Types of Eczema

Also known as atopic eczema, childhood eczema or baby eczema

The most common type of eczema, atopic dermatitis (AD) almost always begins in childhood —usually in infancy and is also the most severe and chronic (long‐lasting). AD often affects people who have asthma or hay fever, or a family history of either. It is not contagious. AD most often occurs on the face, hands, feet, inner elbows and back of the knees. With atopic eczema, our immune system overreacts to eczema triggers (link to triggers page) that would not normally do us any harm — often environmental factors like irritants (soaps, fragrances, detergents) and allergens (animal dander, dust mite droppings, pollens).

Contact dermatitis is a form of eczema that occurs when the skin comes in contact with certain substances, causing skin inflammation. There are two types, irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.

With irritant dermatitis, the more common of the two, contact with the irritant can cause a reaction that looks either like a red, dry scaly rash or more like a burn. Common irritants include:

• Household & industrial solvents and chemicals
• Detergents, soaps, fragrances, shampoos
• Fumes
• Long‐term exposure to wet diapers
• Rubber gloves
• Tobacco smoke
• Paints and dyes
• Bleach
• Woolen fabrics
• Acidic foods
• Astringents and other alcohol (excluding cetyl alcohol) containing skin care products

Dyshidrotic eczema is a skin condition in which small blisters develop on the hands and feet. The cause is unknown. It is twice as common in women.

With this type of eczema, small fluid‐filled blisters called vesicles appear on the fingers, hands and feet. (Most common along the edges of the fingers, toes, palms and soles.) These blisters can be very itchy. They also cause scaly patches of skin that flake or get red, cracked and painful.

According to NationalEczema.org, people are more likely to develop dyshidrotic eczema when:

• They are under stress
• They have allergies, such as hay fever
• Their hands are often in water or moist
• They do cement work or other work that exposes their hands to chromium, cobalt or nickel

Along with a skin protectant cream like MG217, general treatment measures can include cool, wet compresses, cold packs, protective gloves, well‐fitting footwear, as well as prescription medications for severe cases.

Seborrheic dermatitis (also spelled “seborrhoeic”) is a common skin condition similar to eczema that sometimes occurs in patients with eczema. In babies, it is known as “cradle cap” as it tends to affect the scalp. It can be easily confused with atopic dermatitis, but is scaly and not as red.

Older children and adults can develop it on the scalp as well. In these cases, it is similar to dandruff but tends to be more itchy and inflamed. Seborrheic dermatitis can also affect the face, upper chest and groin, and can overlap with psoriasis.

Treatment varies between infants and older patients, and can include medicated shampoos, topical antifungal creams and steroid lotions.

This type of eczema, sometimes called venous stasis dermatitis because it arises when there’s a problem with the veins, generally occurs in the lower legs.

Varicose veins or a problem with the valves of the veins allow for pressure to develop. Stasis dermatitis can then arise quickly, causing itching or pain, swelling, weeping and, over time, permanent changes to the skin like scars or stains. Since the cause of this eczema is known, treating the underlying vein issues is the preferred method of treatment.

Other treatments for stasis dermatitis include steroid creams, moisturizers, moist compresses, antibiotics for infections, and elevating the legs.