What are the causes of atopic dermatitis?
The exact cause of atopic dermatitis is not known. Caregivers do not know why cells overreact and cause a lot of swelling. Atopic dermatitis is more likely to occur if another family member has eczema, hay fever, asthma, or allergies. The following conditions and substances may trigger a flare-up of your child’s atopic dermatitis: • Allergens: • Animal dandruff: Dogs, cats, hamsters, mice, and birds usually shed dander (old skin cells) from their skin, fur, or feathers. • Dust mites: These are tiny insects (bugs) that pass feces (stool or BM) which may cause atopic dermatitis to flare-up. Dust mites are found on almost every surface in homes, including carpet, furniture, bed sheets, blankets and pillows. • Food: The most common food allergies come from cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, seafoods, and processed foods. If your child has a food allergy, even a very tiny bite of that food can make him sick. • Pollens or molds: Pollen and molds are at their highest during the afternoon
