Eczema

Eczema is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin condition. It often appears in infancy/childhood and may persist until adolescence or adulthood. Atopic Dermatitis is characterized by a weakened skin barrier, resulting in dry, hypersensitive skin that reacts with excessive inflammation and pruritus (itching) to factors that would not normally trigger a response.

Typical symptoms include diffuse red patches and plaques, increased dryness (xerosis), and intense itching. During disease flare-ups, small vesicles appear, which evolve into weeping plaques (oozing). Gradually, the rash dries out, scales (desquamates), and the skin may sometimes become rough in texture and paler in color (hypopigmented) compared to the surrounding healthy skin. Common areas of occurrence are the flexural surfaces (creases of the elbows/knees, wrists, neck, eyelids, dorsum of the hands, cheeks in infants, etc.).