Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis): Causes, Treatment & Symptoms

OverviewWhat is eczema? What does it look and feel like?

Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) is a condition that causes your skin to become dry, red, itchy and bumpy. Its one of many types of dermatitis. Eczema damages the skin barrier function (the "glue" of your skin). This loss of barrier function makes your skin more sensitive and more prone to infection and dryness.

Eczema doesnt harm your body. It doesnt mean that your skin is dirty or infected, and its not contagious. There are treatments that can help manage your symptoms.

In the word dermatitis, derm means skin and itis means inflammation. The word as a whole means inflammation of the skin. Eczema originates from the Greek word ekzein which means to boil over or break out.

Eczema affects up to 15 million Americans. Infants are prone to eczema and 10% to 20% will have it. However, nearly half outgrow the condition or have significant improvement as they get older.

Eczema affects males and females equally and is more common in people who have a personal or family history of asthma, environmental allergies and/or food allergies.

The first signs of eczema are itchiness and redness.

Eczema can show up anywhere on your skin. In teens and adults, its typically found on your hands, neck, inner elbows, ankles, knees, feet and around your eyes.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) usually begins in childhood, but anyone at any age can get it. Youre high risk if you are:

No. No type of dermatitis is contagious. It cant be spread to anyone else.

Although some types of dermatitis are painful (contact dermatitis, for example) or cause a burning sensation, eczema is usually itchy.

Eczema and other types of dermatitis are not harmful to the rest of your body. The condition is not deadly.

Psoriasis and dermatitis can appear similar. Both cause patches of red skin. However, in psoriasis, the scales are thick and the edges of those scales are well-defined.

Discuss with your healthcare provider your questions about which type of skin condition you have. You can have more than one skin condition at a time. Treatments for one may not work for the other.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is caused by a combination of immune system activation, genetics, environmental triggers and stress.

Mental/emotional signs:

Physical signs:

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) symptoms include:

If you have eczema, you might also have another condition that doesnt cause it, but is often found alongside it:

Notice that diabetes is not included in this list.

Low humidity (dry air) can dry out your skin, and sweating caused by high heat can make the itchiness worse.

Eczema can be lifelong, but symptoms can be managed with at-home remedies, over-the-counter medications and prescribed medications.

Your healthcare provider will take a close look at your skin. They will look for classic signs of eczema such as a redness and dryness. They will ask about the symptoms youre experiencing.

Usually your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose eczema based on examining your skin. However, when there is doubt, they may perform the following tests:

The conversation with your healthcare provider will need to cover a lot of information. Be sure to be specific about your symptoms.

Treating eczema (atopic dermatitis) can be difficult if the cause is something you cant control, like genetics. Fortunately, you may have some influence over your environment and stress levels. Do your best to figure out what triggers or worsens your eczema, and then avoid it. The goal is to reduce itching and discomfort and prevent infection and additional flare-ups.

Consider these treatment tips:

If your child has skin problems, such as eczema, you can:

No. There are treatments, but no treatment can claim to eliminate the symptoms of dermatitis 100% of the time.

Yes, if your usual healthcare provider is unable to help with your eczema symptoms. Dermatologists specialize in skin conditions.

There are steps you can take that may prevent eczema outbreaks:

The connection between eczema and food allergies is unclear. If you have food allergies, then one of the reasons why you must avoid that food is that it may cause or worsen dermatitis. Examples of common allergies include peanuts, dairy, eggs, sugar, alcohol and gluten. Pay attention to what you eat. If your eczema flares up after you eat a certain food, then you might have an allergy to it.

If you dont have a food allergy then there are no foods, including chicken, that will cause or worsen your eczema.

Nearly half of children with eczema will outgrow the condition or experience great improvement by the time they reach puberty. Others will continue to have some form of the disease. For adults with eczema, the disease can be generally well-managed with good skin care and treatment, although flare-ups of symptoms can occur throughout life.

Eczema can be with you lifelong. It can start in infancy and continue through adulthood. It can start in the teenage years and disappear by young adulthood. Each possibility depends on the person.

Eczema is a chronic condition, which means that it cannot be cured. Treatments, however, are very effective in reducing the symptoms of itchy, dry skin.

Many people live with eczema (atopic dermatitis). As many as 15 million Americans may have this skin condition. Living with it can be challenging.

There may be times when your eczema disappears. This is known as a remission period. Other times you may have a flare-up, which is when it gets worse. The goal of treatment is to prevent such flare-ups, preventing your symptoms from getting worse. Be sure to avoid triggers, moisturize, take your medicine and do anything else your healthcare provider recommends.

Reducing your stress is very important. Try these tips:

See your dermatologist or other healthcare provider as soon as you notice symptoms. Get treatment right away.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is very normal, very common, and very, very uncomfortable. It can affect your quality of life. At its worse it can keep you from sleeping, distract you and make you feel self-conscious in public. See your dermatologist or other healthcare provider as soon as you start to see signs of it. Explore at-home remedies and prescribed treatments.

Youre not alone! 15% to 20% of people experience eczema or another type of dermatitis at some point in their lives.

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Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis): Causes, Treatment & Symptoms