Eczema causes troublesome reddened, blistered, cracked, dry or thickened skin, but testing can help you avoid the allergens that trigger flare-ups.
Overview
Do allergens cause eczema?
Allergens are not the cause of most types of eczema, but they can cause flare-ups.
What allergens can cause eczema?
Dust mites, pollen, pet dander (dried flakes of skin) and some foods.
What are the symptoms?
Red, cracked, inflamed or blistered skin. Symptoms typically appear within hours or days of contact with an allergen and can affect any part of the body (although most commonly the hands and face).
How do I know if my eczema is allergy-related?
A simple blood test is all you need. Book yours now.
Did You Know?
If you or your partner has eczema, asthma or seasonal allergies, your child is more likely to have eczema.
What is eczema?
Eczema is a skin condition that could affect as many as 15 million people in the UK. It is most common in infants but can also affect older children and adults. Most types of eczema are not caused by allergies. But being around certain allergens can increase the chance of flare-ups, and can cause a specific type of eczema called contact dermatitis.
Contact dermatitis can be caused by a wide range of irritants and allergens, and for many eczema sufferers, there is rarely a single cause of the eczema. That can make it extremely difficult to know precisely what triggers to avoid.
Blood testing can help identify the allergens to which you are susceptible. In combination with keeping an eczema diary (see below) the test can help can control your exposure to the causes of your eczema flare-ups.
What are the symptoms of allergy-triggered eczema?
When your eczema is triggered or worsened by certain allergens, the body sees the allergen as a threat and mistakenly overreacts to it. Many allergies can result in a range of symptoms, but in the case of eczema provoking allergens, all the symptoms affect the skin. Symptoms will usually appear within 48 hours – although many will take effect almost immediately.
Symptoms may include reddened, blistered, cracked, dry or thickened skin. Occasionally the affected skin can become infected, and this can result in a discharge from the affected area, running a fever, or feeling generally unwell.
Treatment
The simplest treatment is to avoid the cause. That becomes much easier when you know precisely what triggers the eczema. To establish the causes, follow these steps:
- i) Take the eczema-provoking profile test to identify the allergens that can cause your eczema
- ii) Keep an ‘eczema diary’ to identify the irritants that can make your eczema worse. These could include a wide range of substances and materials in the home, outdoors or at work, including:
- Soaps
- Detergents
- Perfumes
- Jewellery
- Solvents
- Powders
- Soil
- Water
- Plants
- Oils
- Chemical cleaners
- Glues
- Nail varnishes
How do I get tested?
Better2Know offers a simple blood test designed to test for a range of eczema-provoking allergens, including:
- Cat dander
- Egg white
- Egg yolk
- Fish mix
- Hazelnut
- House dust mite
- Milk
- Peanut
- Soya Bean
- Wheat
To book your test, contact Better2Know now on the number above.