How Long Do Eczema Flare Ups Last?

We all can get painful dry cracked skin if we wash our hands too much, forget the lotion during harsh weather (both hot and cold), and a multitude of other reasons. For people with eczema, however, inflamed skin is an unpleasant way of life. As for eczema duration, whether you have a young child with the skin condition or are treating it as an adult, the biggest struggle is waiting for those irritating flare ups to calm down.

It’s probably one of the most asked questions about eczema – how dong do eczema flare ups last? That answer may depend on the type of eczema you have and how old you are. This article will discuss more about eczema duration and what you can expect for time factors, treatments, and how to accelerate the healing process for your eczema outbreaks!

Why Eczema Flare Ups Occur

Eczema is an inflammation of the skin that causes it to become red, scaly, and itchy. Dryness can be another symptom, though it’s not always present. Eczema can appear anywhere on the body, though it’s most frequently found in the crook of the elbows and on the back of the knees. The hands and feet are other relatively common locations, all of which are noticeable parts of your body.

The term eczema most often refers to atopic dermatitis, the most common kind of eczema. Atopic dermatitis affects 10 to 20 percent of children and 1 to 3 percent of adults. Some other types of eczema include allergic contact eczema (when the skin touches something foreign like poison oak), contact eczema (from exposure to something that causes an allergy, such as chemicals and cleaners), and dyshidrotic eczema (when the palms and soles of the feet develop blisters).

Experts are unsure of the bottom root to what causes eczema and it’s an area of ongoing research with multiple theories and studies that continue to be ongoing. However, the American Academy of Dermatology believes that it’s a complex interaction between a person’s genetics and the environment which triggers it.

Mutations in a certain gene are considered to be a strong factor in the development of eczema because this protein is necessary for normal skin development and the barrier function of the skin. Barrier dysfunction by the skin allows penetration of potential allergens, which can trigger the rash. Interestingly, it’s recently been discovered that newborns with this gene mutation who are exposed to cats have a higher risk of developing eczema than newborns with the same mutation who do not encounter cats.

Lipids in the skin help skin perform its barrier function. In some people with eczema, however, abnormalities in the skin lipid composition keep it from holding in moisture, and this results in dry skin. Yet another possible cause involves the digestive system. Infants with eczema have been reported to have different intestinal bacteria and these differences were noted before the onset of eczema and may be part of the whole picture.

Lastly, the “hygiene hypothesis” is also under consideration. With such higher cleaning standards in present-day Western industrial countries it’s possible that infants’ and children’s lack of exposure to bacteria might change the development of their immune systems and create an abnormal reaction to common environmental allergens. For example, researchers found that children in Germany who entered daycare at a later age had a higher incidence of atopic dermatitis. There are many factors to consider and be aware of regarding eczema in children. For adults, managing eczema outbreaks is your strongest guide to reducing the severity of it on your skin. When you take into account the environmental ties to eczema triggers, this is where your focus should be on to keep how long eczema flare ups last to a minimum.

The top 5 eczema triggers to watch out for are:

• Environmental allergies (dust, pollen, pet dander)
• Chemical allergies (fragrance, laundry detergent, household cleaners)
• Diet
• Stress
• Alcohol

To keep these in mind means that you’ll be able to stay on top of your eczema and reduce the flare ups. However, if you want your eczema flare ups to become nearly nonexistent, the main treatment and life choice are to choose the right skin care products! It may seem like an odd solution, but seeing as eczema is a skin condition, using the right skin care to nourish, protect, and repair it is essential!

For the best eczema skin care, visit the Wild Naturals online store to learn about the best natural ingredients and how it can make your eczema flare ups all but disappear!