Is that skin rash eczema?

Diagnosing eczema is not easy, and requires a visit to a physician. Only a physician can determine whether or not a skin rash is caused by eczema based upon the patient's recent medical history and family history, as well as a physical examination of the skin rash.

Talk to your doctor if you have:

• A skin rash that itches
• A skin rash that is patchy, bumpy, or scaly A skin rash that first appeared before the age of 5
• A skin rash that appears on different parts of your body, depending on your age (for example, a skin rash on the face, elbows, or knees in babies)
• A skin rash that tends to flare up, then go away for a while before coming back again
• Personal or family history of asthma, hay fever, or eczema
• Very dry skin
• Very sensitive skin

These symptoms can vary from person to person and may change over time. That's why your healthcare provider may want to see you and examine your skin rash more than once. Your healthcare provider also needs to know:

• How long you have had the skin rash
• Medicines that have been used in the past to treat your skin and skin rashes
• Medicines that have been used to treat your allergies or asthma, if you have them

In the United States, eczema affects approximately 10 percent of the population.

• Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) — This type of eczema comes and goes repeatedly, and usually occurs in people who have a genetic (inherited) tendency to have allergies. In about 70 percent of cases, either the patient or a family member has allergic asthma, hay fever or food allergies. Atopic eczema appears early in life, usually in babies between 2 months and 18 months old. In babies, atopic eczema primarily affects the face, neck, ears and torso. It also appears on the tops of feet or the outside surface of elbows. Atopic eczema also is seen in older children, teen-agers and adults, where it usually involves the skin inside the creases of the inward bend of the elbow, knee, ankle, or wrist joints, the hands, or the upper eyelids.
• Contact dermatitis — When irritants touch the skin, they can produce two types of contact dermatitis. Irritant contact dermatitis is direct irritation of the skin. The problem is called allergic contact dermatitis when an allergic reaction occurs in the skin. Irritant contact dermatitis can be caused by prolonged contact with mild irritants such as bubble bath, soap, sweat, saliva, urine and even water. Allergic contact dermatitis only occurs in people who have an allergy to a specific substance. Each year, about 70 percent of people in the United States are affected by some type of skin allergy. The most common allergens are poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Other common substances that trigger skin allergies include construction materials used to build homes and offices, cleaning products, deodorants, cosmetics and medications. Dermatitis of the earlobes can be caused by an allergy to earrings that contain nickel. Chemicals in fragrances, skin cream and lotions, shampoos and shoes or clothing also can cause allergic reactions.