Eczema, a common skin condition characterized by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin, can sometimes lead to enlarged lymph nodes. While concerning, this link to the body’s immune responses is important to understand. Swollen lymph nodes can be related to eczema’s inflammatory processes, but always warrant attention and, at times, medical evaluation.
How Eczema Affects Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures fundamental to the body’s immune system. They filter lymph fluid, housing immune cells that trap and destroy harmful substances like bacteria and viruses. When the body encounters infection or inflammation, these nodes enlarge as immune cells accumulate to combat the threat.
Eczema flare-ups compromise the skin’s natural barrier, making it susceptible to pathogen entry. The immune system activates, increasing infection-fighting cells in nearby lymph nodes. Common secondary infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus or herpes simplex virus (eczema herpeticum), frequently trigger this enlargement.
Persistent eczema inflammation can also cause lymph node swelling, even without overt infection. This natural, protective mechanism involves lymph nodes responding to ongoing inflammatory signals from affected skin. In chronic cases, nodes may remain enlarged due to continuous immune activity.
Other Reasons for Swollen Lymph Nodes
While eczema can cause enlarged lymph nodes, this is not exclusive to the condition. Swollen lymph nodes commonly indicate the immune system is responding to various situations, most frequently an infection.
Viral infections (e.g., common cold, influenza, mononucleosis) often swell lymph nodes, particularly in the neck. Bacterial infections (e.g., strep throat, skin infections) also cause localized enlargement, typically in nodes closest to the infection site.
Autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can cause widespread lymph node swelling. These conditions involve the immune system attacking healthy tissues, leading to generalized lymphadenopathy. Some medications also list swollen lymph nodes as a side effect.
Less commonly, enlarged lymph nodes can signal more serious conditions. These include certain cancers like lymphoma or leukemia, or cancer that has spread from another body part.
When to Consult a Doctor
Many instances of swollen lymph nodes are a normal, temporary response to infection or inflammation and resolve on their own. However, certain characteristics warrant medical evaluation.
Consult a doctor if a swollen lymph node is larger than 1 centimeter (or 1.5 cm with eczema). Seek attention if nodes feel unusually hard, are fixed, or grow rapidly. Swelling persisting over two to four weeks, or without an obvious reason, also needs evaluation.
Additional symptoms requiring medical consultation include unexplained fever, night sweats, or unintentional weight loss. Redness or warmth over the node, or nodes appearing in unusual areas like above the collarbone, are also reasons to seek professional advice. A medical professional can diagnose the cause and recommend management.