Eczema Woes More Than Skin Deep

By Janice Wood Associate News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on January 18, 2015

A new study finds that eczema, a chronic itchy skin disease that often starts in childhood, wreaks havoc on patients lives.

The study from Northwestern University discovered that adults suffering from eczema have higher rates of smoking, drinking and obesity and are less likely to exercise.

These behaviors give them a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, as well as diabetes, according to the researchers. On top of that, they also have higher rates of insomnia.

About 10 percent of adults in the U.S. have eczema, the researchers reported.

This disease takes a huge emotional toll on its sufferers, like chronic pain, said dermatologist and lead study author Jonathan Silverberg, Ph.D.

Because eczema often starts in early childhood, people are affected all through their developmental years and adolescence. It hurts their self-esteem and identity. Thats part of why we see all these negative behaviors.

Adding to eczema patients health woes is difficulty exercising because sweat and heat aggravate the itching, according to Silverberg, director of the Northwestern Medicine Multidisciplinary Eczema Center.

They will avoid anything that triggers the itch, he said. Patients report their eczema flares during a workout.

This opens our eyes in the world of dermatology that were not just treating chronic inflammation of the skin but the behavioral, lifestyle side of things, Silverberg continued.

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Eczema Woes More Than Skin Deep