Eczema is a term for several types of skin swelling. It is also called dermatitis. It is not dangerous, but most types cause red, swollen, and itchy skin. Eczema is not contagious.

Eczema Overview

Reviewed: May 19, 2014

Eczema is a term for several different types of skin swelling. Eczema is also called dermatitis. It is not dangerous, but most types cause red, swollen, and itchy skin. Factors that can cause eczema include other diseases, irritating substances, allergies, and your genetic makeup. Eczema is not contagious.

More than 30 million Americans may have eczema. The red, itchy rash can appear all over the body. Babies often have eczema on the face, especially the cheeks and chin. They can also have it on the scalp, chest, back, and outer arms and legs. Children and adults tend to have eczema on the neck, wrists, and ankles, and in areas that bend, like the inner elbow and knee. The most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis. It is an allergic condition that makes your skin dry and itchy. It is most common in babies and children.

People with eczema are usually diagnosed with it when they are babies or young children. Eczema symptoms often become less severe as children grow into adults. For some people, eczema continues into adulthood. Less often, it can start in adulthood. The rash of eczema is different for each person. It may even look different or affect different parts of your body from time to time. It can be mild, moderate, or severe. Generally, people with eczema suffer from dry, sensitive skin. Eczema is also known for its intense itch. The itch may be so bad that you scratch your skin until it bleeds, which can make your rash even worse, leading to even more inflammation and itching. This is called the itch-scratch cycle.

Eczema is a chronic disease. You can prevent some types of eczema by avoiding irritants, stress, and the things you are allergic to. Treatments and self-care measures can relieve itching and prevent new outbreaks.

Eczema Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of eczema vary widely from person to person and include:

  • Itching, which may be severe, especially at night
  • Thickened, cracked, dry, scaly skin
  • Raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching

Factors that can worsen eczema signs and symptoms include:

  • Scratching, which causes further skin damage
  • Bacteria and viruses
  • Stress
  • Sweat
  • Changes in heat and humidity
  • Solvents, cleaners, soaps and detergents
  • Wool in clothing, blankets and carpets
  • Dust and pollen
  • Tobacco smoke and air pollution
  • Eggs, milk, peanuts, soybeans, fish and wheat, mostly in infants and children

Eczema Causes

The exact cause of eczema is unknown. Healthy skin helps retain moisture and protects you from bacteria, irritants, and allergens. Eczema is likely related to a mix of factors:

  • A gene variation that affects the skin's barrier function
  • Immune system dysfunction
  • Environmental conditions

Eczema Diagnosis

No test is needed to diagnose eczema. Your doctor will likely identify it by examining your skin and reviewing your medical history. He or she may also use patch testing or other tests to rule out other skin diseases or identify conditions that accompany your eczema.

Living With Eczema

There are many things that can affect eczema: what you eat, how much exercise you get, and your home and work environment can either help or worsen your eczema.


  • Take an oral allergy or anti-itch medication. Options include nonprescription allergy medicines (antihistamines) such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or fexofenadine (Allegra). Also, diphenhydramine (Benadryl, others) may be helpful if itching is severe.
  • Avoid scratching. Cover the itchy area if you cannot keep from scratching it. Trim nails and wear gloves at night.
  • Wear cool, smooth-textured cotton clothing. Reduce irritation by avoiding clothing that's rough, tight, scratchy, or made from wool. Also, wear appropriate clothing in hot weather or during exercise to prevent excessive sweating.

Eczema Treatments


If regular moisturizing and other self-care steps do not help improve your symptoms, your doctor may suggest the following treatments and drugs:

  • Creams that help repair the skin. Drugs called calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel) affect your immune system. Applied to the skin, they help maintain normal skin, control itching and reduce flares of atopic dermatitis. Due to possible side effects, these prescription-only drugs are used only when other treatments have failed or if someone cannot tolerate other treatments. They are approved for children older than 2 and for adults.
  • Oral or injected drugs that control inflammation. For more severe cases, your doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids such as prednisone or an injected corticosteroid. These drugs are effective but cannot be used long term because of potential serious side effects. Continue moisturizing and using other self-care remedies to prevent a flare-up after you stop taking the corticosteroids.