Eczema affects more than 31 million Americans. It’s one of the most common skin conditions among babies and children, and adults can have it, too. While the causes of eczema vary, symptoms are similar: itchiness, dryness, and inflammation on the surface of your skin.
Having eczema can be painful and embarrassing, but treatment can make a difference. Our team at Allergy & Environmental Treatment Center, LLC works in identifying skin conditions, diagnosing eczema, and helping you find a treatment plan that works.
If you have red, itchy, or irritated skin, it could be eczema. In this blog, our team describes several different types of this common skin condition.
Eczema produces patches of dry, irritated, and inflamed skin. Eczema often appears red in people with light skin tones, and ashen, purple, gray, or brown in people with dark skin tones.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. It develops when allergens or other substances irritate your skin, and it’s linked to other environmental sensitivities like asthma and seasonal allergies like hay fever.
Atopic dermatitis can cause rashes in areas where your skin creases. It’s particularly common in babies and young children, but many people may outgrow it with time.
Contact dermatitis is a reaction to something you touch. It may be caused by a chemical sensitivity or an allergy, and the rash typically develops only where you came in contact with the irritant.
Some people with contact dermatitis only develop symptoms on their hands. This type of eczema is known as hand eczema, and it’s common among people who regularly handle harsh chemicals that irritate the skin.
With dyshidrotic eczema, small blisters develop on your hands and feet. The blisters can be itchy, and they may develop due to allergies, damp skin, or exposure to certain chemicals. In some cases, dyshidrotic eczema can be triggered by stress.
Neurodermatitis causes thick, scaly patches to develop on your skin. The patches are often very itchy. This type of eczema can develop if you have a different type of eczema or another skin condition, like psoriasis.
Nummular eczema is characterized by round, coin-sized rashes on your skin. The rashes can appear anywhere, and they’re typically quite itchy. Nummular eczema can be triggered by dry skin, an allergic reaction to an insect bite or a chemical, or other types of eczema.
Seborrheic dermatitis makes your skin dry and flaky, and it’s commonly called dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis can develop anywhere, but it’s especially common on your scalp, eyebrows, nose, ears, or chest.
Stasis dermatitis is a type of eczema that’s also linked to vein health. Weakened veins in your legs may leak fluid and cause skin symptoms like swelling, itching, and pain. Stasis dermatitis is most common in people who have poor circulation and varicose veins in their lower legs.
No matter which type of eczema you have, the symptoms you experience can limit your ability to enjoy life. Our team at Allergy & Environmental Treatment Center, LLC is dedicated to identifying what’s causing your eczema so you can find relief.
We offer comprehensive testing and treatment for children (8 years of age and older) and adults. Call our Scottsdale, Arizona, office at 480-634-2985 today. You can also book an eczema appointment online.
