7 Types of Eczema You Need To Know About
In observance of Eczema Awareness Month, and as someone who suffers from eczema, I want others to be aware of the fight to find a cure for this skin disorder. The more you know about it, the better you can combat it until a cure is found.
The following info was found on the National Eczema Association Website.
WARNING: This post will also have some graphic pics
There are 7 different types of eczema:
1. Atopic dermatitis is a type eczema that is chronic and inflammatory. Though the exact cause of AD is unknown, it happens when the immune system goes into overdrive. AD usually begins in childhood, often in the first six months of the life. When you or your child have AD, it might improve at times or it may get worse. AD is part of what’s called the atopic triad, which includes two other allergic conditions (asthma and hay fever, which is also known as allergic rhinitis). Researchers believe that people who come from families with a history of AD, asthma and/ or hay fever are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis themselves.
Some common symptoms of AD:
Dry, scaly skin
Redness (erythema)
Itching
Cracks behind the ears
A rash on the cheeks, arms and legs
Open, crusted or “weepy” sores (usually during flare-ups)
2. Contact dermatitis happens when the skin touches irritating substances or allergens. These make the skin inflamed, causing it to burn, itch and become red. There are two kinds of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic. Contact dermatitis usually appears on the hands, or parts of the body that touched the irritant/allergen.
The most common irritants include:
Solvents
Industrial chemicals
Detergents
Fumes
Tobacco smoke
Paints
Bleach
Wool
Acidic Foods
Astringents
Skin care products that content alcohol (but not cetyl alcohol)
Some soaps and fragrances
Allergens (usually animal dander or pollens)
Symptoms of contact dermatitis include:
Redness and rash
Burning or swelling
Blisters that may weep or crust over
3. Dyshidrotic eczema is a condition that produces small, itchy blisters on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms, and soles of the feet. Stress, allergies (such as hay fever), moist hands and feet, or exposure to nickel (in metal-plated jewelry), cobalt (found in metal-plated objects, and in pigments used in paints and enamels), or chromium salts (used in the manufacturing of cement, mortar, leather, paints, and anticorrosives) may be “triggers” of dyshidrotic eczema. This type of eczema is twice as common in women as it is in men.
Symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema include:
Small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) on the fingers, hands, and feet
Itching
Redness
Flaking
Scaly, cracked skin
Pain
4. Hand eczema (also known as hand dermatitis) is very common — up to 10% of the population has this type of eczema. It is the result of both internal and external factors including genetics and contact with allergens or irritating substances like chemicals.
Some symptoms of hand eczema:
Redness
Itching
Pain
Dryness, to the point of peeling and flaking
Cracks in the skin
Blisters
5. Neurodermatitis is also known as lichen simplex chronicus. It is an itchy skin disease that is similar to atopic dermatitis. People with neurodermatitis tend to get thick, scaly patches on their skin as a result of too much rubbing and scratching of the area.
Some symptoms of neurodermatitis:
Thick, scaly patches on the nape of the neck, scalp, shoulders, on the bottoms of feet, on ankles, wrists and the backs of the hands
Itching
Discolored skin
6. Nummular eczema, also known as discoid eczema and nummular dermatitis, is a common type of eczema that can occur at any age. It looks very different than the usual eczema and can be much more difficult to treat. People with nummular eczema develop coin-shaped spots on their skin, which may be very itchy. It is thought to be “triggered” by things like insect bites, reactions to skin inflammation, or dry skin in the winter.
Some symptoms of nummular eczema include:
Round, coin-shaped spotsItching
Dry, scaly skin
Wet, open sores
7. Stasis dermatitis is sometimes called venous stasis dermatitis because it usually happens when there is a problem with blood flow in the veins and pressure develops (usually in the lower legs). This pressure can cause fluid to leak out of the veins and into the skin, resulting in stasis dermatitis.
Symptoms of stasis dermatitis include:
Swelling around the ankles
Redness
Scaling
Itching
Pain
And in more severe cases:
Oozing
Open areas (cracking or larger ulcers)
Infection
As you can see, as similar as some of these symptoms are, they can manifest in many different ways. Knowing exactly which one you do have, can help you find ways to combat it.
As someone who also suffers from atopic dermatitis, I know how it feels to be uncomfortable and itchy and nothing seems to work. That's why I made the Oats Galore products. They are specifically geared towards helping with eczema and feature active ingredient, colloidal oatmeal. Below are my featured products for eczema. They are suitable for infants all the way up to adults. Try them out and see if they work for you.
