Allergic diseases associated with cracks in the skin of eczema patients

The cracks caused by eczema weaken the skin barrier, allowing allergens to penetrate the skin and cause a sequence of allergic diseases. Infants who develop eczema are more likely to develop food allergies, hay fever and asthma as they grow older. Moisturizers, especially early in a child's life, may help prevent eczema, food allergies and other allergic diseases. When food particles are introduced through the skin rather than the digestive system, they are much more likely to cause allergies. Restoring the skin barrier as soon as eczema develops is the best way to stop the allergic reaction in its tracks and prevent allergic diseases from developing. The skin forms an important barrier, keeping moisture in and external allergens or microbes out. patients with eczema lack important proteins and lipids in the outer layers of their skin. As a result of eczema patients' defective skin barrier, water escapes from the skin, drying it out and leading to cracking and itching. Cracked, itchy skin is a hallmark of eczema. Scratching the dry, itchy skin of eczema patients can further damage the skin barrier and activate the immune system. Food particles entering the body through cracks in the skin can trigger an allergic response that leads to food allergy. Once that allergic response has been triggered, the immune system is primed to develop not only eczema and food allergies, but also hay fever and asthma.