8 Different Types of Eczema
8 Different Types
of Eczema
What you need to know about the
8 Different Types of Eczema
Itchy, red, dry, scaly, or thickened skin may come to mind when you think about eczema.
While this is true for those with medium to darker skin tones, it might seem brown, purple, or ashen in those with lighter skin tones. Small pimples on the torso, arms, and legs are more common in people with brown or black skin.
This skin ailment is most frequent in youngsters, but it can also affect adults. According to the National Eczema Society, 10% of the population will get eczema at some point in their lives.
Eczema can afflict anyone at any time. Some races and ethnicities have higher rates of prevalence than others:
- 11% of white people
- 10% of African-Americans
- 13% of Asian and Pacific Islanders
- Native Americans make up 13%
Atopic dermatitis is the most prevalent kind of eczema. Eczema patients frequently have allergies or asthma, as well as itchy, red, or hyperpigmented skin.
The most prevalent type of eczema is atopic dermatitis. It normally begins in childhood and gradually fades or disappears by age.
Atopic dermatitis is one of three conditions known as the atopic triad by doctors. The word “triad” signifies “three.” Asthma and hay fever are the other two disorders in the trio. Many persons with atopic dermatitis suffer from all three of these symptoms.
Find out more about Atopic dermatitis
Symptoms
Atopic dermatitis symptoms include:
- The rash usually appears in the folds of your elbows or knees.
- The skin in the affected areas may become lighter or darker, or thicker.
- Scratching small lumps may cause them to leak fluid.
- The rash usually appears on the baby’s scalp and cheeks.
- Scratching your skin might lead to infection.
Causes
When your skin’s natural barrier against the elements is damaged, atopic dermatitis develops. As a result, your skin’s ability to protect you from irritants and allergens is reduced.
Atopic dermatitis is caused by a number of reasons, including:
- Genes
- Dry skin
- An issue with the immune system
- Environmental triggers
You may have contact dermatitis if you have red, itchy skin with a thick scaly region caused by a reaction to chemicals you touch.
There are two types: An immune system reaction to an allergen, such as latex or metal, causes allergic contact dermatitis. When a chemical or other material irritates your skin, it causes irritant contact dermatitis.
Symptoms
In contact dermatitis:
- Itchy skin, hyperpigmented or pink skin, magenta skin, burns, and stings
- Hives are itchy lumps that form on the skin.
- Blisters can form that are fluid-filled and may leak and crust over.
- The skin may thicken and become scaly or leathery over time.
Causes
When you come into contact with something that irritates your skin or creates an allergic reaction, you get contact dermatitis. The following are the most typical causes:
- Detergents
- Bleach
- Jewellery
- Latex
- Nickel
- Paint
- Poison ivy and other plant poisons
- Cosmetics and skincare goods
- Soaps and fragrances
- Solvents
- Cigarette smoke
Learn more about Contact Dermatitis here
Small blisters grow on your hands and feet as a result of dyshidrotic eczema. It affects more women than men.
Symptoms
Eczema dyshidrotic:
- On your fingers, toes, palms, and soles of your feet, fluid-filled blisters grow.
- Blisters can be itchy or painful.
- Scaling, cracking, and flaking skin are all possibilities.
Causes
The following factors can induce dyshidrotic eczema:
- Allergies
- Hands and feet are wet
- Exposure to metals including nickel, cobalt, and chromium salt
- Stress
- Tobacco items for smoking
Learn more about Dyshidrotic eczema
Hand eczema is dermatitis that just affects your hands. If you work in a job where chemicals irritate the skin frequently, such as hairdressing or cleaning, you may get this type.
Symptoms
Eczema of the hands:
- Red, hyperpigmented, itchy, and dry hands develop.
- Cracks or blisters may appear.
Causes
Exposure to chemicals can cause hand eczema. People who work in jobs that expose them to irritants are more prone to have this kind, such as:
- Cleaning
- Hairdressing
- Healthcare
- Dry cleaning or laundry
Learn more about Hand Eczema here
Atopic dermatitis and neurodermatitis are comparable. It causes your skin to become thick and scaly.
Symptoms
Neurodermatitis symptoms include:
- Arms, legs, back of neck, scalp, soles of feet, backs of hands, or genitals may develop thick, scaly areas.
- The patches can itch a lot, especially when you’re relaxing or sleeping.
- Scratching the patches might cause them to bleed and become infected.
Causes
People with other kinds of eczema or psoriasis are more likely to develop neurodermatitis. Doctors aren’t sure what causes it, but stress has been linked to it.
