Myths & Facts of Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is contagious

AD is not contagious. You cannot catch AD or get an eczema flare-up from exposure to a person with AD. ^[1]

FACT

Children with AD grow out of it

Proper care and management of your skin may help to prevent future flare-ups. While the disease has been observed to alleviate substantially by age 7, this is not a guarantee. ^[2]

FACT

Having a family history of AD guarantees getting AD

If you have a parent who has AD, it may mean you’re at risk of developing it yourself. Certain genetic mutations increase the risk of developing AD, but this is not always the case. ^[3]

FACT

Home remedies can cure AD

At best, home remedies like coconut oil can moisturize the skin and reduce itching or swelling, but home remedies do not cure AD. ^[4]

FACT

AD triggers are the same for everyone

What triggers a flare-up may vary from person to person and have different underlying reasons, such as irritable skin or prolonged stress. It’s best to seek a professional diagnosis to determine your triggers.^[5]

FACT

Certain food can cause AD

By itself, there is no food that can cause someone to have AD. The link between food and AD remains unclear. Some AD patients may have underlying food allergies that trigger rashes that look like AD. Other patients may find that food triggers stronger reactions only when they’re already having a flare-up.^[6][7]

FACT

References:
1: Healthline. Is Eczema Contagious? [Internet]. [Place Unknown], Healthline; 2018 [updated 2018 August 28, cited 2022 July 26]. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/is-eczema-contagious#infected-eczema
2: Pinar Gur Cetinkaya and Umit Murat Sahiner. Childhood atopic dermatitis: current developments, treatment approaches, and future expectations
[Internet]. Turkey, Turk J Med Sci; 2019 [updated 2019 August 8, cited 2022 July 26]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7018348/
3: Medline Plus. Atopic dermatitis [Internet]. Bethesda, MD, USA; National Library of Medicine (US); 2017 [updated 2017 October 1, cited 2022 July 26]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/atopic-dermatitis/#inheritance
4: Medical News Today. How to treat atopic dermatitis [Internet]. Brighton, East Sussex, UK. Medical News Today [updated 2022 June 8, cited 2022 July 26]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323493#home-remedies
5: National Eczema Association. Eczema Causes and Triggers [Internet]. Novato, CA, USA, National Eczema Association [cited 2022 July 26]. Available from: https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/causes-and-triggers-of-eczema/
6: National Eczema Association. Everything you need to know about eczema and food allergies [Internet]. Novato, CA, USA, National Eczema Association; 2018 [updated 2021 July 15, cited 2022 July 26]. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema-food-allergies/
7: Ellen Greenlaw, Stephanie S. Gardner. Diet and Eczema: The Facts [Internet]. New York City, NY, USA. WebMD; 2020 [updated 2020 June 2, cited 2022 July 26]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/eczema-diet

Myths vs. Facts