Eczema

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Atopic dermatitis	Atopy on the ankles	Dermatitis, atopic in an infant	Dermatitis, atopic on a young girl's face
Dermatitis, atopic on the arms	Dermatitis, atopic on the legs	Eczema, atopic - close-up	Hyperlinearity in atopic dermatitis
Hyperlinearity in atopic dermatitis, on the palm	Keratosis pilaris - close-up	Keratosis pilaris on the cheek

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.

Infantile eczema; Atopic eczema; Dermatitis - atopic

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.

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.