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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Home Skin. Eczema atopic dermatitis. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet.
On this page. About eczema Causes of eczema Symptoms of eczema Managing eczema Treatments for eczema Emerging treatment Importance of eczema treatment Complications of eczema Where to get help.
About eczema Atopic dermatitis commonly known as eczema is an inherited, chronic inflammatory skin condition that usually appears in early childhood. Triggers of eczema Some things make eczema more likely to appear. These include: contact with irritants in the environment heat, which can aggravate the itch and make affected people more likely to scratch allergic reaction to particular foods — this is rare.
Food allergy appears as redness and swelling around the lips within minutes of eating the offending food. Symptoms of eczema The physical effects of eczema can include: skin dryness red and scaly areas on the front of the elbows and the back of the knees watery fluid weeping from affected skin itchiness lesions sores that may become infected by bacteria or viruses. Managing eczema Most people with eczema find that their symptoms are made worse by common aspects of daily living, such as hot weather, frequent showering, soap, ducted central heating and overheating in bed at night.
Eczema coping tips — good hygiene Skin affected by eczema is more vulnerable to a range of infections, including impetigo, cold sores and warts.
Suggestions for washing include: Take lukewarm baths or showers, and avoid really hot showers. Wash your body with warm water alone. For armpits and groin, use soap-free products, such as sorbolene cream.
Bath oils can help to moisturise your skin while bathing. When towelling dry, pat rather than rub your skin. Eczema coping tips — reducing skin irritation People with eczema have sensitive skin.
Suggestions for reducing skin irritation include: Avoid overheating your skin. Wear several layers of clothing that you can remove, as required, instead of one heavy layer. Avoid scratchy materials, such as pure wool, polyester or acrylic. You could try a cotton and synthetic mix material — this is fine for some people with eczema. Remove labels from clothing. Always wear protective gloves when using any type of chemical or detergent. You may want to wear cotton gloves inside rubber or PVC gloves.
Avoid chlorinated pools. If you have to swim in a chlorinated pool, moisturise your skin well when you get out. Eczema coping tips — beauty products Suggestions for using beauty products include: Remember that even hypoallergenic cosmetics can irritate your skin.
Whenever possible, keep your face free of make-up. Avoid perfumes, fragranced skin lotions and strongly scented shampoos. When using a new cosmetic, try testing it first on a small, inconspicuous area of skin such as your forearm. Different types of eczema may even appear in different areas of the body at different times.
Eczema is usually itchy. For many people, the itch can range from mild to moderate. But in some cases, it can become much worse and you might develop extremely inflamed skin.
Sometimes the itch gets so bad that people scratch it until it bleeds, which can make your eczema worse. You might have all of these symptoms of eczema or only just a few. You might have some flare-ups or your symptoms could go away entirely. The best way to find out if you have eczema is to consult with a medical professional who can look at your skin and ask about your symptoms.
Irritant contact dermatitis can result from repeated exposure to a substance that irritates the skin, such as:. People who regularly use or work with these substances have a higher risk of developing contact dermatitis.
A person might not react to an allergen the first time they come into contact with it. However, once they develop an allergy, they will usually have it for life. Dyshidrotic eczema may cause small blisters. Dyshidrotic eczema, or pompholyx eczema, typically appears in adults under 40 years of age. It usually occurs on the hands and feet and has characteristic symptoms, including intense itching and the appearance of small blisters.
In some cases, the blisters can become large and watery. The blisters may become infected too, which can lead to pain and swelling.
They may also ooze pus. Blisters typically clear up within a few weeks. Following this, the skin often becomes dry and cracked, which may lead to painful skin fissures. It is unclear what causes dyshidrotic eczema.
However, it is more common in people who have:. People who work with certain chemicals or have their hands immersed in water throughout the day are also at greater risk of developing dyshidrotic eczema. Other triggers include emotional stress and changes in the weather.
Dyshidrotic eczema may be a form of contact dermatitis. People with dyshidrotic eczema also tend to experience flare-ups from time to time. Discoid eczema causes characteristic disc-shaped patches. Discoid eczema , or nummular eczema, is recognizable due to the disc-shaped patches of itchy, red, cracked, and swollen skin that it causes.
The discs typically appear on the lower legs, torso, and forearms. Sometimes, the center of the disc clears up, leaving a ring of red skin. As with other types of eczema, the causes of discoid eczema are not fully understood.
The bottom line? If your skin becomes infected, whether by itching eczema or through some other means, that infection can be passed on to somebody else through skin-to-skin contact — but not the underlying condition of eczema itself.
And you can talk with a dermatologist about all the ways to manage eczema, including moisturizing as often as possible and doing your best to lock in that moisture, such as with a fragrance-free cream. Allergy testing can also help you pinpoint some of the triggers of your eczema, Prete notes.
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