You wouldn’t have clicked unless eczema has been keeping you up. Your skin is a battleground, and eczema is that uninvited squatter refusing to leave. Look at your skin color. Are the uninvited patches red, purple, ashen, or dark brown? Yep, probably eczema.

Before you leap into conclusions, understand this: Eczema and autoimmune diseases are not the same, but they share a dinky dorm room in the big castle called the immune system. On one hand, eczema is like your immune system throwing immature tantrums. On the other hand, autoimmune diseases are like your immune system suddenly deciding to shipwreck that same hand.

Remember, there are about as many types of eczema as absurd diet trends on Instagram. Atopic dermatitis is just one. But getting cozy with it might just increase your chances of an unwanted autoimmune vacation.

Eczema is a master of disguise. It hides behind enigmatic environmental factors almost like it's running a secret operation away from prying eyes. Some triggers for its theatrics can include innocuous stuff from everyday life. Sometimes, it's food, but this connection is like a cryptic crossword clue that's yet to be solved.

Just like your eccentric Uncle Bob who wears shorts in winter, eczema presents differently by age. For the little ones, it can mean itchy horrors on face, arms, and legs. As you age, it moves to cosier areas like inside your elbows. It's so insistent that sometimes it can make your skin peel off. Ouch!

Your immune system is your body's bouncer. It kicks out the bad guys without a second thought. But in autoimmune diseases, it goes rogue. Starts picking fights with its own family (read: parts of your body).

In this bizarre saga of the immune system, eczema is the troublemaker sibling. It sticks to your skin, causes inflammation and distress, but stops short of causing an all-out civil war (like an autoimmune disease). But be careful with that atopic dermatitis. It may seem harmless, but it could be preparing you for an introduction to autoimmunity.

If you have eczema (especially the atopic variety), your chances of getting an autoimmune disease may just double. This doesn’t mean you should panic. What it means is, if you've eczema, you're special and should be given a superhero name like Autoimmune-Eczema Avenger.

Usually, the doctors would brush off eczema as a symptom of autoimmune disease. But if you're hosting both eczema and an autoimmune condition, your treatment could be a high-wire juggle.

Treating eczema can be as complicated as understanding it. Daily moisturization is your first weapon. And when there's a flare-up, slathering on some topical corticosteroids could give you temporary relief. Sometimes, systemic medications could be your calvary. In stubborn cases, phototherapy (light therapy) could be your last stand.

Ultimately, if eczema dares to challenge your sanity, lock horns with it. Talk to your healthcare provider about it. It's time you showed eczema who's boss. Welcome to the resistance, Autoimmune-Eczema Avenger!