Can Eczema Cause Other Health Issues?

If you have eczema, you are already dealing with the effects of a chronic inflammatory disease… the itching, the flare-ups, the discomfort. But did you know eczema has a relationship to other health issues?

Can Eczema Cause Other Health Conditions?

Additional connections are being discovered and explored between eczema and other health conditions that go beyond skin deep. But before we begin, this is the part where I, like a good doctor, have to tell you that you will absolutely not get all or even most of the possible health issues tied to eczema.  

This isn’t a definitive map to your future. But knowledge is power, especially with a chronic skin condition. This list should be seen as a smart guide to what conditions you should be aware of as you seek to live your healthiest life with eczema. 

Of note, eczema is commonly called “atopic dermatitis” by doctors.

10 Health Conditions Related to Eczema

1. Asthma and Hay Fever

It’s well-documented that eczema patients are prone to asthma and hay fever also known as allergic rhinitis.

According to the National Eczema Association, about 20% of adults with eczema have asthma, an allergic condition that causes a person’s airways to become inflamed, swollen, and narrow.  

There is a term used by doctors –the atopic march. This is used to define the sequence of appearance between eczema, hay fever, and asthma. A person may first develop eczema, then hay fever, and then asthma.

It is important that not everyone will develop these conditions. However, people who have a family history of asthma and hay fever or people who experience eczema flare-ups more often are more likely to experience all of these conditions together.

2. Sleep Disturbances 

The study pointed to another eczema side-effect as the culprit: sleep disturbances.

When you’re plagued by chronic itching that wakes you or keeps you up at night. 

At night the body loses more moisture which makes it dry and does not produce as many hormones as it does during the day. These are the reasons why our body itches more at night. The intense itching and scratching can disrupt your sleep and mental health.

3. Depression or Anxiety

Once again, the body is an exquisitely intertwined creation, and when one thing is going wrong physically, it can set off emotional problems.

Sleep disturbances play a role in eczema and mental health, triggering anxiety and/or depression brought on by a consistent lack of rest. Missed sleep contributes to poor focus, mood swings, and even a suppressed immune system…which leaves you vulnerable to sickness and infection.

4. Self-Confidence

Add to that the fact that the red, rough patches that are the hallmark of eczema can cause distress, embarrassment, and frustration. You have a beautiful new dress you wanted to wear to a big event or an important meeting to attend, and eczema suddenly makes its appearance, ruining your plans and zapping your confidence.

That’s why I always preach the gospel of gentle moisturizing care when eczema flares up.  A dependable, thoughtful routine helps minimize flare-ups and gives you a plan to turn to when the inevitable triggers show up and do their thing.

5. Skin Infection

Eczema causes skin barrier dysfunction that makes it easier for bacteria and viruses to penetrate the skin, this makes a person more prone to developing other skin infections. Some of the common skin infections experienced by people with eczema are:

• Staph infection
• Cellulitis
• Furuncles (boils)
• Eczema herpeticum

The best way to prevent skin infections is by keeping your skin clean with an eczema cleanser and keeping it moisturized as much as possible. Use an eczema cream that not only moisturizes the skin but also helps protect the skin barrier.

6. Food Allergies

As many as 15% of children with eczema have an allergy to one or more types of food. While the precise reason for this interrelationship is still a mystery to scientists, it may be the result of eczema-related inflammation affecting the entire body, because when it comes to the human system, everything is interconnected in ways we still don’t fully understand.

You can view it as the way your unique body is built… 

Most common food allergies are triggered by

• Eggs
• Milk
• Peanuts
• Soy
• Wheat 

7. Alopecia

There are some studies that have shown that people with atopic dermatitis have also experienced alopecia areata. This is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles in the body which results in sudden hair loss. Learn more about it in our blog about whether can eczema cause hair loss.

8. Osteoporosis (Bone Injuries)

What does the itchy condition have to do with breaking bones? A dermatological study published by JAMA in 2014 found that people with recent eczema flare-ups were more likely to have experienced a bone or joint injury, like a fracture.

If you’re in an antihistamine fog from taking medicine to relieve the itch — you are at higher risk of taking a tumble or experiencing a car accident. Adding to that, severe cases of eczema may be treated with oral steroids, which can affect bone density over time. That’s why it’s important to balance your treatment with topical steroids, natural remedies, and gentle skin care, which don’t pose a risk to your bone density and are far easier on the body than oral steroids.

9. Eye Problems

Atopic dermatitis or eczema can appear anywhere on the body including the eyelids and area around the eyes. It is then classified as eyelid dermatitis or eyelid eczema. It is usually caused when the skin around the eyes comes in contact with a certain allergen or irritant. 

It causes itching, irritation, and red rashes. Rubbing the eyes due to irritation can lead to other eye problems, pink eye is one of the most common among them

10. Heart Problems

Research has been conflicting when it comes to this topic. In recent years some studies have shown that adults with atopic dermatitis may have a higher risk of developing heart disease, including 

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Triglycerides
• Heart attack
• Arrhythmia
• Stroke

Absent more detailed information, prevention becomes key. If your eczema happens to fall into the severe category, I encourage you to take action. Pursue ways to protect your heart health right now. That means engaging in an active lifestyle, eating a balanced diet low in saturated fats and salt, and not smoking (or quitting if you already started).

Eczema and Your Overall Health

There is a lot we doctors know. There’s a lot we don’t know.

But without a shadow of a doubt, pursuing a healthy lifestyle and a caring approach to our bodies is a good policy, with or without eczema.  

• Knowing which types of shampoo to buy
• Which kinds of eczema creams to use
• What situations trigger your skin condition may seem basic…

but they are an essential personal strategy for caring for your body in a way that will minimize the risk of any additional health issues.

Eczema Treatment

Just like the saying goes “prevention is better then cure,” it is better to prevent other health issues from happening than having to treat them. Even though it may not be possible to prevent them entirely, taking care of your health and treating eczema can help reduce the occurrence of these health issues.

The best way to manage eczema is by avoiding the possible triggers that might be causing your eczema or an eczema flare-up and maintaining a proper skincare routine. 

Cleansing

Make sure that you keep your skin clean. It will prevent bacteria and viruses from penetrating into the skin. 

• Use a daily eczema cleanser that is fragrance-free, paraben-free, and sulfate-free. Try Happy Cappy Daily Shampoo and Body Wash for eczema, it gently cleanses the eczema-prone skin and does not contain commonly found irritants that other commercial cleansers may contain.

Moisturizing

Dry skin is a common symptom of eczema. It is important to keep the skin moisturized at all times to avoid worsening the condition. Moisturize your skin immediately after a bath or after you wash your skin or use an eczema cream twice daily.

• An eczema cream that is hypoallergenic and infused with natural ingredients like licorice root extract is one of the best options to choose from. Happy Cappy Moisturizing Cream for Eczema contains natural ingredients and is specially formulated by a pediatrician for eczema-prone, dry, sensitive skin.

OTC Medications

When the condition does not get better with a proper eczema skincare routine or the eczema rash is spreading to the rest of the body it is best to consult a doctor. The doctor may prescribe the use of OTC medications like antihistamines, and hydrocortisone creams, or may need to use prescription strength topical steroids or non-steroid prescription creams. A new class of oral or injectable prescriptions are also now available that help treat severe eczema cases.

You don’t get a say in whether you get eczema or not.  But you do get a say in whether you’ll let it run amok in your body. Let’s all work together to keep it in its lane.

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Dr. Eddie Valenzuela

Dr. Eddie Valenzuela is an award winning pediatrician and the founder and CEO of Pediatric Solutions, LLC.

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