What is Eczema?

Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent or recurring skin rashes characterized by redness, skin edema, itching and dryness, with possible crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing or bleeding. 
Eczema or Dermatitis is one of the most common skin complaints. The two terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same condition. Eczema comes from the greek word meaning boiling or bubbling through, while Dermatitis refers to an inflammation of the skin. During Eczema there are extra red and white cells in the skin along with some other natural chemicals such as cytokines and antibodies. The end result is a itchy, sore rash.

Eczema classification remains haphazard and unsystematized, and the proliferation of synonyms hinders understanding. At times, there is focus on the location (e.g. hand eczema), or on the specific appearance (eczema craquele or discoid), and other times on possible cause (varicose eczema). Further adding to the confusion, many sources use the term eczema and the term for the most common type of eczema (atopic eczema) interchangeably.

The most common forms of Eczema are Atopic Eczema, which doctors think is hereditary, Contact Dermatitis which can be caused by a chemical or other irritant, Seborrrheic Dermatitis, which causes a scalp rash in infants also known as cradle cap and so on. Although all Eczema share a common complaint that is inflammation of the skin, it is important to differentiate the different kinds to be able to provide proper treatment and also to know how long the condition is going to last. Eczema is not a contagious condition and modern medicine provides relief from several of its symptoms.
 
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