Where Eczema Appears

Although it can sometimes look unpleasant and can feel very uncomfortable, eczema is not contagious. So, you can't give it to someone by touching them or wearing their clothes or sitting next to them.

Babies tend to get eczema on their faces and scalps, while older children and adults get it in the folds of their elbows, behind the knee folds, wrists, ankles, hands, feet, and neck area. Teenagers and young adults develop spots in elbow bends, on the backs of the knees, ankles, wrists, and on the face, neck and upper chest. However, it can appear in other places, too.

How is eczema diagnosed?

Your doctor cannot diagnose eczema by a blood test, urine sample, or by any other laboratory tests. The only way to tell if you have eczema is by having a physical examination.

Your doctor may ask if:

• You have a family history of allergic diseases, like hay fever or asthma. It is not unusual for people suffering from eczema to have asthma or hay fever, or have a close relative with eczema, asthma, or hay fever
• You have trouble sleeping or concentrating because of pain or itchiness
• Your skin condition comes and goes or is always present somewhere on your body
• You have a rash in the folds of your elbows, behind your knees, on the fronts of your ankles, on your hands, wrists, or neck
• You have frequent skin infections

The signs and symptoms of eczema vary from person to person and it can range from mild - where skin is dry, hot and itchy - to its most severe - when the skin becomes broken, sore, and bleeding.

Mild Red, raw patches of skin that come and go, or are always present Dry, rough skin surface

Moderate Some raw, red skin, possibly oozing fluid Mild skin thickening and discolouration; skin takes on a bark-like appearance Dry, rough skin surface and skin scaling Symptoms may come and go, or are always present

Severe Red, raw, inflamed skin; may be bumpy, rough, or crusted in appearance Some areas are open and oozing fluid Larger areas of skin thickening and discolouration, more leathery, bark-like skin Noticeable skin thickening Large areas of the body may be affected

This material may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher. Reproduced from JAAD 2001; 44(Suppl):S47-S57, with permission from Mosby, Inc.

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This information can help you take control of eczema right now!