Click here to discover more about neurodermatitis.
The skin develops round, coin-shaped patches as a result of this type of eczema. In Latin, the word “nummular” signifies “coin.”
Nummular eczema has a distinct appearance from other types of eczema, and it can be extremely itchy.
Symptoms
In eczema nummular:
- On your skin, round, coin-shaped patches appear.
- Itchy or scaly patches are possible.
Causes
A reaction to an insect bite or an allergic reaction to metals or chemicals can cause nummular eczema. It can also be caused by dry skin.
If you have another type of eczema, such as atopic dermatitis, you’re more likely to develop this variety.
Learn more about nummular eczema.
Fluid flows out of weaker veins into your skin, causing stasis dermatitis.
This substance causes:
- Swelling
- Lighter skin tones redness
- Darker skin tones have a brown, purple, grey, or ashen tint.
- Itching
- Pain
Symptoms
Dermatitis in stasis:
- The lower section of your legs may swell, especially if you’ve been walking throughout the day.
- It’s possible that your legs ache or feel heavy.
- Varicose veins, which are thick, ropey damaged veins in your legs, are also likely.
- Dry and itchy skin will develop over the varicose veins.
- You may get open sores on the tops of your feet and lower legs.
Causes
People with blood flow difficulties in their lower legs get stasis dermatitis. Blood can pool in your legs if the valves that normally drive blood up through your legs into your heart fail.
Varicose veins can occur when your legs swell.
Learn more about Venous Stasis Dermatitis
The scalp, especially in babies, and other places with oil (or sebaceous) glands are frequently affected by this type of dermatitis. It may disappear during childhood, but it reappears during adolescence (particularly in guys) and maturity. It is not always itchy, unlike many other types of eczema.
Scaly and oily spots on the scalp are common in newborns. The buttocks may be affected. It commonly occurs during childhood.
When to see a doctor
If the itching, redness, hyperpigmentation, dryness, and scaliness don’t go away or are interfering with your life, see your doctor.
Eczema can be diagnosed and treated by a dermatologist, but other healthcare providers may also be able to help.
Consider keeping a diary to track your eczema triggers and assist your doctor in better understanding your disease. Make a list:
- Eating and drinking habits
- What kind of skincare products, chemicals, soaps, cosmetics, and detergents do you use?
- What kinds of activities do you engage in, such as walking in the woods or swimming in a chlorinated pool?
- The length of time you spend in the bath or shower, and the water temperature?
- When you’re feeling tense or stressed
You should start to see links between your daily activities and eczema flare-ups. Bring this journal to your doctor to assist them to figure out what’s causing your symptoms.
A patch test can also be done by an allergy specialist. Small amounts of irritating chemicals are administered to spots on your skin in this test. To see if you have a reaction, leave the patches on your skin for 20 to 30 minutes.
This test can assist your doctor in determining which substances cause your eczema so that you can avoid them.
Treatment
Eczema flare-ups are common. To get rid of the rash once it starts, you may need to try a variety of drugs and other therapies.
- The itch can be controlled with antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
- The itch might be relieved with corticosteroid cream or ointment. To decrease swelling in a more severe reaction, you can take oral steroids such as prednisone (Rayos).
- Calcineurin inhibitors like tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel) suppress the immunological response that causes itchy skin.
- Skin infections are treated with antibiotics.
- To repair your rash, light therapy exposes your skin to ultraviolet light.
- Cool compresses given before applying corticosteroid cream can aid in the absorption of the medication.
- Itching can be relieved with colloidal oatmeal lotions or baths.
If an allergic reaction causes your eczema to flare up, you should avoid the chemical that caused it.
Guidelines for preventing outbreaks
Here are some strategies for avoiding eczema flare-ups and managing symptoms:
- To ease the itch, apply cool compresses to your skin or soak in colloidal oatmeal or baking soda bath.
- To establish a protective barrier against the elements, moisturise your skin daily with a rich, oil-based lotion or ointment. To seal in moisture, apply the cream shortly after you get out of the shower or bath.
- After bathing, pat your skin gently with a soft towel. Never, ever rub.
- Do not scrape. You might spread an infection.
- Detergents, cleansers, cosmetics, and other skincare items should all be fragrance-free.
- When working with chemicals, always use gloves and protective clothing.
- Wear loose-fitting, soft-fibre clothing, such as cotton.
Outlook
Eczema is a condition that comes and goes. Atopic dermatitis is most common in children and becomes better with age. Other types of eczema may last your entire life, however, you can take steps to alleviate your symptoms.
