Back toPeople with atopic dermatitis often have a sensitive immune system.
Transcript
I have a question. I heard that the immune system is involved with eczema. Is that true? And also, how does that work?
Thanks so much for asking this question. It's a good one. Essentially, people with Atopic Dermatitis, or AD,
often have a sensitive immune system. Now, your immune system is what fights off the things that make you sick.
It's activated when your body senses something that doesn't belong. We call these intruders antigens.
Normally, your skin does a pretty good job of keeping antigens out. But with AD, the skin barrier isn't working as it should,
and that allows them to slip through. The immune system then senses that something is wrong,
and it responds by releasing a whole bunch of cells to kill these foreign substances. You can see these cells in yellow.
This immune response produces inflammation in the affected area, and that inflammation is what
causes the painful symptoms of atopic dermatitis. It's a complicated process, and each individual
is affected by AD differently. Talk to your dermatologist to develop a plan that can
