Eczema is a broad term used to refer to conditions that lead to inflammation of the skin and skin irritation. The state is not very common and affects about 3% of adults and about 10% of children, although most of the children outgrow it by the time they hit ten years of age. The symptoms of eczema are diverse but are mostly characterized by itching and rashes. The rashes make the skin dry and scaly.

It is not known what exactly causes the symptoms of eczema, but researchers believe that eczema is triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental triggers. People with eczema tend to have very reactive immune systems that easily get triggered by either internal or external factors producing inflammation. These triggers include:

1. Sweat
The body responds to increased body temperatures by sweating to cool off the body. People with eczema are highly sensitive to their sweat, making their itch more severe than normal when sweating. Such people produce more histamine in response, and this worsens the itching. Scratching the affected areas also leads to the thickening of the tissues around the area, increasing sweating. Wearing loose clothes can reverse this.

2. Dry weather
Weather can significantly affect a person’s skin, especially if they have eczema. Hot and dry weather increases a person’s perspiration and leads to itching on the skin. The skin acts as a barrier protecting the body, but in people with eczema, the barrier does not exist. This exposes the skin to elements of weather, leading to irritation. In some people, the hot weather brings in relief, but in some, it triggers scratching and eczema.

Staying cool and taking fluids will reduce overheating.

3. Stress
Emotional stress does not cause eczema but can potentially provoke the symptoms associated with eczema. When stressed, the body produces cortisol that increases inflammation. If the cortisol is produced in large amounts, it causes a flare-up of eczema. During emotional and tense times, the body tries to protect the skin by increasing inflammation, and this makes eczema worse.

4. Citrus fruits
Many people are allergic to citrus fruits and will experience symptoms after eating food and drinks made from citrus fruits. The allergic reactions are localized, where the fruit touched the person’s skin. The skin reacts by releasing inflammatory chemicals that are responsible for eczema.

5. Gluten
Wheat or gluten is connected to a flare-up of eczema. Wheat contains four distinct proteins known to be responsible for allergic reactions and intolerance. People with eczema are allergic to one of these proteins and produce IgE antibodies to attack the wheat proteins.

6. Dairy
Some people are intolerant of the sugar found in cow’s milk. The dairy intolerance causes gastrointestinal problems such as bloating and nausea. The intolerance can trigger an eczema outbreak if the patient consumes dairy products.