Eczema classification

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1], Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Edzel Lorraine Co, D.M.D., M.D.

Overview

Eczema can be classified in different forms. It could be based on location (hand eczema), specific appearance (discoid), or etiology (varicose eczema). A simplified nomenclature of allergy-related diseases was released by the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) in 2001.

More Common Types of Eczema

• Table 1 enumerates the common types of eczema with their corresponding description.

Table 1. More Common types of Eczema.

Classification	Description
Atopic eczema	This is a chronic, inflammatory dermatologic disease which presents as pruritus, and xerosis, and is closely associated with IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Infants usually have the lesions on the scalp and cheeks, while children and adults have it on the flexural areas.
Contact dermatitis	Skin lesion attributed to any allergens or irritants. Gold standard of treatment is patch testing.
Xerotic eczema
Seborrhoeic dermatitis

Lesser Common Types of Eczema

• Table 2 highlights the lesser common types of eczema with their respective features.

Table 2. Lesser Common types of Eczema.

Classification	Description
Dyshidrosis (Dyshidrotic Eczema, Pompholyx, Vesicular Palmoplantar Dermatitis, or Housewife’s Eczema)	Appears on the palms, soles, and lateral borders of fingers and toes. Presents as pruritic vesicles with some thickening and cracks and gets worse at night.
Nummular Dermatitis (Discoid Eczema)	Has an unknown etiology which aggravates during winter. Round oozing dry spot of well-demarcated lesion, mostly found on the lower extremities.
Stasis Dermatitis (Venous Eczema, Gravitational Eczema, Varicose eczema)	Commonly found in the ankles of people aged 50 years old and above with blood circulation problems. This condition often leads to leg ulcers.
Dermatitis herpetiformis (Duhring's Disease)	Symmetrical, pruritic rash on arms, knees, back, and thigh, which is associated with celiac disease.
Neurodermatitis (Localized Scratch Dermatitis, Lichen Simplex Chronicus)	Thickened, pruritic, pigmented patch which resulted from constant scratching.
Autoeczematization (Autosensitization)	Skin reaction to microorganisms, which manifests a few distance away from the original site of infection.