all eczema and skin allergy patients. We create individualized and effective treatment and management plans that relieve the itch and clear your skin.
Schedule an eczema appointment today: 478-787-4728
Langford Allergy delivers allergy, asthma, and immunodeficiency care to patients throughout Middle Georgia, including:
- Bonaire, GA
- Byron, GA
- Forsyth, GA
- Fort Valley, GA
- Gray, GA
- Macon, GA
- Milledgeville, GA
- Perry, GA
- Warner Robins, GA
And other surrounding areas.
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