Eczema (patient information)

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Editor-in-Chief: Ethan Leeman

What is Eczema?

typical, mild eczema

Eczema, also known as Dermatitis, 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.

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.

Eczema cannot be cured, but one can prevent some types of eczema by avoiding irritants, stress and allergens.

What are the symptoms of Eczema?

Because Eczema is a set of clinical characteristics and not a single disease, there are many different symptoms. All of them involve inflammation of the skin. The symptoms for the more common ones are:

• Atopic Eczema (most common form, thought to be genetic and linked to asthma)
  • Itchy rash is particularly noticeable on head and scalp, neck, inside of elbows, behind knees, and buttocks.
• Contact dermatitis
  • Allergic: delayed rash caused by an allergen (poison ivy, nickel, etc.)
  • Irritant: direct reaction caused by an irritant (ex. types of detergent)
• Xerotic Eczema
  • Extremely cracked and dry skin that develops into a rash. More common in older population.
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis
  • Closely related to dandruff. Dry or greasy peeling of scalp, eyebrows, face, and sometimes trunk.

Treatment options

There is no cure, but there are a number of treatments for reducing the inflammation and itchiness:

• Corticosteroids, with varying strength depending on severity of the Eczema. May have side effects such as thinning of the skin, HPA axis suppression, and skin infections. Not recommended for preventative use.
• Skin Barrier Emulsions, a non-steroidal cream made up of ceramides, free fatty acids, and cholesterol intended to help repair damaged skin.
• Immunomodulators, reduces immune system in affected areas. Thought to possibly contribute to lymph node or skin cancer. Immunesuppressants are sometimes used in severe cases of eczema.
• Antibiotics for any infection made possible by damaged skin.
• Anti-itch drugs

Diseases with similar symptoms

Because Eczema is sometimes triggered by food, food allergies and eczema are often confused.

Where to find medical care for Eczema

Directions to Hospitals Treating Eczema

Prevention of Eczema

• People with eczema, or people who live with someone who has eczema, who are not in danger of smallpox are recommended not to get the smallpox vaccination, as it can cause vaccinial lesions.
• Moisturizing to avoid dry skin. Avoiding soaps and hard detergents.
• Environmental measures, such as avoiding dust mites.
• Light therapy using UVA or UVB light.
• Diet. Patients may have individual dietary triggers to eczema.

Sources

• CDC on smallpox vaccination
• Wikipedia
• Medline