WHAT CAUSES ECZEMA?
HOW TO PREVENT IT?

Atopic eczema runs in families: This is because it has a genetic component. If atopic eczema runs in your family, it simply means your skin is less good at producing moisturising oily substances, making it very dry. Why’s that an issue? Your skin is more vulnerable to a world of allergens and irritants, which can penetrate the skin and cause intense inflammation and itching.

YOUR QUESTIONS
OUR ANSWERS

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À quoi ressemble l'eczéma?

Chez les bébés, l'eczéma provoque l'apparition de plaques rouges, rugueuses et squameuses, en particulier au niveau des joues et du menton. Chez les enfants plus âgés et les adultes, les plaques d'eczéma sont davantage localisées sur le cou et dans les plis de peau au niveau des coudes, des poignets et derrière les genoux. Les plaques d'eczéma peuvent présenter des marques de grattage et saigner. Des cloques peuvent également se former et suinter. Au fil du temps, la peau peut s'épaissir et prendre un aspect parcheminé.


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CELA VOUS A-T-IL ÉTÉ UTILE?

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L'eczéma résulte-t-il d'une allergie?

L'eczéma n'est pas un symptôme d'allergie, c'est une affection atopique. En d'autres termes, il va de pair avec d'autres allergies ou problèmes atopiques, tels que l'asthme et le rhume des foins. Défectueuse, la barrière de protection des peaux à tendance à l'eczéma laisse les allergènes et agents irritants pénétrer en profondeur, ce qui engendre des inflammations et l'apparition de symptômes liés à l'eczéma (démangeaisons, rougeurs, plaques sèches, etc.).

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CELA VOUS A-T-IL ÉTÉ UTILE?

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Comment me débarrasser de l'eczéma?

La base pour soigner l'eczéma est d'appliquer une crème corticostéroïde pendant les poussées sévères (en utilisant les stéroïdes les plus faibles possible, et jamais sur le visage) et d'adopter une routine régulière composée de substituts de savon et de crèmes émollientes. Pour espacer durablement les poussées, il est essentiel de rééquilibrer le microbiome cutané (les bactéries bonnes pour la peau qui y résident).

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CELA VOUS A-T-IL ÉTÉ UTILE?

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Comment attrape-t-on de l'eczéma?

L'eczéma est une affection génétique qui se transmet de génération en génération. Sèche par nature, la peau possède une barrière fragilisée qui laisse pénétrer les allergènes et agents irritants, ce qui engendre des inflammations. Chez les adultes, l'eczéma peut être favorisé si l'exercice de leur métier implique un lavage fréquent des mains, par exemple les coiffeurs et les infirmiers. Parmi les facteurs environnementaux, les acariens peuvent également déclencher de l'eczéma.

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CELA VOUS A-T-IL ÉTÉ UTILE?

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Est-ce que l'eczéma démange?

Oui ! Les démangeaisons, ou prurit, sont les principales caractéristiques de l'eczéma. Défectueuse, la barrière cutanée laisse les allergènes et agents irritants pénétrer en profondeur, ce qui engendre des inflammations et la libération de l'histamine, molécule responsable des démangeaisons. Les démangeaisons et sécheresses de l'eczéma peuvent être soignées en utilisant des substituts de savon et en appliquant deux fois par jour un produit émollient capable de rééquilibrer les bactéries bonnes pour la peau.

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CELA VOUS A-T-IL ÉTÉ UTILE?

TRUE
OR FALSE

TO PUT AN END TO DRY SKIN, IT'S IMPORTANT
TO KEEP HYDRATED.

TRUE

Eczema is caused by a deficiency in skin’s natural protective layer of lipids (its barrier function). That’s why it’s important to keep dry eczema-prone skin hydrated using a targeted moisturiser regularly and consistently, with appropriate skincare products such as Lipikar Baume AP+ or Lipikar Fluide.
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SCRATCHING ECZEMA
STOPS IT FROM ITCHING.

FALSE

Scratching triggersthe vicious circle of atopy: fingernails damage the already fragile skin,allowing more allergens and irritant agents to penetrate, leading to even more scratching and more damaged skin. LIPIKAR Baume AP+ replenishes skins’ surface lipids, helping to space out flare-ups and reducing night-time scratching byhalf.
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ATOPIC DERMATITIS
CAN BE CONTAGIOUS.

