Is eczema an autoimmune disease? What to know - Medical News Today
Eczema is an umbrella term for various inflammatory skin conditions, or dermatitis. Several types of dermatitis involve an overreaction from the immune system, and some research suggests autoimmune factors may play a role. An autoimmune disease is the result of the immune system mistakenly attacking the body's healthy tissues. Typically, this is different from other types of immune response, such as an allergic reaction, which happens when the body perceives exposure to a specific substance as a threat. However, a study in the Journal of Autoimmunity notes that one type of eczema, atopic dermatitis (AD), may start as an allergic reaction and progress to an autoimmune response. Eczema refers to a group of conditions that cause itchy, inflamed rashes on the skin. If an individual has a light skin tone, eczema may appear in red patches. The patches may appear brown, purple, or gray on darker skin tones. Doctors currently recognize seven types of eczema, which are: Most types of eczem