TYPES OF ECZEMA
Contact Dermatitis
the skin’s allergic reaction due to contact to everyday objects.
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Hand Dermatitis
develops mostly in the hands and can be a general term as well, is frequently job
related and most cases require special treatment.
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Nummular Dermatitis
is a result of skin injury, coin shaped and this is a hallmark of this skin condition,
nummular lesions.
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Seborrheic Dermatitis
develops at the scalp where it is oily and waxy, also can be called cradle cap, dandruff
or seborrhea.
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Neurodermatitis
involves severe irritation of the nerve endings of the skin and this triggers a viscous
cycle of itching and scratching.
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Atopic Dermatitis
it is chronic in form, it requires daily care and intervention.
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Dyshidrotic Dermatitis
occurs only in hands and feet, can also be called vesicular eczema or vesicular plamoplantar
eczema.
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Occupational Dermatitis
develops from exposure to chemicals and substances at work, may also be related to
irritant contact and allergic contact dermatitis.
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Stasis Dermatitis
also be called gravitational dermatitis, venous eczema or venous stasis dermatitis;
develops in the lower extremities.
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Follicular Eczema
is characterized by severe itching, skin dryness and a reddish appearance of the
skin.
What Are The Different Types of Eczema?
By YUN NAKAMURA
Eczema has several types and there are even conditions when a person develops more
than one type of eczema at a given time. Learning the types of eczema can lead to
effective treatment and ideal preventive methods.
• Atopic Dermatitis - is a non contagious and chronic form of eczema. This type
causes dry and itchy skin that needs regular care. Atopic dermatitis often run in
families and people who have this kind of eczema often have family members who have
who have asthma and hay fever or eczema as well. [DETAILS]
• Contact Dermatitis or Irritant Dermatitis - happens when a person comes in
contact with common everyday objects and products. Everyday objects could be the
cause like detergent, soaps, shampoo, jewelry or food. Symptoms of contact dermatitis
are itchy, red skin that can appear as swollen and bumpy blisters. These blisters
may rupture that can leave crusts and later flake off. Long term exposure to products
that cause contact dermatitis can result to thick and leathery skin that is very
dark and scaly. [DETAILS]
Subcategories of contact dermatitis are irritant contact dermatitis and allergic
contact dermatitis.
• Hand Dermatitis - or hand eczema is a type of eczema found only in palms of
the hands, the sides of the fingers and also on the soles of the feet. This type
often develops in people with asthma and may resolve within 2 to 3 weeks. This type
of eczema causes severe skin inflammation, an intense burning sensation is felt over
the site. The skin over the hands may crack and peel and may resemble a sponge.
The reason for hand eczema is unknown but most cases often flare up with stress;
it is more common in females (20 to 40 years of age) and attacks often happen during
hot and humid weather. [DETAILS]
• Neurodermatitis - this is a type of eczema that develops due to an irritation
of the nerve endings. This is characterized by severe itching and can be caused by
post exposure to contact dermatitis or after an insect bite. The intense itching
caused by this type of eczema is what experts call an itch-scratch-itch cycle. The
more a person scratches the itchier the skin gets. Neurodermatitis commonly affects
the extremities, the neck area and also the genitals. [DETAILS]
• Nummular Dermatitis - is a type of eczema that appears after a skin injury
is sustained on a skin area. After a burn, a cut or an insect bite, a type of coin-
shaped lesion appears which is very itchy and may last for weeks or even months.
The lesions in nummular dermatitis looks like tiny red colored spots that grow and
form a coin-shaped lesion measuring 1-4 inches big. These lesions often become fluid
filled and in time become crusty and scaly. [DETAILS]
• Occupational Dermatitis - this is a type of eczema that is caused by exposure
to a particular hazard in the workplace. It has been estimated that about 10% of
people in the workplace develop occupational dermatitis. The hands, forearms and
face are the most common areas of the body that develops this type of dermatitis.
The symptoms are dry skin, in severe cases irritated looking skin, scaling, swelling
and severe redness on the affected area and severe itching, a burning sensation and
the appearance of blisters or ulcers. Continuous exposure to the substance or object
causing eczema can lead to thickening and reddening of the skin. [DETAILS]
• Seborrheic Dermatitis - this is a type of eczema that involves areas of the
scalp and may extend to the face and neck areas. Lesions flare during cold weather
and may have symptoms like oily waxy skin, reddish and swelling on the affected areas.
Patches of seborrheic dermatitis can spread in to areas of the body with oil producing
glands. [DETAILS]
• Stasis Dermatitis - is common after developing varicose veins and other conditions
that impair blood circulation to the lower extremities. Itchy and painful sores are
the characteristics of this type of eczema and the sores may also become painful
and discolored. Aside from skin lesions, leg pain and skin inflammation and infection
can result; sores heal slowly because of the sluggish blood flow and when these lesions
finally heal and clear up can become honey-colored and crusty. Due to the lack of
blood flow, violet colored lesions appear on the lower parts of the legs and feet.
[DETAILS]
• Dyshidrotic Dermatitis - Dyshidrotic dermatitis is a type of eczema or dermatitis
that occurs only in the hands and also in the soles of the feet. This type of eczema
creates a spongy appearance on skin and rashes that appear on these specific areas
have a burning sensation and are very itchy in nature. The cause for developing dyshidrotic
dermatitis is unknown but skin specialists agree that having another skin condition
can increase your chances of getting dyshidrotic dermatitis. [DETAILS]
Dyshidrotic dermatitis can also be called vesicular eczema or vesicular plamoplantar
eczema.
• Follicular Eczema - is an uncommon type of eczema which affects the hair follicles.
This skin condition is characterized by severe itching, skin dryness and a reddish
appearance of the skin. The cause for follicular eczema is unknown but some skin
experts believe that it is an inherited skin condition. Follicular eczema may appear
in the areas of the back, the arms and forearms and also on the upper thighs. The
follicles of the hair are affected and the lesions appear as small and rough. They
may also be colored red to deep red in appearance surrounding the hair follicles.
People with asthma, hay fever and allergies can also be prone to develop follicular
eczema. [DETAILS]
