The root causes of this condition remain unclear but numerous associated risk factors have been identified as follows:
1. Genetics: Children with a family history of Atopy are at a greater risk of experiencing the condition than children with no such family history.
2. Structural skin defects: These include, for instance, losing greater-than-normal amounts of water through the skin, a reduction in skin lipids, abnormal skin acidity and alkalinity, an imbalance in the skin’s microorganisms and abnormality of the skin’s immune system.
3. Environmental factors acting as stimulants: These include:
- Temperatures that are too low or too high.
- The presence of irritants, such as chemicals, perfumes, alcohol or friction caused by rough clothing materials.
- Food allergies, for instance, allergies to milk, eggs and/or nuts can cause rashes to flare up. Such allergies affect around 10% of young infants who have moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. These groups also do not respond to standard treatments.
- Airborne allergens, for example, dust mite and mold.