Is your skin itchy, red, cracked, or feeling rough? You might be dealing with something more serious than dry skin. You could be experiencing the first signs or symptoms of eczema. While eczema is pretty common – about 31.6 million Americans are affected by it – it can be both uncomfortable and frustrating to live with.
When you have eczema, your skin can experience some serious rough patches. You might experience itching, inflammation, or even blistering. Fortunately, there are plenty of treatment options for eczema. However, before you can begin any type of treatment, it’s important to determine whether you’re dealing with eczema or another health condition.
Here’s what eczema looks like when signs and symptoms appear and how it can be treated.
What is Eczema?
Eczema is a term used to describe inflamed and itchy skin. There are many types of eczema including hand eczema, nummular eczema, and most commonly atopic dermatitis. It sometimes is used interchangeably with atopic dermatitis because of the prevalence of the latter.
Although eczema is commonly found in infants and children, adults can develop it. About half of those who develop eczema as children continue to experience symptoms into adulthood. Sometimes, eczema can appear with other conditions like asthma or hay fever.
There’s no known cure for eczema. It’s a chronic condition that can be present for your entire life, coming and going with flare-ups. However, you do not need to worry. With the right treatments and some self-care, you may be able to relieve its symptoms and prevent new outbreaks from happening. Plus, some individuals – particularly children – can outgrow the condition over time.
