The skin condition known as eczema is a form of dermatitis which leaves the skin dry and itchy. This will in turn cause the person with this problem to scratch at the areas affected with the problem, which will over time cause damage to the skin. Damaging the skin will leave open wounds that are a breeding ground for infections which is not a pleasant thing to have to put up with. In Greek, eczema means to boil over, and the word used for dermatitis means skin, and they are both used to describe the same problem.

The four types of eczema are discoid, contact, atopic, and varicose, and I will describe each of them below.

Discoid is the form of eczema that can appear at any point in someone’s life, but usually is seen at that later stages of someone’s life. It can be found on the legs, as well as the feet and appears in the form of round patches.

Atopic is the most common and is generally linked to allergies such as asthma and hay fever. This form of eczema is usually inherited by a child whose parents have had one or the other of the previously mentioned allergies. The word atopic basically means that there is an allergy to things such as pet dander and dust. Most often, a child will get this condition within the first year of its life, but fortunately, most cases will clear up later in their lives. If this eczema does not clear up, however, it will actually end up getting worse.

Another form of eczema is the contact form, which is caused by a reaction that occurs due to a sensitivity, or allergy to materials or fabrics. It happens when the person’s skin and the material get together to create an unpleasant reaction from the immune system.

Varicose eczema is seen on the lower parts of the legs and is typically the cause for problems with the varicose veins. This is a form that does not affect children, instead, it is seen more often on older adults.

Eczema Symptoms:

Each type of eczema comes with their own unique set of symptoms.

Varicose Eczema

These symptoms will occur at the ankle, which will simply start out as an itch. After a while, due to scratching, the skin will become dry and swollen, and in extreme cases, you may even notice ulcers.

Atopic Eczema

This form can be found on different parts of the body, depending on the age of the person who has it. The symptoms include red, itchy, dry, flaky and scaly skin. The scales come about when the person scratches too often at the areas, and eventually blisters that are filled with puss will appear.

Discoid Eczema

This has the simplest of symptoms which only include a few itchy round patches, and if scratched too often, infections may set in.

Contact Eczema

A rash will occur wherever the trigger has touched the skin. From there, this form of eczema will be able to stretch across large portions of the body, and may even get to such an extreme that it covers the body.

Eczema Treatments:

Such as the number of eczema forms, there are also eczema treatments that come in a many varieties as well. You should always consult a doctor before trying anything on your own simple because you may not have eczema, or you may have a form that requires special attention. There is no proven cure for this skin condition, however, you can do things to prevent the problem from worsening and getting infected. Do not try anything without visiting your doctor first.

There are tons of creams you can use that have been made for the treatment of eczema. You can find the both over the counter, and at your doctor’s office. The main reason for the creams is to simply keep your skin as hydrated as possible so the areas do not dry out can cause you more discomfort. While you can use plain unscented lotions, you should ask a doctor before trying creams that have steroids or emollients in them because they may have some side affects you do not know about.

If you use creams, and notice that nothing is working, your doctor will them prescribe to you a medication that may be able to do a better job.

Some doctors may give you pills that are used as an antihistamine, but they are to be taken at night due to their ability to make you drowsy. These pills will not treat your eczema, but they will make the itching more tolerable, and will aid you with sleeping through the night.