Eczema

Eczema is a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. It is a long-term, or chronic, condition.

Atopic eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is the most common form of eczema. It mainly affects children, but can continue into adulthood.

Atopic eczema commonly occurs in areas with folds of skin such as:

•behind the knees

•on the front of the elbows

•on the side of the neck

•around the eyes and ears

See Atopic eczema - symptoms for more information.

What causes atopic eczema?

The exact cause of atopic eczema is unknown. However, it often occurs in people who get allergies ("atopic" means sensitivity to allergens).

Atopic eczema can run in families and often occurs alongside other conditions such as asthma and hay fever.

How common is atopic eczema?

About one in five children in the UK has eczema. In 8 out of 10 cases, atopic eczema occurs before a child reaches five years of age. Many children develop it before their first birthday.

The number of people diagnosed with atopic eczema has increased in recent years. This could be due to changes in lifestyle or environmental factors that cause eczema, or because healthcare professionals are now more aware of the symptoms.

Males and females are affected equally. There is some evidence that eczema may be slightly more common in people from African-Caribbean backgrounds. 

Outlook

Atopic eczema can vary in severity. Most people are only mildly affected and have small areas of dry or red skin, which are occasionally itchy.

Other people have more severe symptoms, such as cracked, sore and bleeding skin.

A person with atopic eczema usually has periods when symptoms are less noticeable, and flare-ups when symptoms become more severe and require additional treatment.

Atopic eczema clears up or significantly improves in many children as they get older. In about 53% of cases, atopic eczema clears up by the time a child reaches 11 years of age, and in 65% of cases it clears up by 16 years of age.

Severe eczema often has a significant impact on daily life and may be difficult to cope with physically and mentally. However, many different treatments can be used to control symptoms and manage the eczema.

The symptoms of atopic eczema may always be present. Symptoms become worse during a flare-up, and you or your child may need stronger treatment when this happens.

Atopic eczema can cause your skin to become:

•itchy

•dry

•red

•broken

•thickened 

•cracked

During a flare-up, your skin may be:

•extremely itchy, red, hot, dry and scaly

•wet, weeping and swollen

•infected with bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus (see Atopic eczema - complications)

The symptoms of atopic eczema vary according to how severely you or your child are affected by the condition.

People with mild atopic eczema normally have only small areas of dry skin, which are occasionally itchy. In more severe cases, atopic eczema can cause widespread dry skin, constant itching and oozing fluid.

Scratching can disrupt your sleep and make your skin bleed. It can also make itching worse, and a cycle of itching and regular scratching may develop. In children, this can lead to sleepless nights and difficulty concentrating at school.