Learn about Eczema symptoms from Consumer Reports Health.

Eczema

What are the symptoms of eczema?

Eczema affects people in different ways.

Your skin may be:

Source:
Barnetson RS, Rogers M.
Childhood atopic eczema.
BMJ. 2002; 324: 1376-1379.

Itchy
Pink or red
Dry and flaky
Broken and bleeding
Thick and tough.

If the skin becomes infected you may also get:

If you have eczema, your skin may be red, dry and flaky.

Bumps filled with pus
Crusty yellow blisters
Wet and oozing areas of skin where the blisters have burst.

To find out more, see Infections and eczema.

Some people have mild eczema that just lasts a few days at a time. Others have very bad symptoms that never go away completely.

Source:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Atopic dermatitis: diagnosing atopic dermatitis.
August 2005. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Atopic_Dermatitis/atopic_dermatitis_ff.asp (accessed on 22 April 2009).

Where eczema appears on your body and how it looks depend partly on your age.

Source:
Rudikoff D, Lebwohl M.
Atopic dermatitis.
Lancet. 1998; 351: 1715-21.

What eczema is like for people of different ages

Babies and toddlers less than 2 years old often get red, scaly, itchy patches on their cheeks and chin. These patches can start to ooze fluid and can become infected.
In children between 2 years and about 12 years, eczema usually appears inside the elbows, behind the knees, on the wrists, the ankles and the hands. The skin in these areas may become thick and leathery from constant scratching and rubbing. There may also be scaling and cracking around the mouth, especially if children lick their lips.
In many cases, eczema comes and goes, so you or your child may go for weeks or months with no symptoms. Then, at other times, the skin may get itchy and scaly.
Children who don't grow out of eczema may have symptoms all their lives.

Source:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Atopic dermatitis: diagnosing atopic dermatitis.
August 2005. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Atopic_Dermatitis/atopic_dermatitis_ff.asp (accessed on 22 April 2009).

² Their skin can become thick and leathery inside their elbows and behind their knees. And they may get eczema patches on their necks, foreheads and around their eyes.
Adults who have eczema often just have symptoms on their hands. Both men and women can also get eczema on their nipples.
It's unusual to get eczema for the first time as an adult. But it can happen.

Sources for the information on this page:

Barnetson RS, Rogers M.Childhood atopic eczema.BMJ. 2002; 324: 1376-1379.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic dermatitis: diagnosing atopic dermatitis.August 2005. Available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Atopic_Dermatitis/atopic_dermatitis_ff.asp (accessed on 22 April 2009).

Rudikoff D, Lebwohl M.Atopic dermatitis.Lancet. 1998; 351: 1715-21.

This information was last updated on May 01, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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