Types of Skin Eczema

Eczema is a general term used to describe several kinds of skin inflammation. Atopic dermatitis is considered as the most prevalent type of eczema. Eczema often affects children below 5 years old. Around 85 percent of the cases are noted within this age range. Usually, the disorder will leave permanently at the age of 3 for 50 percent of the infants. For the other 50 percent, eczema will continue to manifest all throughout life. Genetics is one of the culprits responsible for what causes eczema. Older family members with the problem often pass on the disorder to their children.

People who are prone to allergies especially those with hay fever or asthma are also at risk of developing eczema. It is not clear why a history of allergy is associated with eczema. Girls tend to get eczema more frequently than boys. The disorder affects around 20 percent of the children population regardless of the race. An estimated 1 to 2 percent of adults are suffering from the said medical condition. The disorder is not contagious. However, it may affect members of the family at the same time.

Different Types of Eczema

Eczema comes in different forms. These are the types of eczema:

• Atopic dermatitis is a chronic ailment that manifest in the form of itchy, swelling skin. This is the most ordinary type. The disorder would flare up suddenly then leave as suddenly too when exposed to certain triggers. Atropic dermatitis is caused by a number of factors such as allergens, skin irritants such as soaps, food and other allergic-causing ingredients. An estimated two-thirds of the sufferers develop this type of eczema before turning 1 year old. Atopic dermatitis manifests in infants with family history of such medical condition or have certain allergies.

• Contact eczema or contact dermatitis is a condition characterized by itching, burning sensation and redness when the skin comes in contact with an allergen or an irritant such as soaps or chemicals. Other possible causes are detergent, jewelry, cosmetics, fabrics and perfume. People who have allergies are most likely to develop contact eczema.

• Seborrheic eczema is a type of eczema that causes skin to swell. Other symptoms include scaly patches on scalp or face and in other parts of the body. Infants with dandruff and cradle crap manifest seborrheic eczema. There is a noted swelling particularly on the eczema on face affecting the cheeks or nasal folds. Probable causes of seborrheic eczema are oily skin, stress, weather and not shampooing frequently.

• Nummular eczema forms circular patches in the skin usually in the arms, legs, back and buttocks. These patches can be scaly and very itchy. This is not a typical form of eczema. It occurs mostly in older men. A person with family history of asthma, allergies or atopic dermatitis is prone to the ailment.

• Stasis dermatitis shows in the form of skin irritation in the lower legs due to problems in circulation called venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency occurs when the valves of the veins malfunction. This condition usually affects people more than 50 years old. The usual signs include reddish brown discoloration on the legs and itching. Ulcers may develop as the ailment progresses. Stasis dermatitis is also known as varicose eczema due to the accumulation of fluids in the legs.

• Dyshidrotic eczema manifests in the form of clear blisters that are itchy in the hands and feet. This type of eczema is found in 20 percent of people that have hand eczema which might require an eczema lotion. It can strike people of all ages, both male and female especially in the warmer months of spring and summer.