FALSE

Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a genetic disease and is in no way contagious. The treatment for atopic dermatitis symptoms is based on soap substitutes, emollients and topical corticosteroids.
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DRYING YOUR SKIN WITH
A HAIRDRYER CAN HELP YOUR ECZEMA.

FALSE

This is highly NOT recommended. Drying with a hair dryer is a potential eczema trigger that can cause flare-ups by “attacking” the skin and destroying the lipid film that protects it, further aggravating dry skin eczema. Worse still, it could burn your delicate skin.
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ECZEMA, ATOPY
& HISTAMINE

Eczema is also an “atopic” condition which goes hand in hand with problems such as hay fever, asthma and food allergies. Atopic individuals have a genetic predisposition to producing a type of antibody called IgE which causes allergic reactions in different parts of the body like the eyes, nose, lungs, gut and skin. These antibodies are thought to play a role in atopic eczema by triggering histamine release.

ATOPIC ECZEMA &
THE ITCH-SCRATCH CYCLE

Histamine is your body’s “itch molecule”. When this substance is released by mast cells in the skin, this leads to an immediate itching sensation. Of course, when skin itches, our automatic urge is to scratch. But the more we scratch, the more we break down skin’s surface barrier, leading to more allergen penetration and more itching. This is known as the itch-scratch cycle and atopic eczema-prone children can be particularly affected.

One of the keys to managing atopic eczema-prone skin is to prevent this vicious cycle with regular emollient application. You’ll find out more about top solutions for atopic eczema-prone skin in the dedicated section below.

THE ROLE OF THE MICROBIOME
IN ATOPIC ECZEMA-PRONESKIN

Over and above dryness, atopy and the itch-scratch cycle, new research has revealed an unexpected factor involved in atopic eczema: skin’s “microbiome”. Skin’s microbiome is the sum of micro-organisms (think of them as friends, not critters!) living at its surface.

Did you know? On healthy skin, the microbiome is like a tropical rainforest: flourishing with diversity. While on atopic eczema-prones kin, this diversity is depleted, and the microbiome is unbalanced.

This fascinating finding is opening the doors to a new era of prebiotic cares for atopic eczema-prone skin, which make use of the unique prebiotic properties of thermal water.

Is it possible to prevent eczema? Yes and no. Many of the factors involved in causing eczema aregenetic, such as a deficiency in skin’s surface barrier and the tendency towards atopy. Unprecedented clinical studies have yet recently demonstrated that using emollients as of the first three weeks of life reduces the risk of developing atopic eczema-prone skin of 50%.*

If atopic dermatitis or eczema runs in your family, you are more likely to develop eczema. But this is not to say that you can’t take action: with the right management, symptoms such as itching can be quickly minimised.

To care for atopic eczema-prone skin, use a soap substitute or Syndet in the shower and apply an emollient twice daily. These two steps will go a long way to preventing skin issues recurrence. You’ll find further, in-depth information about expert atopic eczema-prone skin solutions in the next subsection.

In the articles below, you’ll learn about very dry skin and how to take care of it and prevent it (plus an explanation on the difference between dry skin and eczema), plus information about other unexpected causes of atopic eczema such as pollution. We also provide an article to share with your atopic eczema-prone child with tips to avoid the itch-scratch cycle, and why an itch-defusing Stick could be your child’s new BFF!

*“Emollient enhancement of the skin barrier from birth offers effective atopic dermatitis prevention”, J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL, VOLUME 134, NUMBER 4.

LE SAVIEZ
VOUS ?

DidYouKnow_Desktop_1

Out of all diseases, atopy is the condition with the 2nd greatest impact on quality of life, particularly due to its effect on sleep loss.

Source: A comparative study of impairment of quality of life in children with skin disease and children with other chronic childhood diseases. P.E. Beattie* and M.S. Lewis-Jones. Department of Dermatology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, U.K.*Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, U.K.

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 SKIN

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Our products' tolerance is verified on the most sensitive skin: reactive, allergic, acne-prone, atopic, damaged or weakened by cancer treatments.

DEAR
READERS

The information displayed here is intended for general educational purposes only and should not in any case be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any medical question.