Eczema is a condition of inflamed skin characterised by itching, cracks, scaling, with or without discharge.
Cause—
1. Genetic predisposition
2. Altered immunity
3. Suppressed cold allergy
4. Stress
Types of eczema-
1. Atopic dermatitis-Usually it develops in the bends of skin fold like in elbows, wrists, thigh folds, knees, ankles etc.70 % cases have past medical history or family medical history allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis or food allergy.
2. Contact dermatitis- When irritants come in contact with skin they produce eczematous eruptions. Irritants can be detergent, soap, shampoo, deodorant, ornaments, cloths etc. This type of problem happens to those people who are allergic to certain type of substance.
3. Discoid eczema- These are usually round or oval shaped lesions. It used to have watery or sticky discharge.
4. Numular eczema- coin shaped eczema usually appears in adults. Typically on legs, arms and chest the lesions are found.
5. Dry skin eczema- Skin becomes dry and hard. Due to repeated itching hard skin produces cracks which sometimes even bleed.
6. Seborrhoric eczema- Usually it is found in the infants. On the scalp of the infant it looks like a ‘cradle cap’. Here also family history of cold allergy or asthma or skin disease is evident.