Eczema
What are the symptoms of eczema? Everything about the causes, characteristics, and treatments of this condition.
Symptoms and Causes
Eczema is an inflammation of the skin that causes itching, dryness, flaking, and, in some cases, blisters that form crusts. Despite its appearance, it is not a contagious disease, not even when there is direct contact with the affected area.
There are different types of eczema depending on their causes and characteristics. The most common types include:
- Atopic eczema: It is chronic and is often related to some form of allergy. It usually appears in childhood and persists into adulthood. Although the skin condition improves in many cases, it can lead to other conditions such as rhinitis or asthma.
- Seborrheic eczema: Affects the oilier areas of the skin, such as the scalp, eyebrows, the area behind the ears, eyelids, lower face, or chest.
- Contact or allergic eczema: This is the skin's reaction to a foreign agent (soaps, perfumes, cosmetics, detergents, or dust).
- Diaper eczema: This is the most common form of eczema in infants. It causes redness and inflammation in the buttocks, genitals, lower abdomen, and thighs due to contact with urine and feces.
Each type of eczema presents different symptoms, which is why personalized treatments are the most effective.
Symptoms
The main symptom of eczema is skin redness, which occurs regardless of the type of eczema. It is almost always accompanied by itching. Other common signs of this condition include:
- Atopic eczema: Itching, thickening, dryness, and flaking of the skin.
- Seborrheic eczema: Redness, itching, white or yellowish flakes, and dandruff both on the scalp and in the eyebrows, mustache, or beard.
- Contact or allergic eczema: Dark spots, rash, itching, cracks, scales, and blisters.
- Diaper eczema: Irritation, sensitivity, discomfort, and crying.
Causes
Eczema is usually caused by contact with an irritant. In some cases, such as seborrheic eczema, the cause is unknown.
Risk Factors
Some factors that increase the risk of developing eczema include:
- Age: While this condition affects all types of people, children are more likely to develop it. Chronic cases often start during the first year of life.
- Family history.
- Allergies, as they can manifest as skin inflammation.
Complications
In general, eczema does not present complications. However, there is a risk of developing an infection if the affected area is scratched.
Prevention
Preventing eczema is not easy, but symptoms can be minimized by avoiding irritants or at least limiting exposure to them.
Which doctor treats eczema?
Eczema is treated by dermatologists.
Diagnosis
Eczema is diagnosed through a medical history and skin observation. If another condition is suspected, a differential diagnosis is performed. If doubts persist, a skin biopsy is carried out.
Treatment
To treat eczema, regardless of its origin, topical corticosteroids are typically prescribed. Only in the most severe cases are oral or injectable corticosteroids recommended.
Some symptoms improve when the affected area is hydrated, covered with wet bandages, or exposed to short periods of sunlight.
