Intense itch
Often worst at night; the main symptom.
A leaky skin barrier and an overreactive immune system cause dry, intensely itchy patches that flare and calm down.
Medical review pending
Review date to come
Key Facts
1 in 10
people have eczema at some point in their life.
80%
of cases start before age 5.
2×
a day: moisturizing is the single best prevention.
0%
contagious.
What Is It?
In eczema, the outer layer of skin doesn’t hold water or keep irritants out well. Irritants and allergens slip in, the immune system overreacts, and skin becomes red, dry and itchy.
Scratching damages the barrier further, which feeds the itch-scratch cycle.
At a glance
Flares and calm periods, often for years.
Low ceramides, often a filaggrin gene change.
Often comes with hay fever, asthma or food allergy.
Many children outgrow it.
Symptoms
Often worst at night; the main symptom.
Skin feels tight and scaly.
Pink on light skin; brown, purple or gray on darker skin.
During bad flares or infection.
From long-term scratching (lichenification).
Itch wakes many people at night.
Subtypes
The classic, lifelong type linked to allergies.
Triggered by something touching the skin.
Tiny itchy blisters on hands and feet.
Coin-shaped patches, often on legs.
Important. Get care quickly for painful blisters, fever or rapidly spreading crusts — signs of infection.
Across Skin Tones
On darker skin, eczema can look brown, purple or ash-gray, and small bumps around hair follicles are more common.
Pink to red, dry patches.
Red-brown patches with fine scale.
Purple-brown or gray; bumps around follicles.
Dark brown or ashy; light or dark marks after flares.
Swatches are illustrations until the four clinical photos are added.
Causes & Risk Factors
Changes in the filaggrin gene make the barrier leakier and are a major inherited risk.
What's Happening in the Skin · Interactive
Ceramides and other fats seal the gaps between skin cells.
Moisturizers keep this layer intact
Water escapes and irritants slip in through the gaps.
Daily emollients refill the gaps
Immune cells release IL-4, IL-13 and IL-31 — the itch signals.
Dupilumab and other biologics block these signals
Scratching damages skin further and keeps the flare going.
Steroid and steroid-free creams calm the flare
Triggers & Aggravating Factors
A patch test can identify contact allergies.
Keeping nails short limits scratch damage.
Daily Care & Prevention
Less damage from scratching.
Laundry and skincare.
In dry winter months.
Keep a flare diary.
Treatments
The foundation of care, twice daily.
Short courses for mild flares.
Soothes itch in creams and baths.
Help sleep more than itch.
First-line for flares.
Steroid-free; good for face and eyelids.
JAK cream for mild to moderate eczema.
Gentle PDE4 ointment.
Once-daily JAK pill; fast itch relief.
Once-daily JAK pill.
Short-term for severe flares.
IL-4/IL-13 biologic; approved from 6 months.
IL-13 biologic.
IL-13 biologic, monthly.
For widespread eczema not controlled by creams.
Finds contact allergies.
Outlook
Usually by examining the skin and history.
Flares calm with the right cream.
Many children improve by school age or the teens.
Daily moisturizer keeps flares rare.
Complications
Staph and herpes can spread fast in eczema skin.
Night itch affects mood, school and work.
More common with severe eczema.
Itchy, swollen eyelids and conjunctivitis.
Lookalikes
Thicker, sharp-edged plaques on the outside of joints.
Matches exactly where something touched the skin.
Itchy bumps between fingers; others at home itch too.
A ring with a clearer center.
Common Questions
No. Infected eczema can spread germs, but eczema itself can’t be caught.
Many children improve a lot by school age, though some keep sensitive skin.
Yes, when used as directed. The right strength for the right spot, for the right length of time.
Rarely on its own. Don’t cut foods without talking to your doctor.
Dermapedia is for education only and is not medical advice. It does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Always consult a qualified clinician about your own skin.