The cause of eczema is far from being well understood, as the determination of the different types of eczema is not an exact science. We do know that there are certain triggers that cause eczema symptoms to manifest. These triggers can be used as an identification guideline for eczema.

Generally speaking the causes of eczema can be divided into two groups of identifiable triggers:

Internal Body Factors - things that can trigger your eczema from within your body.

External Body Factors - things that can trigger your eczema from outside your body.

Sometimes the cause of your eczema can be caused by a combination of triggers from both groups. Where the cause of eczema cannot be identified, eczema may be called acute, sub-acute or chronic. The term Dermatitis is often used interchangeably with Eczema.

Internal Body Triggers

The most common cause of eczema is a genetic over-sensitivity, often referred to as atopy. This sort of eczema is called Atopic Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) and is often linked with asthma, hay fever or other allergic type conditions. This condition often runs in families due to genetic inheritance.

External Body Triggers

There are two types of trigger mechanisms that can cause eczema symptoms to manifest on your skin.

• The first trigger causes ... An irritation of your skin.
  
  When your skin comes into contact with a substance that can cause an irritation, your skin reacts by manifesting an inflammation. This is often referred to as Irritant Contact Eczema or Irritant Contact Dermatitis.

  The irritation is initiated by the skin coming into contact with an irritant substance such as a harsh chemical, a solvent, a detergent, petrol/diesel, engine oil, household cleaning products, laundry products, etc.

• The second trigger causes ...An allergic reaction in your skin.
  
  A slower response by your immune system occurs when reacting against an invading allergen or substance. Your body has a few memory cells which recognize and are able to counter the invading substance or allergen does this by building up a population of cells to counter this invasion.

  Over the next two or three days your body builds up a population of these cells, which in turn will cause the skins various defense mechanism to start counteracting these invasions. The lag between the initial contact and the immune systems reaction to the contact is called "delayed hypersensitivity" and is the process underlying Allergic Contact Eczema or Allergic Contact Dermatitis.

Eczema with an unidentified cause.

When the cause for eczema cannot be identified it is classified under one of the following three scenarios:

• Acute Eczema
  
  Normally occurs just a few days after its onset. Some typical symptoms could be an itchy rash that can present itself as itchy red bumps when scratched. Often fluid will begin to accumulate in between your skin cells or on the surface of your skin. This is known as spongiosis



• Sub-acute Eczema
  
  Sub acute eczema has a severity between acute and chronic eczema. The base symptoms are the same as for acute eczema but also include a slight thickening of your skin. The protective mechanism of your skin can be affected and further aggravate your eczema skin symptoms



• Chronic Eczema
  
  Chronic eczema is characterized by the full onset of thickening of your skin (lichenification). Typical symptoms of lichenification are the hardening, thickening leathery look of your skin.

In order for you to determine what the cause of Eczema is, you need to do a bit of self observations and using the information on this web site to try and determine what is initiating your eczema rash. Keep a diary to record your body's reaction to potential eczema triggers, and with time you may be able to determine what is causing your eczema rash and take steps to eliminate this trigger.

Remember to always consult with a registered medical practitioner about your cause of eczema and allergy conditions.

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