The exact cause of AD is not known. Research has shown that a person is more likely to have AD if parents or other family members have ever had AD, hayfever, asthma, or food allergies. These are different for each person. It's important to work closely with your health care provider to try to figure out what makes your itching, rash and other symptoms worse. The Itch-Scratch Cycle Scratching or rubbing the skin can make the itch and rash of AD worse.
Scratching causes further irritation, injures the skin, and increases itchiness.
This is called the itch-scratch cycle. Irritants An irritant is something that causes burning, itching or redness. Almost anything can be irritating to the skin when the rash of AD is severe. Chemicals, solvents, soaps, detergents, fragrances, some ingredients in skin care products, some fabrics, and smoke are irritants you may need to avoid. Your health care provider may recommend patch testing on the skin to try to determine if products you use or are exposed to cause an irritant or allergic skin reaction.