Growing up in Nigeria, whenever someone had eczema, there was always an explanation. Maybe they were not bathing properly. Maybe they wore dirty clothes. Some people even warned their children not to play with them, believing the skin condition could spread.

Those beliefs have been repeated for generations in homes, schools and neighbourhoods until many people accepted them as fact. The problem is that most of them are wrong.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is one of the world’s most common chronic skin conditions. According to a 2024 review published in the British Journal of Dermatology, it affects about 11.1 percent of children and 6.3 percent of adults worldwide. Another global study estimates that more than 204 million people are living with the condition.

Yet despite decades of medical research, eczema remains surrounded by myths that continue to fuel stigma, delay treatment and send people searching for cures that simply do not exist.

This is why separating fact from fiction matters.

Myth: Eczema is caused by poor hygiene

This is probably the oldest myth many Nigerians have heard. The sight of dry, itchy or inflamed skin often leads people to assume the person is not bathing properly or keeping themselves clean. Some parents even scrub children’s skin more aggressively, hoping the patches will disappear.

But eczema has nothing to do with being dirty.

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Doctors explain that eczema develops because the skin barrier does not work as effectively as it should. Instead of locking moisture in and keeping irritants out, the skin becomes dry, fragile and more easily inflamed. Genetics, the immune system and environmental factors all play important roles.

Ironically, bathing too often with harsh soaps or very hot water can actually make eczema worse by stripping away the skin’s natural oils.

Myth: You can catch eczema from someone else

Many people still avoid touching someone with eczema because they believe it is contagious. It is not.

You cannot develop eczema by shaking hands, hugging someone, sharing clothes or sitting beside them. Unlike fungal infections or some viral skin conditions, eczema cannot be passed from one person to another.

Unfortunately, this misconception has caused many children and adults living with eczema to experience unnecessary embarrassment and social isolation.

Myth: It is just dry skin

If eczema were simply dry skin, moisturiser would solve the problem, but the reality is more complicated.

Dryness is only one symptom of a chronic inflammatory disease. The immune system becomes overactive, while the skin barrier becomes weaker. This allows moisture to escape and irritants, allergens and bacteria to enter more easily, leading to persistent itching and repeated flare-ups.

That is why many people need more than moisturisers to control the condition.

Myth: Only children have eczema

Many babies develop eczema before their fifth birthday, which has led some people to believe it is strictly a childhood condition. Although many children improve as they grow older, eczema does not always disappear.

Adults can continue living with the condition for decades, while others develop eczema for the first time later in life. Dermatologists now recognise adult-onset eczema as a well-established medical condition.

Myth: Scratching helps it heal

Anyone who has experienced eczema understands how difficult it can be to ignore the itch.

Unfortunately, scratching creates what doctors call the itch-scratch cycle. The more someone scratches, the more damaged the skin becomes. That damage triggers more inflammation, which causes even more itching.

Over time, repeated scratching can break the skin, increase the risk of infection and make flare-ups last much longer.

Myth: Steroid creams are too dangerous to use

Social media has made many people afraid of topical steroid creams. Stories about skin thinning and permanent damage have convinced some patients to avoid treatment altogether. Dermatologists say those fears are often exaggerated.

Topical corticosteroids remain one of the most effective treatments for eczema when they are prescribed correctly and used for the recommended period. Problems usually occur when people self-medicate, use very strong steroids unnecessarily or continue treatment far longer than advised.

For many patients, avoiding appropriate treatment because of online misinformation causes more harm than the medicine itself.

Myth: Food is always responsible

When eczema flares up, many people immediately blame eggs, groundnuts, seafood or dairy products.

While certain foods can trigger flare-ups in some individuals, particularly children with confirmed food allergies, food is not the cause of every case.

Doctors warn against eliminating several foods without proper medical advice because unnecessary dietary restrictions can lead to poor nutrition without improving eczema.

Myth: There is a miracle cure

This may be the most expensive myth of all. From herbal mixtures and detox drinks to miracle soaps and homemade creams, products claiming to permanently cure eczema are everywhere. The truth is that there is currently no permanent cure.

Eczema is a long-term condition that can usually be controlled successfully through proper skincare, trigger management and medical treatment when necessary. Many children improve significantly as they grow older, but flare-ups can still return. Anyone promising a guaranteed cure should be approached with caution.

Knowing your triggers is half the battle

Although eczema itself is not caused by poor hygiene, certain things can trigger flare-ups.

Common triggers include heat, excessive sweating, dust, harsh detergents, fragranced skincare products, stress, dry weather and some fabrics such as wool. The triggers vary from one person to another, which is why doctors often recommend paying attention to personal patterns rather than copying someone else’s skincare routine.

Cynthia Nwanonyiri