WHAT IS ECZEMA (DERMATITIS)?
Simply it is a red scaling (rarely, it is blistering) conditioning of the skin that is normally itchy but not contagious.
The two most common types are contact eczema and atopic eczema.
Contact occurs only where someone is in contact with the substance to which they are allergic. Common examples are jewelry (nickel) and plant dermatitis (poison oak, etc.).
Atopic eczema is genetic, often beginning at around 18 months and continuing for decades, though it often abates in middle age. It may involve the entire body, though the classic areas are behind the elbows and knees. There are effective topical and systemic treatments for both types of eczema.
