Eczema is a skin condition that causes the skin to become very dry, red and itchy. It can cause skin infections that must be treated with antibiotics in extreme cases. Eczema is mostly found on the legs, arms, and knees areas of the body but it can affect the entire body as well. It can affect anyone but over 20 percent of kids in the USA have some type of eczema. Eczema doesn’t have a cure at this time. But by knowing the type of eczema their patient has, a doctor is able to provide some type of treatment to reduce the symptoms.

Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common types of eczema. Atopic dermatitis affects most children by age 1 and a small number of adults. This type of eczema is believed to be hereditary in families with a history of asthma or hay fever. This type of eczema flares due to a food or environmental allergy, which can be caused by items such as eggs, grass and pollen. The treatment for this type of eczema may require an allergy test in order to determine what is triggering the reaction. Based on the results from the allergy test, you will be able to remove the cause of the reaction from your diet or environment if possible. A topical corticosteroid cream may be prescribed by your doctor to reduce the redness and itching.

Contact dermatitis is another one of the types of eczema. This type of eczema occurs when the skin comes in contact with an allergen or irritant, which causes a rash to develop on the skin. By washing or removing the cause of the reaction from the skin, the rash will began to clear up. However, you should give it some weeks before your skin will return to normal. During this time, you can use an over the counter corticosteroid cream or oral antihistamine such as Benadyal if you experience any itching.

Seborrheic dermatitis is another type of eczema, which is mostly found on the scalp and face. It causes oily and scaly patches of skin on the face and scalp. It is known as cradle cap for infants and dandruff for adults. When a person is stressed or have oily skin conditions, they make have a reaction. However, there is usually no itching. To treat the scalp, doctors usually prescribed a shampoo that contains salicylic acid or sulfur. To treat this condition on other areas of your body, you can use a vitamin B6 based ointment.

You will be able to understand and treat your eczema better by increasing your knowledge about the different types of eczema that exist. You don’t have to live with the constant itching and redness because with the right treatment, you can be eczema free.

Tags: different types of eczema. atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis