What Is Eczema

Eczema is a general term for many types of skin inflammation, also known as dermatitis.

This skin condition can affect people of any age, infants, children, and adults, on any part of the body. It can appear in infancy and end between the ages of 5 to 15, but it can also be a life-long condition, recurring at intervals for the rest of a person's life. People with a family history of the condition or a family history of other allergic conditions, such as asthma or hay fever, are more prone to the disease.  It is believed that 10 to 20% of the world's population suffers from eczema.

Normally, skin acts as a barrier to protect individuals against disease and infection. This protection is compromised when oversensitivity to external irritants, known as triggers, cause a negative immune response, resulting in an eczema reaction. Patches of skin get flaky, itchy, and red. Sometimes, these patches ooze liquid. When the skin heals, it thickens and can radiate a leathery appearance at spots where the eczema reaction occurs. This process is known as lichenification. Allergic reactions to fruit, meat, animal dander, dust, soaps, and viruses can trigger an episode of eczema. Environmental triggers, such as stress, can also cause a reaction.