One of the most visible of all diseases eczema is easily identified by a variety of skin patches such as widespread redness, scaly patches, bumps, and blisters. These areas can occur on just about any surface of the body including but not limited to the scalp, the face, hands, chest, legs, arms, and feet. The most common areas of eczema are the scalp, arms, hands, and feet. Large patchy areas that more closely resemble a rash can be easily misdiagnosed at first as something other than eczema.

Allergy caused eczemas typically cause blistering and oozing of the skin which is unsightly, but more importantly easily spread to other areas of the skin on contact. Even though this disease is usually quite visible, the first sign, or symptom of a coming problem is itching.

While symptoms of eczema can range from a simple feeling of dry skin to extreme pain and cracking, almost all include extreme itching and it is important to avoid scratching the affected areas of the skin. Raw patches of skin due to scratching are often tell-tale signs of eczema. In some advanced cases there may even be bleeding at the sight of the infection.

The painful areas of cracked and broken skin also leave the patient vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections so it is important to avoid scratching the itchy areas as much as possible. As the areas begin to heal with treatment there can be a crusty hard surface that is easily broken off letting the tender area underneath bleed or ooze once again.

Eczema on the Legs

A condition known as lichenification is often caused by eczema when the affected areas are rubbed and scratched and begin to lose their pigment and become dry and leathery in texture. Excessively dry air, prolonged exposure to water, sweat, or other irritants can worsen the symptoms of eczema and prevent healing. While eczema can occur anywhere on the body, it typically appears first on the insides of the elbows and knees on adults. In children under the age of two the most common areas of infection begin on the cheeks, elbows and knees.

Some outbreaks of eczema will cause the most severe reactions such as weeping blisters while an outbreak in the same area at a different time may only cause a red patch of dry skin. The severity of the outbreak is not always due to different instigators either. Contact with plants or other allergens can cause different reactions at different times even in the same person and place on the skin.

Recurrent cases of eczema that have no obvious outside source could be caused by irritants that you are not seeing in your home. Tests for mold and mildew can be performed and may produce the culprit to your skin problems.

Occasionally eczema is a sign of other underlying allergic conditions and may require medical advice to find and cure the other problem before relief from the eczema can be had. In all cases patients should immediately seek the advice of physician if you experience a loss of sleep due to the itching or pain of an eczema outbreak, fever, or painful skin that may indicate an infection, lack of improvement over a prolonged period of time with self-treatment.