Eczema

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Keratosis pilaris - close-up

Atopic dermatitis

Atopy on the ankles

Dermatitis, atopic on the arms

Dermatitis, atopic in an infant

Hyperlinearity in atopic dermatitis, on the palm

Eczema, atopic - close-up

Dermatitis, atopic on a young girl's face

Keratosis pilaris on the cheek

Dermatitis, atopic on the legs

Hyperlinearity in atopic dermatitis

Eczema

Definition:

Atopic dermatitis, commonly referred to as eczema, is a chronic skin disorder categorized by scaly and itching rashes. People with eczema often have a family history of allergic conditions like asthma, hay fever, or eczema.

Alternative Names:

Infantile eczema; Atopic eczema; Dermatitis - atopic

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Eczema is most common in infants, and at least half of those cases clear by age 3. In adults, it is generally a chronic or recurring condition.

A hypersensitivity reaction (similar to an allergy) occurs in the skin, causing chronic inflammation. The inflammation causes the skin to become itchy and scaly. Chronic irritation and scratching can cause the skin to thicken and become leathery-textured.

Exposure to environmental irritants can worsen symptoms, as can dryness of the skin, exposure to water, temperature changes, and stress.

References:

Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby, Inc. 2004:41.

Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2004:2458-2460.

Review Date: 10/17/2005
Reviewed By: Michael S. Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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