6 Types of Eczema and What You Need to Know About Each - Article Health

Types of eczema
Eczema is not one skin condition but several, divided into categories. While they may differ in appearance or location, all the different forms of eczema have a few things in common: They cause your skin to become red, scaly, and itchy. They’re also all chronic with periodic flares, and they share many treatments, such as steroid creams.

Atopic dermatitis
Atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema. The dry, red, scaly skin often shows up on the outer parts of joints like elbows and knees. You might also see cracks behind the ears; a rash on your arms, legs, or cheeks (often caused by scratching the itch); or even open, leaking sores.

Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is similar to atopic dermatitis in that it happens when the skin touches irritating substances, like nickel or a particular chemical, explains Michele S. Green, MD, a dermatologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. It can cause redness, burning, swelling, and blisters that can “weep” and then form a crust. Contact dermatitis symptoms tend to show up wherever the skin came into contact with the irritant, which is often the hands. Many people have both contact and atopic eczema.

Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is similar to atopic dermatitis in that it happens when the skin touches irritating substances, like nickel or a particular chemical, explains Michele S. Green, MD, a dermatologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. It can cause redness, burning, swelling, and blisters that can “weep” and then form a crust. Contact dermatitis symptoms tend to show up wherever the skin came into contact with the irritant, which is often the hands. Many people have both contact and atopic eczema.

Nummular (or discoid) eczema
Nummular or discoid eczema is distinct from other types in that it is always round, often described as “coin-shaped.”

“Nummular just refers to the shape of the lesion,” explains Dr. Green. “It’s a round spot.”

Seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic eczema is more commonly known as dandruff when it appears on your scalp (also called “cradle cap” in babies). But it can also show up on other parts of the body where there are sebaceous (oil-producing) glands, like your nose and upper back. Hormones and yeast can aggravate the condition.


Subscribe to receive free email updates:

0 Response to "6 Types of Eczema and What You Need to Know About Each - Article Health"

Post a Comment