What is Eczema?

What is Eczema?

• Eczema: Eczema is a chronic skin condition characterized by skin inflammation and irritation. The severity of extent of the condition is highly variable. It may be caused by allergies, irritants or other factors such as stress.
• Eczema: generic term for inflammatory conditions of the skin; particularly with vesiculation in the acute stages.
  Source - WordNet 2.1

Eczema: Introduction

Types of Eczema:

Types of Eczema:

• Atopic eczema - an allergy-related form of eczema often in children.
• Contact eczema - localized red, itchy reaction to an allergen or substance.
• Allergic contact eczema - localized red, itchy, weepy reaction
• Seborrheic eczema - yellowish, oily, scaly patches
• Generalized eczema
• Nummular eczema - round, itchy, irritated patches; crusted and scaly
• Neurodermatitis - scaly patches of skin from a localized itch (e.g. insect bite)
• Stasis dermatitis - lower leg skin irritation; often caused by circulation problems.
• Dyshidrotic eczema - blisters on palms of hand and soles of feet
• Atopic dermatitis
• Infantile dermatitis
• Discoid eczema
• more types...»

Broader types of Eczema:

• Skin conditions
• Dermatitis
• Immune disorders
• Allergic Disorders
• Skin allergies
• more types...»

How many people get Eczema?

Prevalance of Eczema: 15 million people (NIAMS); 10% infants/children estimated (NIAMS); 9% (NIAID); 8.5 million
Prevalance Rate of Eczema: approx 1 in 18 or 5.51% or 15 million people in USA [about data]

Who gets Eczema?

Patient Profile for Eczema: Typically infants and young children (65% cases under 1, 90% cases under 5); may start at age 6-12 weeks; possible later but uncommon after 30.

Gender Profile for Eczema: Males and females equally.

How serious is Eczema?

Prognosis of Eczema: Different treatments have different degrees of benefit amongst patients. The condition is usually chronic and recurring in nature but appropriate treatment and preventative measures may reduce the incidence of the condition.
Complications of Eczema: see complications of Eczema

What causes Eczema?

Causes of Eczema: see causes of Eczema
Risk factors for Eczema: see risk factors for Eczema

What are the symptoms of Eczema?

Symptoms of Eczema: see symptoms of Eczema

Complications of Eczema: see complications of Eczema

Onset of Eczema: after puberty

Eczema: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Eczema.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Eczema.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Eczema: see treatments for Eczema
Research for Eczema: see research for Eczema

Society issues for Eczema

Hospitalization statistics for Eczema: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Eczema:

• 0.08% (10,251) of hospital episodes were for dermatitis and eczema in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 93% of hospital consultations for dermatitis and eczema required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 49% of hospital episodes for dermatitis and eczema were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 51% of hospital episodes for dermatitis and eczema were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• more statistics...»

Organs Affected by Eczema:

Organs and body systems related to Eczema include:

• Skin

Name of Eczema

Main name of condition: Eczema

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Eczema:

• Contact with the skin
• Such as soaps
• Cosmetics
• Clothing
• Detergents
• Jewelry
• Sweat
• Environmental allergens
• Changes in temperature or humidity
• Even psychological stress

 » Next page: Online Medical Textbooks for Eczema

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Online Medical Textbooks for Eczema
• Prevalence and Incidence of Eczema
• Videos related to Eczema
• Prognosis of Eczema
• Types of Eczema

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Take a survey relating to Eczema
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City