There are many types of eczema, and scientists still don’t know the causes of all of them. However, atopic eczema has been found to have a close link to other ‘atopic’ conditions including asthma, allergy and hayfever. In these conditions, the sufferer is sensitive to allergens in the environment that are harmless to other people. The immune system has an extreme reaction, which in the case of eczema leads to red and inflamed skin. Examples of allergens include pollen, animal fur and house dust mites.
Atopic eczema is also thought to have a strong hereditary element. If a child has one parent with an atopic condition, that child has a one in four chance of having some form of atopic ailment themselves. If both parents have an atopic condition, the child has more than a one in two chance of having an atopic condition.[2]

Eczema is not contagious, so there’s no need to keep a baby or child who has it away from siblings, other children, or anyone else.

Triggers
Eczema flare-ups tend to happen when sufferers are exposed to certain trigger factors - substances or conditions that make the eczema worse. These can include many different things and vary from one person to another. Common triggers include[3,4] :

1. Irritants - Some people may find their condition can flare up when they come into contact with certain substances that their skin is sensitive to, such as detergents. Water can even be an irritant if sufferers’ hands are often wet and they don’t use a moisturiser after drying them. Skin can become dry and itchy, which might start the ‘itch-scratch’ cycle
2. Allergens - Contact with allergens can trigger a flare-up of eczema just as they make conditions like asthma and hayfever worse. This includes allergies to certain foods
3. Stress - Stress doesn’t cause eczema but it can make it worse. Your customer may notice a link between their condition and certain events in their life
4. Temperature - Extremes of heat or cold tend to make skin uncomfortable and increases scratching, which can lead to eczema flare-ups.