As we have all heard and known that there are various types of eczema with some common symptoms such as dry, scaly skin, redness, itching, which may be intense and there is no cure for eczema but the condition can be managed by knowing the triggers/allergens that can cause flare-ups In eczema, the skin is described by embodied regular red rash, flaky, patchy skin in various body parts.
Types Of Eczema
There are various types of eczema that can affect your skin and worsen it that you should know about.
- Atopic dermatitis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Contact dermatitis
- Dyshidrotic eczema
- Nummular Dermatitis
- Perioral Dermatitis
- Neurodermatitis
- Stasis dermatitis
Atopic Dermatitis:
One of the most well-known and common types of eczema that is characterized by flaky, itchy skin. The atopic dermatitis is described to be brought on by an irregular function of the body’s immune system.
Depending upon the triggers/allergens the condition tends to go back or forth and is also assumed to run among the families.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common types of eczema. This form of eczema is generally reported in people with:
- Asthma or hay fever
- Family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever
- Improper skin barrier that causes skin to lose its moisture and become susceptible to microbial and fungal infection
The onset of this skin condition, AD, is normally seen during infancy or childhood. However, it can affect an individual at any age.
Also Read – Interesting Facts about Atopic Dermatitis – Eczema Infographic
Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms
The symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis are most often observed on the following skin areas:
- Face
- Hands
- Feet
- Inner elbows
- Back of the knees
Some other common symptoms include:
- Dry and scaly skin
- Redness
- Itching
- Cracks
- Rashes on the cheeks, arms and legs
- Open, crusted or “weepy” sores especially during flare-ups
Seborrhoeic Dermatitis:
This type of eczema causes skin aggravation. With the basic symptoms that include textured, yellowish, scaly, oily patches of the skin on face, scalp and other body parts. Cradle cap and Dandruff in newborns are the examples of Seborrhoeic dermatitis eczema. Emotional stress, shampooing, anxiety, and the climatic conditions are the reasons that may increase a person’s risk of developing this type of eczema.
This type of eczema is commonly known as dandruff. In case of infants, it affects the scalp.
In adults, Seborrheic dermatitis often affects the following areas:
- Scalp
- Armpits
- Eyebrows
- Sides of the nose
- Area behind the ears
- Groin
- Center of chest
Seborrheic dermatitis symptoms
- Flaky skin (dandruff)
- Patches of greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales or crust
- Itching
- Redness or crusting
Contact Dermatitis:
Red itchy rashes that are formed by coming in direct contact with some allergens/irritants. Contact dermatitis can be mostly seen around the hands or different parts body parts.
Contact dermatitis can cause skin inflammation due to the irritants that cause redness, burning or itching. Few common irritants can be listed as smoke, fabrics, paints, bleach, detergents, alcohol, pollens, soaps and various fragrances.
Contact Dermatitis develops when the skin comes in contact with irritating substances or allergens that make the skin inflamed, cause burning sensation, itching and redness.
There are two types of contact dermatitis:
- Irritant contact dermatitis – develops after an individual comes in contact with an irritating substance once or repeatedly (depends on the body’s reaction against the irritant).
- Allergic contact dermatitis – develops when an individual comes in contact with an allergen.
Contact Dermatitis often affects:
- Hands
- Body part that comes in contact with the irritant or allergen
Contact dermatitis Symptoms
- Redness and rash
- Burning sensation and swelling
- Weeping or crusted blisters
Dyshidrotic Eczema:
Dyshidrotic eczema, or dyshidrosis, is a skin condition in which blisters develop on the soles of your feet and/or the palms of your hands.
The blisters are usually itchy and may be filled with fluid. Blisters normally last for about two to four weeks and may be related to seasonal allergies or stress.
Dyshidrotic dermatitis affects the hands and feet. Symptoms of this eczema type are observed on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms, and soles of the feet.
Dyshidrotic eczema Symptoms
- Itching
- Small fluid-filled blisters
- Scaly, cracked skin
- Flaking
- Redness
- Pain
Nummular Dermatitis:
This is a type of eczema that can be characterized by rounded-shaped patches of scaly skin mostly on the body parts of the individuals. It can be also called as discoid eczema. This can turn to be chronic in the people with family history of allergies.
Nummular eczema is also known as discoid eczema and nummular dermatitis. This common form of eczema can affect an individual at any age and is reported to be more common amongst men than in women.
