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Understanding Eczema - Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Eczema?
Almost always, there's an itch before a rash appears in eczema. Typically, eczema shows itself as:
- Patches of chronically itchy, dry, thickened skin, usually on the hands, neck, face, and legs. In children, the inner creases of the knees and elbows are often involved.
- Scratching can lead to sores with crusts.
Call Your Doctor About Eczema If:
- You develop an otherwise unexplained rash and have a family history of eczema or asthma. You should have a medical diagnosis of the condition.
- The inflammation does not respond within a week to treatment with over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams. A physician may suggest more aggressive forms of treatment.
- You develop yellowish to light brown crust or pus-filled blisters over existing patches of eczema. This may indicate a bacterial infection that should be treated with an antibiotic.
- During a flare-up of eczema, you are exposed to anyone with a viral skin disease such as cold sores or genital herpes. Having eczema puts you at increased risk of contracting the viral disorder.
- You develop numerous small, fluid-filled blisters in the areas of eczema. You may have eczema herpeticum, a rare but potentially serious complication caused by the herpes simplex virus.
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by
Norman Levine, MD on November 10, 2008
© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
Eczema affects 15 to 20 percent of all children. For most, it's a minor inconvenience, but for some it's a major ordeal.
