In 2000, the American Academy of Dermatology warned Americans: eczema was on the rise. In the warning, the group of dermatologists said that the rate of atopic dermatitis — an inflammatory skin condition also known as eczema — had nearly tripled since 1970. At the time, it was estimated that nearly 6 percent of all Americans had the condition that can cause itchy, red, and scaly skin. Today, the National Eczema Foundation estimates that at least 10 percent of Americans have eczema, and that one in ten people will have eczema in their lifetime.
Despite the increase in prevalence, which has been documented by many researchers — especially among children— one aspect from the warning that donned headlines 23 years ago remains the same: nobody knows what's causing an increase in the number of people diagnosed with the itchy-skin condition.
