Eczema Skin Condition

Eczema affects the dermis and epidermis layers of the skin. Inflammation caused by a trigger – external or internal – will result in leaky blood vessels and fluid to build up between the skin cells, causing a sponge-like effect on the otherwise tight ‘brick wall’ barrier formed by healthy skin cells.

The sponge-like result is why eczema skin ‘weeps’ and blisters form.Using soaps causes further breakdown of the already ‘spongey’ skin barrier in eczema skin, leading to further irritation.

When there is constant rubbing and scratching from the itchy sensation of inflamed skin, the epidermis tries harder to regenerate itself and so ‘cell turnover’ occurs faster and the skin becomes rough and thickened.

In the upper part of the dermis, the blood vessels are filled with white blood cells, as part of the immune response to the trigger. Sometimes they leak out of the blood vessels and move into the epidermis, causing more fluid build-up.