Eczema, Rhinitis, and Asthma: Are They Connected?

All in the Family

Interestingly, studies have shown that if one parent, or even both parents, has/have eczema, their child is likely to inherit the condition as well. In fact, this child may even likely progress to getting allergies or asthma.

According to the article “Allergies and Eczema: What’s the Link?,” here are some interesting statistics.

• Up to 80% of kids with eczema get hay fever (rhinitis) or asthma later in childhood
• 35% of adults with asthma or nasal allergies had eczema as children
• If a mother has allergies, there's almost a 30% chance their child will have eczema
• 37% of children with moderate to severe eczema also have food allergies

Scientists have yet to fully understand why this is so, although strides have been made in terms of understanding some of the commonalities.

Allergens

Because eczema entails a weakened skin barrier, allergens can enter the body. This causes the immune system to lead to inflammation, thereby resulting in an eczema flare-up as its physical manifestation.

Aside from this, the immune system can also release chemicals that lead to allergy symptoms, one of which being rhinitis. And when there is a build-up of fluid in the lungs, that can trigger asthma.

Antibodies

There is also the increased presence of Immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody which factors into a person’s allergic response. The immune system thinks of your allergens as harmful, thus releasing IgE to ward them off.

It’s also worth noting that people with eczema were discovered to have higher-than-normal levels of this antibody.

Take Charge

Whether you have eczema, rhinitis, asthma, a combination of, or all three, it’s important to be proactive.

To manage these conditions (which may be lifelong), it starts by knowing your triggers.

You may opt to undergo an allergy test to find out exactly what may be triggering your rhinitis, asthma, and/or eczema.

Aside from that, it’s a matter of limiting your exposure to these triggers (often allergens, which could range from pet fur, to certain chemicals, to fabrics, kinds of food, and more). To get an idea of what these could be, you may check our article on Common Triggers You Should Know About.

And to help care for your skin, make sure that it’s always moisturized in order to strengthen its barrier.

Mometasone furoate (Elica®) products help stop itching, reduce redness, ease swelling, and provide relief within 24 hours. Mometasone furoate (Elica®) cream is applied on thin skin (like on the face) and moist lesions while Mometasone furoate (Elica®) ointment is applied on dry lesions and thickened skin. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.