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Summary
Eczema is a term for several different types of skin swelling. Eczema is also called dermatitis. Most types cause dry, itchy skin and rashes on the face, inside the elbows and behind the knees, and on the hands and feet. Scratching the skin can cause it to turn red, and to swell and itch even more.
Eczema is not contagious. The cause of eczema is unknown. It is likely caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Eczema may get better or worse over time, but it is often a long-lasting disease. People who have it may also develop hay fever and asthma.
The most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis. It is most common in babies and children, but adults can have it too. As children who have atopic dermatitis grow older, this problem may get better or go away. But sometimes the skin may stay dry and get irritated easily.
Treatments may include medicines, skin creams, light therapy, and good skin care. You can prevent some types of eczema by avoiding:
- Things that irritate your skin, such as certain soaps, fabrics, and lotions
- Stress
- Things you are allergic to, such as food, pollen, and animals
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Treatments and Therapies
- Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) Treatment (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Specifics
- Dyshidrosis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Nummular Dermatitis (Merck & Co., Inc.)
- Seborrheic Dermatitis Overview (American Academy of Dermatology)
Genetics
- Atopic dermatitis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Images
- Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) in Adults (VisualDX)
- Nummular Dermatitis (VisualDX)
Test Your Knowledge
- Skin Allergy Quiz (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
Statistics and Research
- Protein Linked to Atopic Dermatitis (National Institutes of Health)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Dermatitis (National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Dermatitis, Atopic (National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Eczema (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Alitretinoin versus phototherapy as the first-line treatment in adults with severe...
- Article: Eczematous reactions in patients with plaque psoriasis receiving biological therapy: an...
- Article: Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis of causal relationship between eczema and autoimmune...
- Eczema -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- American Academy of Dermatology
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Find an Allergist/Immunologist (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish
Children
- Eczema (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
- Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) in Children (VisualDX)
- Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) in Infants (VisualDX)
Patient Handouts
- Atopic dermatitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Atopic dermatitis - children - homecare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Atopic dermatitis - self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Nummular eczema (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Pompholyx eczema (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Seborrheic dermatitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish