Sunday, 23 November 2014

Triggers

Triggers can make atopic eczema worse, although they do not necessarily cause the condition.

Hormonal changes in women

Hormones are powerful chemicals that are produced by the body and have a wide range of effects. Changes in the levels of certain hormones can affect the symptoms of atopic eczema in some women.

Many women's eczema is worse at certain times during their menstrual cycle. Some women have a flare-up of their eczema in the days before their period.

The hormonal changes during pregnancy can also affect atopic eczema:

  • more than half of all pregnant women find their symptoms get worse
  • one-quarter of pregnant women find their symptoms improve

Stress

While stress is known to be associated with atopic eczema, it is not fully understood how it affects the condition. Some people with eczema have worse symptoms when they are stressed. For other people, their symptoms cause them to feel stressed.

Read more about ways to manage stress.

Exercise

After vigorous exercise, sweating may make your eczema symptoms worse. Try to keep cool when you are exercising by drinking plenty of fluids and taking regular breaks.

Irritants

Irritants can make your symptoms worse. What irritates you may be different to what irritates someone else with the condition, but could include:

  • soaps and detergents, such as shampoo, washing-up liquid or bubble bath
  • some types of clothing, especially wool and nylon 
  • overheating 
  • very cold, dry weather
  • dust
  • unfamiliar pets

Other triggers

Other possible triggers include:

  • substances that touch your skin, such as perfume-based products or latex (a type of naturally occurring rubber)
  • environmental factors, such as tobacco smoke, living near a busy road or having water that contains lots of minerals (hard water)
  • the changing seasons – most people with atopic eczema find that their symptoms improve during the summer and get worse in the winter

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