Nummular dermatitis symptoms most often appear on the:
- Legs
- Backs of the hands
- Forearms
- Lower back
- Hips
Nummular Dermatitis Symptoms
Common symptoms of nummular eczema include:
- Round, coin-shaped marks
- Itching
- Dry, scaly skin
- Wet, open sores
Perioral Dermatitis:
As the name perioral Dermatitis itself indicates around the mouth. A red, small, watery patch around your mouth that is assumed to affect the skin around your nose, eyes and the cheeks. The exact cause of this type of eczema is still unknown but over usage of creams, corticosteroids, inhalers may play a significant role.
Perioral dermatitis Symptoms
The following symptoms may mark the onset of perioral dermatitis in most affected cases:
- This type of dermatitis usually appears as a papular rash or pus-filled bumps (pustules) around the mouth and in the areas around the nose.
- These bumps can also look scaly.
- The dermatitis may also affect the area under the eyes, on the forehead, and on the chin.
- In a few cases, these bumps may resemble acne due to similar small size and containing pus or clear fluid.
- If the symptoms aggravate, they can cause burning or itching in the affected areas.
Neurodermatitis
Also known as lichen simplex chronicus and often affects the back, sides or back of the neck, genitals, scalp, wrists, ankles, inside and behind the ear.
This form of eczema is characterized by thick, scaly, itchy and discolored skin. Excessive rubbing and scratching of skin out of a habit is considered as the main cause for the development of this type of dermatitis.
Neurodermatitis, also known as lichen simplex chronicus, is a form of eczema that develops as a result of excessive rubbing and scratching of skin (out of habit).
Neurodermatitis often affects these areas:
- Back
- Sides or back of the neck
- Genitals
- Scalp
- Wrists
- Ankles
- Inside and behind the ear
Neurodermatitis Symptoms
- Thick, scaly patches
- Itching
- Discolored skin
Stasis dermatitis
It is caused because of the improper blood flow in veins that develops pressure often in the lower legs. As a result of the pressure, the fluid oozes out of the veins and into the skin.
Also, referred to as venous stasis dermatitis, it generally results in swelling around the ankles, redness, scaling, itching and pain. In severe cases, it causes oozing, cracked skin patches and infection.
Stasis dermatitis, also known as venous stasis dermatitis, generally happens as a result of improper blood flow in the veins that develops pressure (usually in the lower legs). The developed pressure forces the fluid to ooze out of the veins and into the skin, causing stasis dermatitis.
Stasis Dermatitis Symptoms
- Swelling around the ankles
- Redness
- Scaling
- Itching
- Pain
And in more severe cases:
- Oozing
- Open areas (cracking or larger ulcers)
- Infection
Symptoms of Eczema in Babies
The symptoms of eczema vary as infants grow into toddlers and older. The appearance and the affected area starts to differ as the baby grows older. Each stage of the baby’s life exhibits different symptoms of eczema in babies that are as follows:
Stage 1 – Babies (during the initial six months):
Atopic Dermatitis often affects the following areas:
- Face
- Cheeks
- Chin
- Forehead
- Scalp
During this period of time, AD causes itchy, dry, purple epidermis, small bumps on the affected areas.
Moreover, the skin condition is not restricted to the mentioned areas and can also infect other body parts. The diaper area is most likely to be least affected by eczema due to moisture.
Stage 2 – Babies (during the six to 12 months stage):
During this phase, eczema usually grows to the elbows and knees area. The skin condition results in circular, fairly raised, itchy, and scaly rashes. The locations are easily scratchable, hence, it is necessary to prevent the baby to itch-scratch the affected dermis. Scratching causes infection that results in aggravated skin conditions.
Stage 3 – Toddlers (during the two to five years stage):
During this stage, eczema often spreads to the creases of elbows and knees, affects your toddler’s hands, wrists and ankles. Eczema may even spread to the toddler’s mouth and the eyelids. The ailment causes the skin to become dry and scaly with deep thick lines.
Stage 4 – Older children (five years and above):
Around this age, your child’s eczema is expected to affect the folds of elbows and knees or may spread to the hands. There are chances of red and itchy patches behind the ears, on their feet or scalp. It is recommended that you consult the dermatologist in order to diagnose the form of eczema developed/developing during this stage. A specialist can analyze the symptoms and provide a better advice.
Conclusion
Managing these symptoms can help treat the condition upto certain extent. In addition, it is important that an individual adopts remedies according to their symptoms to treat the condition. Medical advice is highly preferable and recommended to overcome eczema.
