Eczema

[Willow7733]

I am wondering how many people with asthma also see a dermatologist for skin problems. I have bad episodes with eczema inside my ears, and on my legs and arms. Now that summer is coming, I would really love for this to clear up. I notice when my asthma is acting up, I get more breakouts. There must be a connection or something?

[runcyclexcski]

I've had exema all of my life. It has mostly cleared up after I started on biologics to deal with asthma. The biologics also cleared up runny nose and itchy eyes in the spring/summer. Honestly, I would rather have the exema and the runny nose than asthma :).

[Poobah]

After taking part in a clinical trial about 8 year's ago, my consultant told me that I had the asthma endotype that is associated with eczema and rheumatoid arthritis. The inflammation pathway just raises the liklihood of getting eczema and asthma. I have 2 cousins with eczema and asthma, and other relatives with rheumatoid arthritis, but none of the latter suffer from asthma or eczema. The consultant said it would be very unlucky to get all 3, but there was around a 20% chance if having asthma and eczema.

[Willow7733 in reply to Poobah]

I was diagnosed first with eczema, then 7 years ago with asthma, and two years ago with rheumatoid arthritis/lupus). It just seems like they were all connected, but not sure. It is an odd coincidence though.

[Poobah in reply to Willow7733]

If you Google "asthma and eczema and rheumatoid arthritis" you'll find quite a few articles on the subject. There's a known link, and much discussion around treatment.

[Wizzerwood]

I have had asthma symptoms on and off for 40 years but no eczema until I hit the perimenopause 😬 Inflammation, allergies and nasal polyps seemed to increase massively. My arms were so bad I couldn't work. But I went whole food plant based and the eczema completely went away - but not the others 🙄 although they did improve a lot. So it does seem like all these symptoms are linked to some extent - but doctors in the UK seem to know very little about overactive immune responses and inflammation and why it happens - particularly with regard to women's hormones 😔

[Gareth57]

Well this is a bit weird as I never considered a connection, I've been asthmatic for 60 years or more and never had any skin problems until I started to get arthritic (which they tell me is osteo) a few years ago and started to find something going on in my ears plus a couple of other patches!

[Willow7733 in reply to Gareth57]

It is all strange.

[SuziElley]

Excéda, asthma, hay fever, all seem to run together. I use a prescribed steroid cream when my excess plays up, usually in the summer. Also, look at all your medications to see if they have an adverse reaction to sunlight. My diuretic, furosemide, does.

[Mandevilla]

Perhaps if you're under strain from the asthma already, you're more prone to eczema? Or the thing that triggers your asthma is also a trigger for eczema?

I'm the other way around - I've had psoriasis for 25 years, but it tends to be better when my asthma is worse and vice versa!

[ReedB]

I come from a family where we all suffer from allergies. This can include asthma, hay fever, food allergies, eczema etc. It is definitely all linked. I've found my hay fever has improved a little the last few years along with mild eczema but it's now my asthma that responds more to allergens... 🤦‍♀️ As a women hormones also play a part.

In terms of treatment it's usually antihistamines and creams but unfortunately when it's not controlled it's steroid based meds that really help either hydrocortisone for skin or prednisolone for calming down the immune system!

[PaulRosedene]

Like others I have asthma, eczema and hayfever. I benefitted greatly from patch testing. This showed I was allergic to a chemical in skin creams. I feel it is also worth experimenting with diet. Try giving up gluten for a fortnight, and then try giving up diary for a fortnight. When your skin gets bad, try and see why that might be. I reacted to washing powder at one stage.

I feel we need to be like Sherlock Holmes, looking for elementary clues in the mundane parts of life that Dr Watson and the rest of the medics may not have considered.

[Willow7733 in reply to PaulRosedene]

It is very complicated.

[PaulRosedene in reply to Willow7733]

It is a complicated picture. But every now and then you can see a pattern and make a breakthrough. Have you tried patch testing ?

[Willow7733 in reply to PaulRosedene]

No, what is that?

[PaulRosedene in reply to Willow7733]

It's a test that dermatology organises. They put a number of potential allergens onto your back, and leave them for a week. You go back after a week and they can then assess which of the various products you have reacted to. I had a similar test the other day where they patch tested for ten minutes. It means they can test multiple products at the same time.

I learnt I was allergic to a chemical that I was completely unaware of. I would recommend it.

[Patk1 in reply to PaulRosedene]

Washing powders+liquids dish soap,shampoo,shower gel - most contain sulphates - chemicals which are very drying + harmful to skin and hair.typical 1 in handwas,shampoo + shower gel is SLS(sodium laurel sulphate). It's usually 1st ingredient in them afterwards.There are alternative sls-free products if u shop for them x

[BridgetBaker]

Eczema, asthma and allergies (particularly to grasses) are all in the same family for sure.

Have you ever done a food diet to see if you have any dietary triggers? I know my family found gluten and dairy common triggers. We also did a salicylate elimination diet at one point but that didn't have any effect for us. Healing the gut health can have a major impact.

Have you tried probiotics to help with gut health? There's lots of good research on Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and how it can help with eczema.

We've done all the things so if you ever want to bounce ideas, feel free to reach out.

[Willow7733 in reply to BridgetBaker]

I am reading and seeing more studies on gut health and its effects on the body. So interesting.